The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed 52 GMC bed board original finish

Upon closer inspection, I can see that this is not the original bed wood. Only 4 holes are drilled and supplied with the offset washers. I think now that when the original wood was replaced, the front 6" to 12" of each bed strip were rusted out. Probably a metal strip from another truck was cut into short lengths and welded onto the surviving shorter strips to salvage them. I think you're correct, sstock, about it being frugality and ingenuity. I sometimes forget that the readily available supply of after-market restoration supplies wasn't always as plentiful as it is today. The prior owner was probably more interested in getting the truck back to work than winning trophies with a fancy bed featuring exotic wood!