When I saw a 50's COE bring $90K+ on the Barrett Jackson auction I had to build one. During the same time frame one of my employees totaled (rolled)a 2001 Chevy S10 pickup that I new I could buy from the insurance company for a song. The S10 had a good drivetrain and interior but every panel on the body was totaled.
So I started my hunt for a 40s-50s Chevy or GMC COE cab. I didn't need a complete truck since I had the rolling chassis and cost is always important. I used ebay, craig's list and other local resources looking for a good deal. After about 6 weks I found this cab on ebay out of Kokomo, IN. It fit my needs perfectly; cab only, GMC preferred ove Chevy, and looked in very good shape from the pictures.
I am in NE Pennsylvania so I didn't go see it before I bought it for $1000. I thought I had a trucking company lined up to ship it to me for $278 but after they sent three different trucks on two different days they (Pitt-Ohio) determined that the pallets were too big for them although I submitted the palet demensions when I ordered the shipping (buyer beware Pitt-Ohio).
After another failed attempt to get a partial truck load shipper to pick it up I drove to Kokomo myself and hauled it home on my 22' tandem trailer.
First order of business is to check the demensions and see if it will fit propoerly on the S10 chassis. If not I will get a chassis that will work.
I will add to the narrative as progress happens.
Initial picture is at
http://s1263.photobucket.com/albums/ii638/edpent/I got the cab to my shop and have started to dismantle it. There is some rot on the left front fender, cab corners and cab floor. All things considered not bad. I plan to power wash everything before I start sand blasting. I have been looking for body repair parts; it looks like some of the pickup parts may work. I also located a 55 GMC pickup bed that I will buy if it looks good.
I bought an 8' 55 GMC pickup stepside bed with fenders, bumper and front fenders. The bed had been taken apart and the floor gone. I thought the front fenders might work for my COE but they are quite different. If I can't find fender repair panels I may use the pickup fenders.
Power washing is done so I started on sheet metal repair of the cab. Both left and right floor toe kick plates are gone; will patch in 14GA repair panels. Left door hinge also needs new pin and of course one of the bolts will have to be drilled and tapped.
