1946 Chevy 1/2-Ton Shortbed

Owned by Andy Smith "1946chevypickup" Bolter # 5716 London, Kentucky

From Andy:

           This is my 1946 Chevy 1/2-ton short bed pickup truck. It is an all original truck. It has a 216 and 4 speed transmission.

           I bought this truck it 1988. This used to be my Grandfather’s truck. We use to haul wood and stuff in this truck back in the 1950's. Then it was sold.

           I was on a trip to Kentucky to see my Grandmother and one day a friend of mine told me that the truck was sitting in a woman’s driveway -- and it might be for sale. So I went to see it.

           The woman was in her 80's and didn't want the truck anymore. As the story goes, her son owned the truck and was restoring it the 1970's. In 1979 her son passed away in a truck crash. I told her that if she did ever decide to sell it, I would buy it and left my number.

           I left and drove back to New York (where I was living at the time) and didn't think of the truck again. A few months later, I got a phone call. It was the women saying the truck was for sale for $1000. She told me I couldn’t sell it to anybody else. I told her I would not.

           So I drove down to Kentucky to buy the truck. I got it for $750 cash! I pulled it with a chain to my Grandmother's house with my 1980 Ford van. I left it there. I drove back to New York and told my friends about the 1946 Chevy 1/2-ton truck I bought and told them it was in Kentucky. A few of my friend tried to buy it but I always said no way.

           In 1989 I came to Kentucky to work on it and got it to run. I worked on it the whole trip, got it to run pretty good and took some pics. Before I left for NY, some people came by the night before to see if the truck was for sale and I said no. I then said good bye to the truck and left.

           I got back to New York and my friend asked where the truck was and why I did not bring it back with me. I explained it was because my van was not running right.

           In 1990 I came to see my truck and work on it some more. My Grandmother said that a lot of people around here were trying to buy it. This time I started looking for a house in Kentucky so I could be right next to my 1946 Chevy! Later that year, I found a house and bought it. Then I started working on the truck all the time.

           In 1993 I pulled it to my house (now in KY) with a chain and put it in my carport. I worked on it and got it running and driving. (Front view -- rear view) The woman I purchased it from said that the title was in Court, so I went to Court to fix the title and they said I had to have to have it appraised before I could drive it. I said no way and left.

           In 1994 I needed the money and almost sold it to a man. But I decided against it. In 1995 I tried to get it on the road again and they said it still had to be appraised. I didn't have the money so I pulled the truck to my back yard in 1996 and I left it there.

           Around 1997, I started it again, let it ran for about 20 minutes and it sounded great!! I covered it up and left it there for another year. The next year I had a man out to trim a tree for me. I told him to chain the tree down before he cut it and instead of doing it, he just made fun of me. So, of course he cut the tree and the tree came right for the truck. I had to jump to save it but the truck still got a small dent it the roof. I fixed the dent and left the truck there until 2004 when I started to restore it again.

           I had to put a new wiring harness in it because the people that owned it before had cut it all up. Over the years I have needed the money a lot and almost sold it a few times but didn't. Mainly because my kids love it and they cried all the times I almost sold her. The woman that use to own it has since passed away. The truck is just like one of the family to all of us. I hope to one day restore it and drove it to my Grandfathers graveyard to show him his old truck.

           Thanks.

           Thanks for the great story Andy! Sounds like your grandfather would be really proud that you have kept it around! ~ Gallery Gal

Andy has a slew of trucks: a 1946 GMC Longbed pickup; a 1946 Chevy Shortbed pickup; a 1941 Chevy Shortbed; a 1941 GMC with a 228; a 1946 Chevy 1/2-Ton Shortbed; a fourth 1946 Chevy truck; and a 1938 1.5-Ton GMC Truck. ~ Editor

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