The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1942 1/2 Ton Pickup

I just acquired a 1942 Chevy pickup. The model # shows that is was made in September of '42. I was just curious if anyone has any articles or recommendations of books that tell the history of Chevrolet in 1942. I know they halted production of civilian vehicles in Jan or 42 and the rationed commercial vehicles in 42 but I was trying to find some more indepth information. I would like to find out what this truck may have served as. (obviously commercial I guess) Thanks!

I read the information wrong on the website. The trucks serial number is 6BK01 which makes it made in Oakland, CA in January of 1942. Does anyone know how many of these were made in January of '42?

It's highly doubtful anyone would know.

1942ChevyPfost,

It is my understanding that only one of the 9(?) assembly plants continued to make civilian trucks during WW2. Folks wanting a civilian truck had to apply with the war department for permission, and they must have had a good reason which often was a supportive home front role. Most approvals were for farm and manufacturing, and most were for larger commercial trucks not pickups. Since your truck was produced one month after the Pearl Harbor attack, the nation was moving quickly towards the full time military production mode. You may have an interesting story behind your truck, take good care of it. Do you know for a fact that the truck was not used by the military as some civilian looking pickups were used for stateside details?

Paul

check these pages:
http://46chevytruck.com/
http://46chevytruck.com/IDGuide.htm
http://46chevytruck.com/Production.htm
your truck is one of over 20,000 assembled in 42 and it "served as" a truck the only way to find out exactly is to trace actual ownership

Bill

1942ChevyPfost -

Welcome to Stovebolt.

I'll warn you right now ... you'll be in '42 heaven when you click on Tim Sheridan's 46chevytruck link in Bill's post. It has a really great library of information that all of us can use. Plan to spend a day reading and downloading!!

Here are some other good publications on Tim's site:
http://www.46chevytruck.com/1946%20Chevrolet%20Truck%20Data%20book%20for%20Chevrolet%20salesmen.pdf
http://www.46chevytruck.com/Chevrolet%20Truck%20Gold%20Book%201941%20web.pdf
http://www.46chevytruck.com/Unit%20Designed%20Chevrolet%20Truck%20Bodies.pdf

Here is some info from Keith Hardy's "Old Online Chevy Manuals" and from the GM Heritage Center:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/42index.htm
http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...hevrolet-Trucks/1942-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1941/index.htm
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1942/index.htm
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/42tomindex.htm

Enjoy your new truck. And put that photojournalism education to work and show us some pics of your '42!

- Lonnie

Very cool. Post pics when ya can.

I had a 42 half ton and here is an interesting tid bit on them (or at least mine). The boot around the fuel tank filler tube was leather and not rubber. It was form fitting with no wrinkles so pretty sure it was factory. The later 42 cars had plastic grills and dash trim rather than metal/chrome/stainless.

Id love to see some pictures as well!

Let's see some pics!

You can also find a ton of 41-46 truck on my 46chevytruck.com Facebook page. Noting technical. Just pics!