The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts What do you think?

I purchased a Big Bolt 1.5 ton for the most part all original. The pink slip title states its a 1944 (non military) truck. The original window glass has dates of 8-43 & 1-44 on it. The ID plate under the hood on the passenger side fire wall side has a 9MSXX model number. I researched this and 9 meaning it was built in Norwood OH and the MS being a 1942 model, am I correct? I know the Chevrolet records back in 1942-1945 were a disaster during the war years. My question is if the data plate model number indicates a 1942 how did 43 and 44 glass end up on it?

you might try the big bolt forum, also check in the welcome section and read up on things..glad to have you aboard.

a lot of good help here... enjoy the ride

Thanks Joker

welcome to the site, sorry, I can't help you on this one!

Maybe a replacement glass sometime during its service life? Lots of things can happen in almost 80 years, including broken windows.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry, thats a good possibility

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79190194@N07/shares/x9os38

Thanks Mike, great to be aboard. Lots to view here.....

The truck was most likely built from parts in stock
during 1944.

Makes sense that GM ran enough parts to stock pile them
to be able to build some civilian trucks during the war.
Not knowing how long the war would last they just tried
to anticipate private sector need.

Hence your truck could of been built from such a stock
pile. Jeffrey

The next two numbers after ms is month of production. War production board would not allow new models so they ran with '42 model of ms. '42 is 1-12 months '43 is 13-24 '44 is 25-36 and '45 is 37-48. It should have a bare weld at base of "a" pillar next to windshield, leather gas fill grommet and painted stainless trim on side of hood.

Rh

Thanks Rh, that makes sense. one more question is the Master number the serial number? mine states 4268?

Not sure what the master number is...where did you find it on the truck? The serial number would look like 21ms091234. 21 is plant code. Ms is year and wheelbase 09 is month of production and 1234 is sequence number. I believe that would make that vin the 233rd truck built at that plant in '42

Rh

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4206.htm

The sequence number started at 1001, meaning 1001=truck number 1 (just subtract 1000 from the number on the tag) - yours is truck number 234 (you are close).

Yes thats the "What do you think" truck

What is the month of production? It is definitely war production with the bobbed front fenders and weld on "A" pillar at base of windshield.

Rh

Here is the ID tag with the Master #

https://goo.gl/photos/61uvULAuoDP5oZsq9

So anyone know the story behind the weld at the A pillar? Reason, time period, any information would be great. Love learning the history behind war time vehicles

Well basically they didn't want to take time and use resources to grind welds. Also they didn't have bondo so they used lead to smooth out body lines and we were too busy hurling that the Germans!

The vin looks like a 25th month of production so it would have been built in January of '44 and master number is the serial number. They started with 1001.