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All right this is a new one and a first for me I went to DMV today to transfer ownership of the new to me 1946 5000/2 ton and the lady at DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)asked me if I knew what the truck sold for brand new in 1946. I looked at her and had to really bite my tongue to stop from being a smart [censored] and saying I wasn’t alive in 1946 but instead I woke up my phone supposedly smarter than me and googled retail price 1946 Chevy truck two ton truck and all the results I got were current prices of said vehicle. I did a quick search on our site Using the search function and still nothing I don’t know why she needed it they sent me on my way anyway because They want to inspect the truck, something about size and weight and something else I just think the girls want to see the truck, because all the paperwork was in order. I’m Going to print out some of our illustrious posts about correct Vin location and plates and attachments because I doubt anybody in that DMV office is going to be knowledgeable enough to know they were attacked by screws and not Irreversible rivets. 😁🎩

DMV up here needs a current value from a registered appraiser, but only for a bonded title (no title in hand). Can't imagine why they need the original sale price.
nadaguides has original MSRP, but only for up to 3800's. Those were $1200 with platform body. Might get you in the ballpark.

It’s probably why they want to see the truck because it’s a 5000 and their books only go to 3800 they spent a lot of time in the back room talking and then came out and said well you got to bring the truck in for inspection, which kind of frustrated me because I made sure all the paperwork was correct.
The other thing I was asked for when I come back is what weight I want to register it at.
I was just going to go by the tag on the door but I don’t know why they wouldn’t go by that weight. She specifically told me they don’t go by the tags it’s what I want to register it as.
I guess thats so if I get pulled over and spotchecked by ADOT.
Not going to use this for commercial purposes it’s going to personal use, show and parade truck.🎩

Tophat -- we all feel for you. This is one of the most hotly discussed subjects on Stovebolt (and every other antique vehicle related board I've ever been to, it seems ). Everyone will give you opinions and advice based on personal experience, but it seems there is no consistency among any of the states, and even within the states themselves. It seems like here in Maryland, the process is different every time I do it (same office, different day). So good luck. Most states are okay with antique pickups and little trucks. But when you bring them an antique medium duty/commercial vehicle, they get flummoxed like they can not comprehend that anyone would want to own and drive (let alone *restore* ... gasp!) an old commercial vehicle. So, not being able to think outside the lines, they stick to what they know -- it was built to be a commercial vehicle so a commercial vehicle it must remain. Besides, they get way more money from you that way. Best thing any of us can tell you is what it appears you've already done -- research the process as best you can for your particular state, county and municipality, fill out the forms and then give it your best shot. And be prepared, as you have discovered, to have to give it multiple tries. I've had the best luck on Wednesdays in the middle of the month. Best to get guidance in writing to show the LE professional when he/she pulls you over (because whatever MVA said, they didn't tell the cops ...). Bottom line: You have not done anything wrong. We all go through this. Welcome to the club.

Does AZ have a collector/Historic tag you can use? Some states don't care about the weight for a collector tag. If they *do* make you go by the weight, don't under guess it. DOT tickets for being over weight are expensive.

X2 what John said about Historic plates.
Read up on it here.
https://www.dmv.com/az/arizona/custom-vehicle-registration.

Don

Thanks for the responses

When I was at the DMV they asked me if I wanted that Historic plates (I had planned to ask) and said due to the year I had no problem getting them, they were all set to issue ( had a plate at the counter with us ) started the procedure then realized it was a 2 ton truck and everything changed, I guess the once a commercial vehicle always a commercial vehicle statement probably applies even though I don’t plan on using it for commercial use. Probably the only load delivery it will have that might be heavy enough will be Hay bale‘s for a parade although you’re right I probably don’t need the undercut it. (Never know who might need a Antique covered wagon moved LOL) I got a couple calls in to some trucker buddies to see what they recommend that I put down because yeah I don’t need an overweight ticket. Going to run the truck over the local scales for a tare wieght before I go down just to save for my curiosity what the truck weighs empty, we estimated it at 7300LBS for the shipping company and they didn’t tell me one way or another whether I was high OR low.

LE in my neck of the woods usually leaves these antique big trucks alone some of my friends that have them don’t have any problems usually the only time they get pulled over is when the cop wants to know what it is and be nosy, comes up with some little minor thing they pull them over and then just send them off with a verb warning after talking to him about the truck . 😁😁🎩

Going back Wednesday afternoon

I was worried about the same issue when I recently went to register my 1950 4100. I have most of the original paperwork, and it was bought in 1950 as a cab/chassis for $1300, and the VIN tag shows it has a GVW of 11000 pounds. It was converted into a fire truck, but on the original title it shows the weight as only 4000 pounds, which is about half of what it weighs now, and the GVW was blank. It worked out great, and is only going to cost me $50 a year for registration. I might not be so lucky when it comes time for insurance though.

Do you want a copy of the Salesman price list for 1946 trucks?

The 1946 Chevrolet Truck Specifications manual is on-line. It has empty weight and fully loaded weight listed.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/46index.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4650.htm
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4691.htm

41 firetruck -- You are aware that you *do* have options when it comes to collector insurance for bigger vehicles? My firetruck is on my same policy as my pickup (Hagerty at the moment, but I've insured with JC Taylor in the past, too). You shouldn't have to go to a company like Gulfway (for the bigger vehicles the usual collector insurance companies won't insure -- like antique semi's, etc), but neither should you put them on your regular daily driver policies unless they can compete with the specialty insurers.

As long as you have a clean driving record, collector insurance is usually a pretty good deal for most people.

Last January, I made my annual visit to the Barrett-Jackson auction, in Scottsdale. They had a 1949 3600 up for auction. I had the original sales paperwork with it. It sold for $1754.25, new. I know that is a bit of an apple an oranges deal. But, It would give you some kind of idea. It seems like it depends on who helps you at the DMV here. They didn't even want to see my truck. No questions at all. Just handed them the title from Oregon. They typed away on the computer and asked me for a $19.50 annual registration fee, plus the price of a plate. They handed me my plate and paperwork, and off I went.

Rugo

Tophat. I don't see a problem here. In line with what John said, I say she needed a number to put in a box for original price. She does not care what the number is. It Just has to come from you. She asked what weight you wanted to register it at. That seems fair enough. It's probably used for the fee she will charge you for registration and for yet another box that needs filled in. Put down what it says on the door. It probably signals an inspection required. The inspection is probably required because of the size of the truck. Big trucks are more dangerous to the public than small trucks. If it's going to be on the road, that's all that matters. A parade or on the freeway. Their safety equipment must be in good working order. Brakes, tires, etc. The AZDMV never sees any of the trucks I register.
The folks down there can be a headache, as they are everywhere, but let's don't manufacture a problem when she is just trying to complete your registration and ask about the truck so as to prepare the papers for you before inspection.
She has no interest in what exact insurance you get as long as you have the minimum liability insurance required.
As Kevin said, NADA has original MSRP listed when you search a vehicle. The 1946 1 ton stake bed was $1235 new. That's a start. Figure double and be in the ball park.
Be careful not to cause yourself trouble. When they ask you a question and allow you to decide, and they are ready to complete the task at hand, answer and get it done with. Your guess is a good as theirs. Don't get hung up on that stuff. If the inspection guy does not like your best effort on numbers, he will change them. So what. If you put down some number other than what is on the door because you went and weighed it, you are asking for delay. Don't talk, don't bring up rivets and VIN plates. Don't bring up anything. Answers are short and sweet and sometimes it's "I don't know".

I have been through this a couple times in AZ with my bigger trucks and Bartamos has the right idea. The yearly registration fee depends on on what GVW you claim. A heavier truck is more expensive. They are doing you a favor by asking what weight you want to claim. The first time I dealt with this was with my Diamond T which has a GVW of 14,700. The gal asked me what I wanted to claim and I said the truck has a GVW of 14,700 and she repeated "What weight do you want to register it as" and I responded again 14,700. Once again, and very slowly with an eye roll and a smirk, she repeated her question. Then the light bulb went on and I said 8,000 (empty weight of truck is 6500) and that is what she put down.

Occasionally, I take a trip to the dump and probably exceed the weight but around here I have never heard of anybody being hassled about weight when driving an antique truck. In 16 years I have put only 3k miles on that particular truck and most often I am empty so it is not an issue (and the State benefits by charging me for a commercial vehicle that sits most of the time and doesn't wear out the roads).

dunno if this will help or not, has information for tag and titling for each state :

SEMA SAN - tag and title toolbox

might give you an idea of what to research.

Maybe someone on here has the old sales literature booklets or the printed materials the sales guys used for that year model? I dunno.

-W

Information for the original poster, Tophat:

From the 1946 CHEVROLET TRUCK DATA BOOK FOR CHEVROLET SALESMEN, dated August 23 1946

1946 Chevrolet 5000 series trucks' list prices ranged from:

5112 Chassis with Cowl and Windshield: $1,321.00 (lowest priced model)
through
5419 Chassis & Cab with High Back Body: $1,714.00 (highest priced model)

It looks like all models were rated at 16,000 Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight

It looks like all prices went up at some time later that year by at least $104.00

Thank U thank U thank U all
I made it through DMV today, I wasn’t sure about the questions that I was asked and why they wanted them, my main concern was I had no idea what that truck sold for new she put down $1200. But from listening to you guys and a couple of my buddies that drive bigger trucks (over the road guys) you all told me the same thing so when I went in today We settled at 8000 pounds it worked out to $11 a year registration fee (she let me change it from 10K which was $60 a year)(trying to be careful the tag is faded but says 16000) historical vehicle plate was $25 for the first year $10 for every year after that, all in all I got out of there with a Inspector that came out and looked at the truck had me read the numbers off the tag didn’t even look at the tag that close. I find out the inspection didn’t check anything other than the tag so I walked out of there with $192 for five years historical vehicle plates. I have been told before that you had to have historical insurance on the vehicle before “before” you could get plates. But in talking to the lady at DMV I didn’t, I did hear one of the other clerks tell somebody that he had to do that and I think his vehicle was a questionable vehicle due to the year and whether it fit their requirements he had to apply for something so I was kind of worried while I was standing in line but no they Ran it right through I gave them the title, bill of sale and the inspection sheet $192 out the door.
Sometimes I worry about the little things and probably really shouldn’t thanks all of you that were kind enough to give me some assistance in this matter obviously there’s some big bolters here in Arizona I would like to get together. I’m all the way on the east side Santan Valley Queen Creek area normally I’m off on weekends. 😁🎩

Thank you for the links 🎩

Great story. Great ending. You did it like a true gentleman.

Good story, and good ending.

Congratulations.

Drive on . . .

Is there some sort of liability insurance on this truck? The reason that I ask is that some states are sneaky and will burn you for having valid registration and license plates without having liability insurance, even if the vehicle has never been on the road, and send you a bill for $400.00 Uninsured Vehicle Fee.

AZ does follow up after a short while. Asking for insurance info. You can opt out if you are not going to drive. You still have to pay for plates.

Getting classic car insurance for it so I can use it in parades personal useand drive at the car shows