Perfect Pickup Project: 1932 Chevrolet Pickup

051216 Barn Finds - 1932 Chevrolet Pickup - 1

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No, you’re not going to “drop an SBC in it”! Well, hopefully not, but of course if you win the auction you can do that if you want to. This 1932 Chevrolet Pickup is in the Dairy State; Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to be exact. It can be found on eBay with heavy bidding and a current price over $3,000 with 8 full days left on the auction! This could be one to watch, this is a great truck.

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These were called the Confederate series pickups by Chevrolet and the biggest change from the Independence series of the previous year was an engine specifically designed for trucks. This pickup is in pretty nice shape for being over eight decades old.

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The seller says that they have some patch panels for a few areas that will need attention, but for this truck to look this good after so long tells me that it must have been in storage for a long time. They also have the visor, which will complete the look. Speaking of look, it looks like this pickup may have been “touched up” during its lifetime, given the visible brush strokes. But, that’s probably normal for a work truck from this era.

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You already know that the truck will need a full restoration, if you’re a full restoration type of person. So, the interior will need some work, as well. It would be a fun restoration project, there’s no question about it. Is that a blue seat?

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Being the first year of the pickup-specific engine, if this one is original to 1932 and to this particular truck, than this is really a good buy. The seller doesn’t give any numbers or any information as to if it’s original to this truck, but it would be a great find if it is. Is that sort of an aqua color that I see in the engine compartment? Maybe this truck wasn’t black after all, and the seat is a blue color. Hmm..

Most folks think of Fords when they see the year 1932. How do you feel about this 1932 Chevrolet pickup? Would you totally restore this one?

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Comments

  1. Van

    Excellent
    Don’t restore. Possibly rebuild engine and trans to insure a long life.
    I would line the bed with plywood for home depot runs and as a substitute for a wheel barrow.

    Like 1
  2. jim s

    it would turn heads at a car show. not sure what it would take to make it safe to use as a truck. great find.

    Like 0
  3. geomechs geomechsMember

    It’s fully deserving of a driver restoration. Give it the works but don’t turn it into a trailer queen. ’32 is when they got most of the bugs out of that motor so it will serve you well. No SBCs allowed.

    Like 2
  4. Dairymen

    If I hear SBC 1 more time I’m gonna SCREAM!!!!
    Nobody would ever say: I’m gonna drop a sbc in a 69 mustang mach 1, so why would you put it in these beautiful prewar cars?

    Like 5
  5. Fred

    A rolling work of art. I think this would look good with a “patina restoration”, which would be easy because the patina is already there. I’ll bet it could be running in a day if not locked up.

    Like 1
  6. Bill

    Make it run, make it safe, new seat cover, wash it and drive it

    Like 3
  7. Walt

    Amen to all of the above. Long live straight sixes ! Even with a newer
    six and power train, this would be sweet ! I am in Hawaii and a older
    dude, I envy all of you youngsters, male and female that can do all
    of this fun stuff in the 48 and Canada. If it is a “disease” it is a good
    one.

    Like 2
  8. Matt Tritt

    So glad to hear the anti-conversion comments. Fix the rust and major dents, freshen the clutch and brakes, go through the engine and replace the windshield with safety glass. This’d be a great family project and very useable truck, but park it inside a garage!

    Like 2
  9. Dave Wright

    I love these old Chevies. Lovely vehicles and not common today. My dad had one in the early 40’s and used to tell the story about putting his best friend on the curb while careening through a left hand corner in town. The wooden door jams were worn and they learned to tie the doors closed with a rope. The other problem was the mechanical brakes. I think they worked alright when adjusted and properly maintained but a for a young kid terrorizing the countryside, it was a constant chore to keep them working well. They ran and handled better than the common Ford and are much more attractive.

    Like 0
  10. JW

    I would have to drop a 300 Ford 6 cylinder in to it just to PO the Chevy boys at our car cruise. Other wise I would clean it up make it safe and use it for local runs to Ace Hardware / Lowes, no heavy hauling just the light stuff to get the looks.

    Like 0
  11. Eric Dashman

    As a kid in Ossining, New York our next door neighbors had a 1928 Chevrolet ‘station wagon’. It had a wooden body, a 4-banger and 3 speed transmission. It was falling into disrepair and I spent many an hour sitting in it imagining I was driving. Every few years Mr. Dugan would get it running and pile in all of us kids (3 from my family and 6 from his) and drive it up and down our road.

    After I had gone off to college in Chicago, I heard that Mrs. Dugan’s brother Mike had taken it and restored it. Never saw it in restored condition and truly wish I had. Don’t know whatever happened to it. They’re all gone now, but I should have one of my brothers ask one of the Dugan kids, with whom they remain in contact, about it.

    Like 0
  12. Jim Benjaminson

    Not many of these around. I’ve had mine since 1960 and have never seen another ’32 “in the metal” – although I have photos of a couple of them. Check out Mike Mueller’s “Chevrolet Pickups” book for photos of my restored ’32 — or check out the Old Stovebolt website for photos and story.

    Like 1
    • Scotty GAuthor

      Good grief, Jim, that’s a jaw-droppingly beautiful restoration! Thanks for sharing the tip on your beautiful truck.

      Like 0
    • Barb

      Hi Jim, I have recently inherited my Dads 32 Chevy, I would love to talk with you and gain some tips and pointer. Dad drove it 2 years ago in the local Memorial Day parade !

      Like 0
  13. Ed P

    Nice truck. I almost expect Jim Bob Walton to be selling it. Make it safe and keep it as original as possible. Cool ride!!

    Like 1
  14. Jim Benjaminson

    Hi Barb – be glad to help answer some questions. My email is benji at utma.com

    Like 0
  15. james deane

    thats one beautifull truck ,,not like today the junk thats over priced onthe roads today, { Tin Beer cans } thats all they are,, i would never waiste my money..// the older trucks have history,, the new trucks all came from a ” mold ”

    Like 2
  16. Nate Maule

    It’s true to restore to original condition using only the parts it came with is not only a project of dedication but as well as love. I know I have a completely restored 1933 Chevy CB model that took three years.

    Like 0
  17. Maynard

    Looks like a downdraft carb. I think the original would have been updraft.

    Like 0
    • geomechs geomechsMember

      Not a ‘32. By ‘31 Chevys were running downdrafts…

      Like 0
      • Jim Benjaminson

        Maynard & Geomechs – WRONG! The down draft carburetor didn’t go on line until the 1932 BB series of pickups. ’31 was still updraft.

        Like 1
      • geomechs geomechsMember

        I won’t argue with you Jim. There’s a couple of ’31 Chevys (and a ’32) in our car club and they both sport downdrafts. I had no reason to say anything to the contrary…

        Like 0
  18. Robert Neitzke

    The color inside the engine compartment is called, Blue Bell Blue. It was an original factory color for Chevrolet. I had a 1932 Chevy pickup in the late 1970s. Mine had this same Blue Bell Blue with black fenders. Mine was a street rod sporting a 1966 Chevy 327 dual quad, Hurst 3 speed, with bucket seats and aluminum rims. It was a totally fun parade vehicle. Mine generally looked like this one, though the side hood panels didn’t fit on it with the V8 in it, plus mine had the visor above the windshield which dressed it up, along with a chrome radiator frame trim.

    Like 1

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