My truck is a 1940 1/2-ton KC model. It's a California truck that seems to have not strayed more than about 60 miles from where it was first owned. It has a later 1959 261 CID, with a dual carb manifold and dual exhaust. It seems to have the stock 3 speed and rear end.
I have always had a thing for old Chevy trucks, as did my Dad and Uncle. My visual attraction seemed to be centered around the late ‘30’s through ’40’s body styles, with the Art Deco 1946 being the most interesting.
A year or two ago, I got more serious and started to look around and see what I could afford. After a few false starts, I found a few potential candidates. Most were projects. Some were drivers that I would have enjoyed.
I was in a place in life where I could afford to buy one to enjoy. It took my wonderful wife to say, “Why don’t you just buy one?!”
With that, I took a run at a fully restored 1946 half-ton offered on Mecum auctions, but I was opposed by a man that had a slightly bigger budget.
I kept looking and found another “Art Deco” truck, a 1939 Plymouth 1/2-ton, at a vintage dealer here in Southern California, American Classic Cars in LaVerne. We were going to come up and take a look at it the next day.
Later that night, my wife scanning their website said there is this real pretty (red flag! Danger danger!) turquoise blue old Chevy truck that she really liked the look of. I said I would look at it when we went up to see the old Plymouth.
The next morning, I did some math and learned that they made 6,000 of the Plymouth trucks in 1939, but Chevy made almost 200,000 trucks in 1940. Availability of parts started to become very important as I lost interest in the ’39 and turned my attention to the “pretty” 1940 Bolt.
Turns out this old girl was likely in pretty good condition prior to being stored. It was originally Boatswain’s blue, then resprayed red. At some point, likely in the last 15 years, It was “discovered” and was sanded down and painted a very striking high gloss turquoise blue.
Everything that was visible was restored or replaced: the chrome, trim, and details -- all look close to new, but here is the rub. It was not a frame-off restoration! If it does not show, it is as it was 50 years ago. This is a shame, as it was in the kind of condition that would have made that frame off process less dramatic than most of my fellow Bolters describe here.
To take this truck apart now will be to waste a very nice paint job. Decisions, Decisions!
I have documentation of possibly three early owners from items that I found under the seat, alongside the gas tank, and under the dash board.
The first owner seems to have owned the Texico station in Monrovia, California. I found his business card and a dental appointment card dated 1946.
Another owner was an Arcadia contractor/builder in the same area. His details documented with receipts from 1947.
Another possible owner seemed to have been a promoter of boxing matches, as I found about 25 identical promotional tickets for a match in 1957 in Arcadia.
From that point, I have nothing except the results of the work done to bring it to its current condition.
My intent is to learn as much as I can from the Stovebolt site and then drive it and enjoy this 83 year old relic. With all that I am learning here, I am gradually cleaning up the stuff that is not visible, and picking off, one item at a time, to make it mechanically safe and reliable.
The suspension seems to be all 1940, with the exception of some front shocks on welded steel angle that augment the reduced count front leaf springs. I believe the rear leaves have been reduced as well, but do not benefit from any shocks. It will never be fast, and that suits me fine -- 50 mph seems to be its top end.
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/08/202411:42 PM. Reason: new title for DITY Gallery
Beautiful looking truck and an awesome story. Kuddo's to your wife for leading you to such a wonderful find! She has an eye for the good stuff!
Looking forward to future conversations and pics as you can share.
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Welcome! Beautiful truck! The way that truck looks, I wouldn't worry about not being a "frame-off" restoration. Unless something really blatant shows up, I'd just run it and enjoy it as is. I wish mine looked that nice!
Thanks, Rich, appreciate your kudos. My '40 has a 1959 261, with no oil filter, and is still a 6V electrical system, so lots of fun learning how to sort of all that out. For instance, how do you jump start a 6 volt truck, out on the highway? I just bought a battery tender, a digital unit that senses the battery voltage and keeps it in check. $32 bucks at Harbor Freight! Keeping it charged is step one to not having to jump it! NIce work on the rub out of the finish, I wonder if that is Boatswains blue? Cheers
As for the 6v system? What is there to sort out? As long as your battery cables are 00 gauge and all your ground connections are solid, a 6v system will operate as efficiently as any modern 12v system. My truck spins over the starter just as fast as the 12v cars in my fleet.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I put the front window regulartor back in, and it all works beautifully now. thanks to the support here on what and how to do it. In taking the assembly out, I found that the bolts (stove bolts?) consisted of a slotted bolt with a nut, and the bolt head was up against the dash board, so substituted hex bolts, lock washers and nuts, which the next guy in there will very much appreciate.
Last edited by Blue 40 Half Ton; 03/11/20233:24 AM.
We were a GM family from WW1 to 1975, and it was only when my dad found '66 mustang for my little sister, and rebuilt it, when we lowered the bar. My GM vehicles: 1968 Cutlass , 350 4bbl, stock, blue with white leather. 1978 Cadillac SDV 2 dr, stock, 1972 LeMans, 1987 Corvette Roadster (best car ever), 1940 1/2 Ton.
My truck is a 1940 1/2-ton KC model. It's a California truck that seems to have not strayed more than about 60 miles from where it was first owned. It has a later 1959 261 CID, with a dual carb manifold and dual exhaust. It seems to have the stock 3 speed and rear end. 
