Good day to you guys,
Let me start off by saying that you have an outstanding site - you probably hear it a lot, but it just has to be said once more. Anyway, on to what I am here for: My aquirement of a '46 2 tonner.
I live in sunny South Africa and grew up on a small farm and learned to drive in '46 stovebolt 4½ ton (in SA - probably a 1½ or 2 ton in your part of the woods.) Did we perhaps saw the real potential of these workhorses? I can remember quite a few loads in excess of 6 tons! That is where the chevy bug has bitten and it has to be said that over the years the infection got worse! I always promised myself that one day I will have one of my own. But there was always something else that was of higher priority. Until April 2010, that is.
Then one Sunday night I was paging through a popular SA vechile sales site and I saw her. I was in love immediately and picked up the phone - she was still available. Only problem being that she was literally on the opposite side of the country from where I live, that being 1 200 km (± 720 miles in American speak) from my home town. The add also said that she was in good condition,running perfectly, licensed, the works. All the normal ad jargon, I know. The guy confirmed all this on the phone and I happen to know that it is salt of the earth type of people living in that part of the country. So I chose to believe him.
On easter Friday me, my son and his girlfriend hit the road to Kakamas (google it!). We arrived late afternoon, booked in to the guest house and set off to find her. We found that lovely people's home and there she stood in all her glory. Just as the add said. I was speechless! "You could drive her back to Ermelo" the guy said on the phone. He was right. I told you about the salt of the earth type people in that part of the country, didn't I?
When I pushed that starter pedal (my son couldn't believe you could start a vechile with a pedal on the floor, but then his BMW is back to a pushbutton on the dash... Who knows, one of these days?) and the engine purred into live - what a moment! Then I pushed in the clutch and took the gearlever in hand. Grrrrrr - klonk. Into 1st gear. All those memories of 40 odd years ago with me and my late dad hauling loads with one just like this! Man, it brought a tear to my eye. Hope junior didn't see!
Anyway, the next morning the guy had the money in his bank account and she was officially mine! It turned out he was only the 2nd owner and used it till recently as a workhorse. He is a mechanically minded guy and kept her in good nick all these years. The only none standard things are a 12V conversion and a non standard loadbed. But thanks to this wonderful site, I allready have the drawings for the standard bed and will have one build and fitted. The colour is also not standard - the previous owner reckons he did not like her original green tint and had her resprayed. Oh and then her waterpump is a bit leaky.
She has since been brought home - this is a story for another day - what with a broken down trailer in the middle of nowhere etc. - the electrics has been refurbished and she just runs beautifully. I must now set about getting her refurbished to as new condition, especially back to her original colour. All in all, I am one very lucky guy. She was a very, very, rare find in SA!
The best part of taking her for a drive through town? She turns more heads than a Ferrari or a Porche could hope for!
Sorry for being long, it feels if I can go on forever! Here is the photos:
http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z386/Buks_vandenBerg/My%201946%20Chevy%202%20ton/Keep up the good work. I will post as the project goes along.
Regards,
Buks.
