We’ve featured several COE’s here on Barn Finds over the years. Cab-Over-Engine trucks are becoming increasingly more popular and in turn, more valuable. They share a lot of components with their light-duty cousins but have exaggerated hoods that allow the cab to sit over the engine. This Chevrolet is from 1941 and can be found here on eBay with a requested opening bid of $14,000. Whether they are restored, modified, or completely customized, COE’s can be great car haulers or stand-alone hot rods. Check out this one and imagine the potential!
Like the rest of the truck, the interior looks fairly stock. Obviously, the seat will need to be addressed. There are some holes in the floor, but most likely it has wooden floorboards that will need some repair.
The cab corners, steps, and fenders all look very solid. There is some surface rust in places, but it doesn’t look too bad. If this was your truck would you put the cab on a different frame or modify this chassis to be more drivable? How about swapping the cab onto a Cummins, Duramax, or Power Stroke chassis?
The bedsides have some vintage lettering, which is pretty neat. It says “FOAM TRUCK?” and the seller says “This was used in Cleveland Ohio as an airport fire truck used to carry foam, it spent most of its life in an airport hangar…” Too bad it isn’t less faded. I would bet if this truck is restored or modified, the bedsides won’t be used again. Overall, this looks like a good project. What do you think?
I saw one of these with a panel truck,( same vi ntage welded on to it, don’t remember a lot about it but it did look good.
Wish I still had the pictures to share with y’all
This is a great candidate for a restoration. If it were up to me that’s the way it would go. But I can understand why someone would want to perch something like this on top of a modern chassis. You get the nostalgic looks of the past and the performance of modern equipment. I guess I’m somewhat of a masocist; I don’t mind the lumbering, fuming, hot and painfully slow ride that this would give you in bone stock configuration. But you still canNOT beat original…
I struggle to understand some of you guys over the pond. You take a nice original truck, stick the cab on a modern chassis with modern gear and hey presto, it’s no longer a classic truck. I could understand it more if it were done because the chassis was rotten, the engine and drive train were trashed. But why go wreck something that’s original and savable. Seems like the demise of many good classic vehicles which then can never be replaced. Sorry guy’s, just the humble opinion of a guy who continually restores several old Lotus per year.
Hi John, what we have here, and runs the gamut of the hobby, is influence from TV shows that falsely jack up the interest. On an episode of “American Pickers”, if you’ve heard of it, they “find” a truck just like this, and they bought it for big bucks, and that influences prices greatly.
As for what you describe, they are called “resto-mods”. In America, we cater to the expression, “if this is good, more must be better”. Everything today has to be over the top, original just doesn’t cut it. A disturbing trend that has many( some) of us ready to chuck the whole hobby.
Take this truck, for example. in America, something like this has little or no interest as is. Our roads and spoiled nature don’t allow a vehicle like this. It’s only appeal, is too take the cab and fenders, which is unlike anything offered today, and simply plop it on a modern chassis. To update the original guts would be futile. It’s the modern version of a “classic” to many, and it’s never going back.
Agree John. If you want to build a modern hauler with classic looks, start with a cab that is for sale by itself and perch it on whatever you like. This truck has survived for 80 years and anybody that would destroy its provenance and its legacy should be pelted with rocks and garbage. Imagine where it was on historic days like Dec. 7, 1941 and the conversation inside.
I’m inclined to agree. Pull the cab and you’ve got a chassis that’s of little use to anyone else. It will sit around for a few years then finally get to the salvage yard…
In all my escapades, I’ve come across a couple “specific use” trucks like this, that rarely were used for the task intended. I read, foam fire fighting was nothing new, originated in early 1900’s, but by the 40’s, it became more common place. I can’t find any images of a truck like this, but many show a flatbed, with just a tank and nozzle, all of which has been removed here. With that low a mileage, it probably never left the airport.
So,,what to do. Like I told John above( I thought maybe our cousins across the pond think we’ve completely lost our marbles,,,and he’s right, we have) TV falsely jacks up the price, Am. Pickers found one just like this, I think they paid $8 grand, THEN had to get it running, I think it sold for $10g’s, so that’s where these inflated prices come from.
Honestly, this truck is a rough candidate, it must have spent much of it’s time outside, and needs everything, and for a rapidly declining market in the 1st place, it’s a tough sell as is. Now, if it was an ex-fire truck, be a different story, but it’s resto-mod city for this old cabinover.
Howard, we get all those US resto shows here on the other side of the world. It’s obvious the prices paid are for the show only. A week or so ago we see the original condition drivable1939 Packard limo here on Barnfinds for $20k and on the tv program we see a rusted out Ford body only that they buy for $5k which they then proceed to cut up and then go further to replace just about every other bit as it is too far rusted. While that is going on someone else goes out to find a new chassis & running gear.
I don’t know how I missed it but I see that International D2 over to the side. Looks to be in nice shape. I think both of those trucks should come over to my place…
Good news,
Condition:Used
Ended:Feb 13, 2021 , 11:26AM
Starting bid:US $14,000.00[ 0 bids ]
I have often thought about cutting up my running ’50 Ford F6 COE cement mixer myself just to prevent it from becoming a f’n car hauler on a different chassis. Call it a form of euthanasia.
I’m more interested in the Inter pickup in the background maybe selling to finance the other restos
I saw the D2 as well. I have one myself but I see some stuff on this one that would sure help my project. The truck next to it could come to my place as well…
As far as Fire Engines / Trucks go , I never would have believed it was actually a fire suppression vehicle if it wasn’t painted such on the side . That makes it pretty unique….would like to see a picture of it in service .