The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Forensic Truck History

My 1.5 ton Chevy Fire Engine came with no serial # plate, or it's original engine, so I've been relying on the rather sketchy previous title, which calls it a 1944. The number on the title does not compute exactly, and the city this truck was from had no reason to receive special dispensation during the war to get a civilian truck. So I'm skeptical.

Enter Rhode Island Wiring. I recently sent in the original wiring harness for replacement, identifying it as "probably a '41 or '46."

Friday, I received a call from Mark at RIW, telling ME that, due to a specific tracer in the harness, he was certain the truck was a 1941 YS model. !!!!

If this is accurate, it's fantastic! The ONLY solid evidence I have of what year this truck actually is.

So . . . is it real?

-Michael

I think fire trucks may have been available during the war. My father was a gasoline distributer and his brother sold cars. I remember my father and his brother talking about vehicles intended for essential industries being converted to civilian use and sold on the black market during the war. I'm not sure if fire trucks were on the essential list. If so, it would be reasonable to assume that they still used a 41 wire harness because all engineering went into the war effort. This is of course pure speculation. Our fire department is a volunteer fire department. County commission minutes would still be available here to see if a fire truck was bought during the war. However, if you ever want to sell it, It sure would be easier to sell with a good title in hand.

Crenwelge,

Sell my precious Rosie?! Surely you jest!!!

Of course, you're right. I will eventually get to ironing out the title issue. Gotta get it back on the road, first.

Yeah, I've talked with the original department, but not in enough detail to pursue the born on date. Some day . . .

-Michael