The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1946 Opportunity

Considering my love of these trucks and I have a tendency to overlook their flaws. I am looking at an opportunity to purchase the truck for about $4,500. Would I be spending too much.

1946 Chevrolet half-ton two-door pickup truck with cattle racks and flat bed, inline 6-cylinder engine with 3-speed manual floor shift, navy blue exterior, Goodyear tires, spare tire, chassis number 3DP-J15009, cloth interior, bench seat, miles unknown, in running condition, current owner purchased in 2000 from previous owner who purchased in 1948.

It appears to be 100% original.

Original running engine?
What is engine serial number?

Looks like little or no rust-through?

Looks like a good deal to me.

Did you drive it? How well does it track and steer?

Looks like a great deal at $4500. I would grab it!

I love the Art Deco styling, however, I can’t comfortably fit in the drivers seat. If it fits you the price is fair.

love that seat cover, solid looking truck.

I have a couple hurdles I need to investigate. First, they say bill of sale, which I don't understand because it has current historic plates on it. Second, I have to convince my wife. I was thinking this is a great deal considering today's market and how so many of these trucks are overpriced.

One problem solved. When they said bill of sale they meant they are in possession of the original bill of sale. They do have a current title. Now I have to sweet talk my wife. A divorce may be easier. We have had a 40 year run.

If they have “current” valid plates, they should have a current title/registration from/for the state in which it is (or, was last) registered.

After 40 years she should be used to you by now. Plus, sometimes it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

As long as you get to keep that seat cover, probably never find another one like that! I think the price is right, three speed, no lock out reverse, which is good. You will probably need the usual, brake clean up and the comment about fitting inside is on the money. Sometimes people don't get the seat properly installed on the pins and makes it uncomfortable, leans you forward. Looks like a great find to me.

I’m 6-2 / 200 pounds and fit just fine in mine. The advance design cab is roomier but the Art Deco cab is cozy. Your wife will love it!

Love the crank out windshield on a hot day too.

That looks like a nice truck. I've got the itch to start another project, but I've already got a couple in the garage.

When I bought a 1946 earlier this year the taxman placed a minimum valuation at $11,000.

That looks like a nice truck.

I'm 6-4 285 pounds and growing the wrong way. I hope I will fit in my 41 cab when I'm finished.

Tom, wishful thinking pal. My 37 is the same style and I have more problems now than 20 years ago....... make sure you have tilt wheel or make sure its "raised" up about two inches.

I am glad I am not in Washington. In Kentucky the tax valuation will be about $200. My annual property tax on my 54 is less than $5.

…..." its "raised" up about two inches."

I wish my belly was raised up just 2"!! If I don't git this done soon I suspect my tastes will have outgrown this model.

Seriously, that is a good tip by raising the steering column up. Nows' the time to do that.

The 1946 referenced in this original posting looks very nice. I would get it.

Sweet truck! Most have been through hell over 70 years of hard work, yours appears to be in very good condition. Not to put it down but like lots of trucks it started out as a regular pickup per the long running boards also the stake set up looks like a later addition. Again these were work horses and modified to suit it's task for farm etc. My dad needed a flatbed to haul melons during WWII so he sliced the perfectly good panel truck body just behind the seats to add a flatbed.
Enjoy
Jim

The current owner has had it for 18 years. They bought it at auction. The previous owner(from 18 years ago) had the original bill of sale from when they bought it from a car dealership used in 1948 for $1,750. The paperwork shows it was a stake bed in 1948. I am thinking it has always been a stake bed. I guess it is possible the original owner from 1946 pulled the bed off and made it a stake bed. That would be hard to do. Pull the bed from a 2 year old truck and make it a stake bed. to your point, these were work horses back then and I guess that is not too far from the reality of things back then.

When I picked up my 54 it had been converted to a stake bed. I think because the bed was rotted out. The previous owner did still have the original fenders. I was able to locate an original 54 bed and restore it back with the original fenders.

Right after WWII new vehicles were in HIGH demand and buyers took what they could get ...it may have been two days old when the pickup bed was removed and resold to make it the flat/stake bed truck they originally wanted for the farm.

Mike B

Dave, we've never met but I've followed your post with interest since we often seem to have similar issues. That said, I feel it only neighborly (Arkansas isn't that far from Kentucky) to offer my services by interceding and hopefully save a fellow Bolter from all the inevitable squabbles this purchase will cause. You know they'll happen if you bring in ANOTHER project that'll eat up every weekend and spare moment. That's not to mention all the money that'll go down the rabbit hole with that old country of logic of "while I'm in there".

All that's required is a PM with the contact information and I'll be glad to help a Bro out

So, did you buy it or not?

-Kevin

I tried. I met the asking price but ended up in a bidding war. I ended up offering $6,000. They ended up selling it for just short of $7,000.

Mopar guy. I've already had that conversation with my wife. I already have a reputation for underestimating the amount of time a project will take.

Oh yea, that will take about 20 minutes.

I did start a spreadsheet and I have been tracking every penny I have put into my 54. I knew going in the cost would spiral. Fortunately, that 20 minute project has lasted 3 years. I have been able to spread out the cost and fly under the radar. For the most part. I occasionally get the skunk eye after a FedEx delivery. "Another truck part?"

I feel your pain. My wife is now on a first name basis with FedEx and UPS drivers.