The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How Unusual Is This '47 Truck?

New guy with question. I purchased this 1947 2nd series half ton all original body several years ago and have never seen another quite like it. The running boards are two-piece, which would be handy to create a wooden bed, etc. and the splash aprons are not round but instead flat and resemble the earlier Art Deco series. The running boards have a raised hump in back to accommodate the rear leaf springs. Is this some kind of transitional truck?
Don/RdsLesTaken
[IMG]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/RdLessTaken%20Trucks/IMG_76606_zpsc247bbcb.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/RdLessTaken%20Trucks/IMG_20335_zps508f9951.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/RdLessTaken%20Trucks/IMG_76612_zps673cb617.jpg[/IMG]

Looks like someone fabricated them special, I don't believe that they are OE.

"all original body"? the truck has obviously been 'restored', do you have some documentation that's the way it came from the factory? have you checked the date codes on everything to see if it was an early or late build? you do know all the 'cab/chassis' models came with short running boards?

can't quite tell from the pic, but it looks like the back part of the board is smooth, not ribbed like the front part or like a 46, I really doubt the factory would have sent out a make shift like that when they'd already held new models back for months

Bill

Thanks for opinions & replies. I am certain this is all original factory steel. The truck has been in the local area since new. I did paint the truck, but did not change any body parts. I know GM made half running boards for some larger truck options. The back halves of the running boards are ribbed and match the front sections exactly. The sections bolt together and are all steel. I pulled the 216 for a 235 and no longer have those numbers, also the truck is in storage and not sure I have manufacture date codes. It’s obviously an unusual truck but others must exist somewhere.

I was going to say perhaps it was originally a platform or stake bed which had the short running boards ending at the rear of the cab but according to my 1948 Restoration Guide, at least, Chevy didn't offer those for 1/2-ton trucks.

I did find another image, which might better show the matching running board sections and splash apron. Also notice how the running board contours to fit under the back of the cab. The hump near the fender is for the rear leaf spring .

[IMG]http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/RdLessTaken%20Trucks/IMG_76612_zps673cb617.jpg[/IMG]

A good body/metal man could make the running boards and apron pretty easy. Perhaps long before you bought it. JMO

I'm even MORE certain it's NOT. Nice fabricating though.

a real low ID number on the vin would be an indication it was early production

"Also notice how the running board contours to fit under the back of the cab."
which the factory did not do on any year - and the outside edge contour doesn't appear to match well - there's just way too much "custom fitting" for that to have been factory, even for a one-off proposal, prototype, or "quick, fake something because the real boards aren't ready yet"

if that was factory you have a totally unique truck, now you need to find the proof positive it wasn't some later add-on, even by a dealer "finishing" a truck shipped "incomplete" or later adding a bed to one shipped as a cab and chassis, which would have had short boards

Bill

do you have a pic from under the running board at the seam between the two pieces.

Sorry guys, you can never convince me this is not a genuine all factory built truck. I know a local farmer purchased it new and parked it beside his barn after many years use considering it worn out. After his passing it was again purchased locally then sold to some kid who painted it red, - chrome trim and all. None of the previous owners had money or talent to do bodywork or fabrication on the truck. It still had the worn out 216 engine, center pull park brake, non-working gauges, everything original. A plastic gas container & rubber hose served as missing gas tank. It was a rat’s nest with a $50.00 red paint job when I bought it about 15 years ago. This truck is not a fabrication by the owners. A dealer creation when new seems unlikely to me but who knows.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/img5851_zps5e273334.jpg

Re:DADS50
"do you have a pic from under the running board at the seam between the two pieces."
Sorry, I do not have a pic of that on hand nor easy access to the truck to get one today. Both sections of the running boards have the usual one inch or so downturn lip around the bottom. The sections were bolted together where they joined.

Don,

Forgive us doubting Thomases. We are very used to people who have trucks about which they are sure everything is original (usually because they were told that by people in the family, or by the seller).

I was also going to chime in with a chuckle, but I first checked the 1947 Chevrolet Truck Data Book Advance-Design Models. This would have allowed me to assure you that no odd running-board option was available on 1947 3104 (1/2 ton pickup) trucks.

However, I am pleased to report that there was an Option No. 389 in 1947 for only the 3104 model: Wide Running Boards, " . . . ideal for newspaper or other types of jumper distribution." I'll try to scan a photo. The illustration does not show a seam, but it is not a photo and the artists took liberties back then.

Just chill out and smile smugly.

Tim, YOU DA MAN! You always seem to find the cool info to prove or disprove a thing.

Sure would like to have a set of those boards for my ride.

I want to say I saw one with the same option on ebay a month ago.

Congrats on your rare option,these guys are tough sometimes.

Is the spring hanger under the running boards ?


Tim

This is a pretty rough crowd, one would think I claimed to own a UFO.. When it is obviously just a pretty rare truck.. ;-) Yep, the spring hangers are under the humps in the running boards with “leaver actions” up front.

Can you post some pictures of underneath,I'd like to see what it looks like.

These guys are usually 99.9 percent friendly,It's Friday Eve and probably a full moon out tonight.

Keep posting questions and pictures,because everyone learns something new everyday.


Thanks,Tim

Bowtietim has it right. We're here to learn....and I learned LONG TIME AGO not to jump to conclusions. You should read some of the stuff that came out of "detroit" and a lot of it is just now surfacing. They also made a lot of "pushers" back then just for show.
I'm intriqued and want to know more! Oh, and I've also learned another lesson in life....NEVER say NEVER!!!
Rdslesstaken, hang in there. I like it because it's unique.

Tim, looking forward to a pic when you can. No rush.

I looked at those pics several times wondering where the wide part was. I compared it to mine, which is a '48. My truck

Then I realized, it's the part behind the cab. To make it wider they flattened the splash apron and added more running board on the inside. That's the reason for the bulge to clear the spring mounts.

Pretty cool, but I'm wondering why a farmer would order that option?

for your farm hand to ride on?

i know you could set the throttle cable to idle faster/slower if you wanted, so you could put your 4 speed in 1st and hop out, walk next to it, toss bails in the back, wakling next to the truck, and then hop on your extra wide step and ride?

1947-1949 Chevrolet Truck Option No. 389 Wide Running Boards This option was discontinued in 1950.

Good looking truck!

not such a rough crowd, just insistent so now you know you don't have some unique model, but a rare option, and have the documentation to prove it

Bill

Thanks to everyone, and special thanks to tclederman for the documentation, and to bowtietim for seeing another trunk with this rare option on ebay. Unfortunately I cannot get more pictures anytime soon. The truck is in storage for the winter and the guy storing will not be back until spring. I will probably be able to post more images then if anyone is still interested. The guy storing it has also decided to purchase the truck. We have all learned something new, I believed it might be an early “transitional “ truck using left over running boards and apron from ’46, but we now know wide running boards was “factory option No. 389”. Thanks again for the info.

I'm thinking this piece is of very high quality and complex in it's fit and form, gotta be factory. There were many odd ball bodies/boxes and beds available back then, set up for all kinds of uses. First off I'd keep this as is, it fit's to nice and a great conversation piece.

Wow! Congratulations on having the rarest option I've ever seen.

Sure,we all want to see more pictures.
You're stuck with us stovebolters now !!!


Tim

Nice Truck, Running Boards Stock or Not....

very cool running boards , now i want a set ! if i would have seen a set at a swap meet or junk yard i would have thought they were custom made also .

how much are these running boards worth ? i would like to get a set

RE: big dan 1950
I have no idea what these optional running boards might be worth or how few might still exist. I can only say I have never seen another pair. Perhaps bowtietim can give us an idea of their value as he recently saw a similar set or truck for sale on ebay.
Don/RdsLessTaken

http://s1291.beta.photobucket.com/user/RdLessTaken/library/RdLessTaken%20Trucks

Glad I saw this. My 48 3100 has those same boards. I too was wondering if I had the only set. Never seen any others. Thanks

[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img580/2474/2pcrunningboards005.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img818/4105/2pcrunningboards004.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img571/1916/2pcrunningboards003.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img837/8024/2pcrunningboards008.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img689/1113/2pcrunningboards007.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/a/img823/7198/2pcrunningboards006.jpg[/IMG]

Must admit I have seen/owned a lot of AD's but this is the first two of these. Pretty cool.

I have no clue what they sold for.I didn't put them in my watch list and I wasn't sure if they was the real deal.

we do like pictures,so keep posting them.



Tim

Thanks for the pic's.

RE: 485WINDO
Congratulations and a fraternal handshake! Thanks for more photographs (evidence). We now know there are a least two trucks with this running board combination still in existence. I hope to be back with more pictures of "Option No. 389" in the spring when I can get access to the locked away green '47.

Don/RdsLessTaken

http://s1291.beta.photobucket.com/user/RdLessTaken/library/

Hey Don , Maybe this makes our trucks worth millions !!

MTOG sent me this think to jims website.
http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/1947-1955-optional-wide-running-boards/

Just goes to show you (me) that there are still things to learn about these old trucks. Very Cool. Thanks.

Keep on truckin'!!

your 47 is a rare truck, there were very little made. dont sell it, nice and original. just because their were very little info or no info doesnt mean it doesnt exist. good luck