The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Need Help Finding Old Truck

Hello,

I am wondering how to find some information about an old truck my husband used it own. It was a 1941 GMC truck, with a grain bed. He sold it in Arkansas to a fellow that lived in either South/North Carolina. It belonged to his grandpa and he is on a quest to find it and maybe purchase it back. (at 16, he sold it to buy a motorcycle, and has been kicking himself since). His grandpa passed away two days ago, and this is something he really wants to get back or see pictures of at least.

He has a VIN number. Any suggestions?? Please email at [email protected]

I'm not much help with your quest but did want to wish you the best of luck. I hope your quest ends with your husband being reunited with the truck. Also if anyone can help you'll find them on this site.

Chris

Scooter,

Feel free to contact all the 1941 owners that are in the Stovebolt Page Gallery and also, check our "Where in the World Wide Web are all those Stovebolters" page . That one's kinda nestled in the site. But, you can check by states there. Those folks have left their email addresses so people can contact them.

It should help in your most wholly quest.

Keep us posted. It should make a great story -- THEN you can submit a

saga



Peg

My grandfather had a '41 Chevrolet flatbed that I look back at and credit as where my interest in old trucks started. He sold it in the early 70's so I think it unlikely I'd ever manage to trace it.

It might help if we had some idea when youy husband sold his truck and perhaps what city the sale occured in. It should be much easier to find something sold 5 or 10 years ago than one sold 30 years ago like my grandfathers.

Have you tried the DMV? Maybe they could tell you who owns the truck(if its registered) and where its at...........

Thanks for the responses.

The truck was sold about 15 years ago in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, if that info will help. It was sold to a gentleman and he had his son with him. Maybe they had family in town, not sure on that.

We checked with the DMV here, and they were able to give us the VIN number, but no other information. Hubby is certain it was either North/South Carolina where the man lived. We tried getting the VIN searched here at the police department, but they couldn't access Carolina from their equipment.

Will update if we find it. Thanks for the help and please feel free to share any more suggestions!

oh, another tidbit of info.

He said it had a grain bed, that his grandpa used it to haul grain. Might help.

The North Carolina has it on file! But, she couldn't give me any information without filling out a privacy act consent form and paying for history of title.

She could tell me it was sold in 1991 and that it then sold again in 2001. So I printed the form and will send it in and hope they release the info.

If anyone here from North Carolina purchased a truck in 2001 or know of someone who did, please contact me!

Hey scooter what about having the DMV contact and give the current owner your info? Let them know that you are interested in buying back the truck. Just a thought?

Well, the truck has been located in Purlear, North Carolina. We have talked to the parents of the person who owns it, but haven't hooked up with the actual owner yet. Keep your fingers crossed, as she seems to think he is pretty attached to it.

Kinda got a lot of run around, but hopefully now we are on the right track.

Anyone have an idea on the width of this truck? Just in case they do decide to sell, so that we can get prepared to get a trailer?

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000128

Scooter, take a look at this post. If you look at all of the pictures etc, you should get a pretty good idea of what you need to haul a 41 GMC grain truck.

Good Luck on your quest.

Hey Scooter, I hauled my ton dually panel home 600 miles on a 16 foot flat bed real similar to the pictures in the thread 46 in progress is sending you to. It was almost too small. The panel's front bumper was past the front of the trailer body and the rear hung out over two feet. The rear wheels were just up on the rear of the trailer. I pulled it with my 1/2 ton '89 Suburban, and it worked it pretty hard, so I took it REAL easy.

Suggestions:

Measure, Measure, Measure! Make sure you get a big enough trailer.

Make sure you get a heavy duty hauler. If it weren't for the load leveler hitch on my trailer, I would have been in trouble for sure with that 1/2 ton.

A load equalizing hitch is a real good thing. It will help keep things under control.

There are many companies that will haul it for you. I think I was quoted $1 per mile a year ago. They probably have a minimum charge too. If you or your husband don't have much towing experience this is your best bet.

Do not consider towing it by a tow-bar and without a trailer unless your tow vehicle is heavier by a pretty fair margin. If the towed vehicle is heavier than the tow vehicle, you will have trouble stopping and cornering. The load will tend to push you and cause you to jackknife.

If I had to go get something as big as yours I would first find out how well it runs and how roadworthy it is. If it is up to the trip, that would be an adventure. (But I'm pretty mechanical and I haul a lot of tools around.) I'd scope out some secondary roads and make a vacation of it with my boys. One of them would follow with the Suburban to make sure we have wheels if we have a breakdown and need a part.

If I had to tow it, I'm thinking MINIMUM 18 foot (bed length... longer including hitch) tandem or three axle trailer, and a HD 3/4 or preferably ton dually to tow it with. Trailer brakes very highly desireable. And no cheap tie downs, heavy chain types preferred. And when you get the loadbinders clamped, duct tape or wire them so they can't pop open.

Add up the weight ratings of the tires on the trailer before you agree to use it and make sure they add up to something like the weight of the trailer plus the weight of the load plus a thousand pounds or so for safety margin. (While you're down there reading the tire ratings, check the condition of the tires too. Weatherchecked sidewalls are risky under heavy load. Poor tread is risky in marginal conditions, like rain, wind, curves, fast stops.)

Hope this helps. How far away is the truck from home?

Brad

Appreciate the suggestions, but was finally able to talk to the current owner and he has no interest in selling it. He is starting to restore it, and offered to email some pics. I gave him all my info in case he ever changes his mind. He says he has people stopping him all the time wanting to buy it. He is using it as a farm truck right now and says he doesn't drive it much.

A big disappointment that he won't sell it, but at least he is taking care of it and it isn't rusting away in some field somewhere. Makes me feel a little better about it. Still kicking myself for selling it way back when. Man, if I could go back in time...

Scooter,

We've all been there. My 41 is in the hands of someone else. At least you found yours. Mine is MIA.

Heck....buy him another 41 Chevy and trade him for your GMC....

That's what I was thinking '49. See if there is another old vehicle he desires and talk to him about swapping.

Not a bad idea! Anyone know of any for sale?

Maybe you can get some visitation.

Hmmm, maybe Tony P. knows a guy who knows some guys from the old 'hood who can do some persuasion and break some thumbs. Being a... pro-active, yeah, that's what they call it.

had a friend that sold his 65 mustang fastback that he bought new after 10 years searchen he found it and got it back