The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1949 Chevrolet 3804 -- 1-ton Pickup (The Stovebolt.com Flagship)

Probably about time I added the Stovebolt.com flagship to the DITY Gallery...

Throughout the website, you'll see "Ole Charlie" -- from the legacy "Gallery" (where you'll read it's original history) to several Tech Tips (upgrading the rear axle to a better gear ratio and rebuilding a 261 engine) and, perhaps most importantly, its involvement in many adventures in the Events section (mostly involving the Old Dominion Stovebolt Society -- The Middle Atlantic Seaboard gang of Stovebolt yayhoos).

So here, in an on going compilation of highlights, is the ongoing story of Ole Charlie.

To recap ....

Ole Charlie is an unrestored (but somewhat ... upgraded) 1949 Chevrolet 3804 1-Ton pickup. Peggy and I are the second owners. Our dear friend,now gone, Charlie bought the truck in late 1949 from Dixon Chevrolet in Dixon, TN. We know Charlie's complete history directly from the start from the first owner. He needed to replace a 3/4-ton 1946 Chevy pickup that was ... a "lemon." He needed it for his appliance and radio retail operation. At the dealership, the salesmen (knowing Charlie to be a local retail businessman and keen salesman in his own right) sold Charlie on a truck they had in stock that they were having a hard time selling ... yeah, right. Who hasn't heard *that* one before??? Anyway Charlie drove the truck to his business from the dealership and the first thing they did was remove the bed and replace it with a service body (from the '46). The factory pickup bed went to the back of the shop under a tarp where it remained until the 1990's.

The truck was used to deliver appliances -- not something you did in bad weather back then. Also, Charlie was getting into a new line of appliance in the late '40's and early '50's ... television! He sold a lot of tv's. Along with the TV back then, you also had to have an "aerial" -- or antenna. That was also something you didn't deliver or set up in bad weather (notice the set up yet?? We'll get back to that in a moment ...).

According to Charlie, and corroborated by his son, this truck delivered the first color TV sold in the state of Tennessee.

Fast forward to 2003.

After getting to know the family, and being treated like a son by Charlie, a tragic event irrevocably altered the arc of the truck's story ... Charlie passed. Charlie’s son, a close friend, offered the truck to us, saying, “Dad would have wanted you to have it.”

At least we had hours of conversation with Charlie. We got to know the era, the conditions of semi-rural 1949 Tennessee, and ... the stories behind every dent, scratch and alteration to the truck. From the shop-made garment hook behind the passenger's head (where Charlie hung his suit during the drive to Arizona he once made) to the dents in the fenders (a nephew learning to drive in a hayfield who still managed to hit several fence posts!), we intimately know this truck's story as if it was our own treasured family heirloom. As indeed, it certainly is now.

Since then, the truck has become the Stovebolt.com flagship. Representing the hobby at a number of events around the East Coast and even to the MidWest at such events as the MidWest All Truck Nationals in Kansas City and being the featured truck at the American Truck Historical Society national show in Baltimore.

The truck has even appeared in a major motion picture — Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” — while also appearing on the small screen in productions of the Weather Channel and DiscoveryID.

While still unrestored, “Ole Charlie” is no longer in completely original configuration.

A group-rebuilt 261 engine powers the truck now (it’s original, and good running, 216 is carefully preserved), and a 4.11 ratio rear axle gearing upgrade provides modern highway capable performance. A 3-point seat belt upgrade keeps occupants safe.

And as of March, 2024, “Charlie” is getting a new wiring harness and a turn signal upgrade — all while staying true to its original 6-volt system.
“Charlie” likes to get around to the various shows and spend time with his buddies in the Old Dominion Stovebolt Society. He often participates in highway jaunts at modern speeds with the other ODSS member trucks throughout Maryland and Virginia.

And there’s hint of an adventure to DownEast Maine and the Maritime Provinces in the works … But don’t tell Peggy!
Not bad for a truck turning ¾’s of a Century old this year!

Enjoy some pics!

Some more pics

There is a little more of Charlie's story on his Legacy Gallery page, including more links to parts of the story that John has above.

Oh yeah ... There is a lot to Ole Charlie's story.

One thing I may have left out was one of the last things I remember Charlie (the man, not the truck) saying to Mark (his son) and I:

"Don't restore this truck -- you'll ruin it!"

He was referring to it's aesthetic pleasantness as a well-preserved time capsule -- with all the character, nuance and wonder that goes with a well-preserved original truck. I've tried to stay true to that and only do that which was necessary to preserve it.

Yes, I have altered the rear axle, switched the 216 for a 261, installed seat belts and I am now in the process of adding turn signals ... But none of these things alter its original ... essence. It still "feels" old and and slightly worn/"broken in." Any of the changes I've made can be easily returned to their original configuration -- even the original 216. But the changes made help the truck exist in the 21st Century as more than a mere trailer queen.

Yes, the truck now cruises easily at 65 MPH and can dash to 70-plus.... But it's not trivial and the driver had better know how to handle it!

Here's a few more pics of Ole Charlie struttin' his stuff over the past few years.

A lot has happened in the last two years...

Most importantly, Peggy and I picked up and left Maryland for the mountains of NE Alabama. Ole Charlie now resides high atop the Cumberland Plateau's southern edge in Skyline, AL. A bit of an adjustment, yes, moving here from Southern Maryland and away from the comfortable comraderie of the Old Dominion Stovebolt Society. Charlie makes regular appearances at shows and cruise-ins here in Scottsboro... he's usually the only real Stovebolt in attendance ... We have yet to make it over to Huntsville for any of the events over there. Maybe ...

One thing that has truly been great is that we are now an easy ride over to Hotrod Lincoln's place Jerry has been here, and I have been over there, several times. We recently did a head rebuild over the winter on Charlie's 848 head.

Hey John, Where do I get a Stovebolt.com flag for my garage??

John,

We're currently out of the flags. We'll probably be reordering them soon, though.