I purchased this 1937 Chevrolet truck Nov 2015, from a friend in Uvalda, TX. Jack is 85 yrs young and because of his age he knew he should turn it over to someone else. He sure hated to see me leave with it in. He did cry a little I was informed by his wife. Jack provided me with a short history of the truck before I left.
The trailer has been painted by Jack. He never started on the truck itself. The trailer is a homemade trailer. Fifth wheel was also fabricated, and is something different than anything resembling a fifth wheel. No backing up and locking it in. Looks like any available metal was used for fabrication. Trailer has to be jacked up and sat down on the truck. A 1- 1/2 dia pin secures it to the truck. Trailer is titled 1939. It has "Warner electric brakes" still operate on 6 volts. Operation is controlled by a lever on the steering column. Wheels on tlr will slid if fully applied for max stopping. I have an idea there may be another trailer in west TX since there is a #2 welded on the rear of the tank. Three separate tanks totaling 1240 gallons. There are what looks to be hammer dents in the tank done during fabrication of bending the metal.
The truck is "AS IS". The rear fenders are fabricated out of 55 gal drums. There is a PTO operated fuel pump mounted just inside the frame for pumping fuel from the tanker. It has a "RAG" with wire wrapped around it to hold the rag in place. I suppose it leaked during the operation of the pumping of fuel. I do not plan to remove it. The engine has been changed from the original 216 CID to a 1955- 235 CID. Engine # is correct # on the title. Other than that the truck is original. The seat must be removed to fill the original Chevrolet gasoline tank mounted under the seat. There is a fabricated 22 gal tank mounted on the right frame. A fabricated tool box mounted behind the cab contains tools that belonged to the original owner who passed on in 1974. I removed the tools, took some pictures and then placed them back in the tool box. Transmission is 4 speed. Must "double clutch" when shifting or gears will grind. Top speed is 40 -50 MPH. Windows still roll up and windshield still rolls out. Doors operate well to be 80 yr old. I had to do some brake work, rewiring, cleaning carburetor and replacing throw out bearing.
There is no rusted holes in the cab or fenders. Surface rust only. Plans are to clear coat it to preserve it as is. A overcoat with a Mobil patch sewn on it and a cap was found behind the seat by Jack when he acquired the truck. I purchased a Mannequin to display the coat and cap at shows. I want to keep it with the truck because it all goes together. It all tells a story of the history of the truck and the life of the original owner who drove it and delivered fuel to support his family.
I have taken this truck to several local car shows, one was Crusin the Coast in Oct 2016. It was received well there since no one had seen such a rig before. I did haul it to FL for a ATCA show back in April 17.
