The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk driving across japan in a 49 3100

so truck is quite close to being completed. got all the big stuff done including rebuilding the engine myself which was a good experience.

i recently moved house to escape the rat race and city and had to get the truck up to the new place which is the other side of japan from me further north.

not sure how the truck would handle the trip as id only used it for short trips around the city

anyway she sat at 90km/h most of the way. no complaints, no issues other than having to stop what felt like every hour to refuel!

hour after hour just hummed along tappets a-rattling.


got a lot of attention from road users and everytime i stopped to refuel id come back to find people taking pics of her.

when i finally arrived at my destination (small town up in the frozen mountains) as i was filling up yet again i noticed yet another person taking pics (by now i just largely pretended not to notice them)

anyway he came over and introduced himself in english and gave me his card.....he was the head of Chevrolet Japan!, just returned to japan after working in the US.

he wants to work with me and use my truck for publicity in japan. kinda nice way to end the trip.


the truck is now settled down doing what it was designed to do, carry around logs and construction materials and living in a place far more suited to its nature than tokyo!

https://drmike.smugmug.com/Other/Truck/i-BbLNtsm/A

couldnt be happier with the truck

That's quite an adventure,your new digs as well as the truck look very nice too.

I understand what you mean about stopping for gas,in a country where these fine old beasts are particularly rare,stopping for gas becomes a time consuming affair.....

The only bonus I get here in Scotland is at least the budding photographers speak English (most of the time) but it still takes twice as long to get fuel!

That is really a cool story (Peg and I spent 3 wonderful years stationed in Japan. We'd go back tomorrow)

You must keep us informed of what comes of your association with Chevrolet Japan!

Sounds like a cool feature story for Stovebolt.com!

Love the picture!! Always wanted to see that part of Japan. We were on Okinawa...

During my usual daily viewing of posts the the Stovebolt forums I ran across your recent posting. That is a great story and glad to hear that you made it from point A to point B with relatively little fanfare. Great pic of your truck as well.

Thanks for sharing!

Having driven a little in Japan, I have no doubts that it was quite an adventure.

Sounds like a great trip in a great truck. I was not sure if my '49 3100 would make the 500 mile trip when we moved to NC from FL, but I decided to try, and 12 hours later, we were here!
You can't beat a stovebolt.

Awesome brief story, great mental image of your journey in a place that rarely sees such a vintage American vehicle. Keep writing about your use of the truck there and your connection to the Chevrolet fellow.
All the Best
Jim

great story and nice picture. Love the setting and the truck!

A lovely truck and location. I visited Japan in the fall of 1968 and would love to go back. I had a tough time with the right-hand drive so I rode as a passenger.

So the old truck had been here now a few months with me and it's certainly earning its keep. It's not only a daily driver but it's also a working truck. Daily it's carrying loads of wood or construction materials around. Other than the recent brake issue she's been the perfect vehicle up here. In the small town I live in everyone knows my truck

You've got a good looking truck and your new place is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the experience with us. It was a good read.

That is really nice. Great looking truck also. I kinda like the 1949 truck I guess it's because that's what mine is. Keep us posted on how the people like it. It's a wonder someone hasn't tried to buy it. Good luck in Japan.

Enjoying the read Drmike. These old trucks like to get taken out and worked alittle. Bet you get lots of waves.