Stored in a corn crib since 1975, I guess you could say this 1942 Chevrolet BK Light Delivery Pickup is a barn find. It’s been stored even longer than that, as the seller, who has it listed here on eBay in Brandon, Iowa, says they rescued it from a neighbor’s shed and parked it in their corn crib five decades ago. The seller has an opening bid of $1,999 listed.
Green and red have to be the two most popular colors for old pickups, and this one is wearing both colors, or actually three colors, according to the seller. I believe it was originally green, as seen in the engine compartment photos, but we don’t know for sure. This wartime 1/2-ton pickup, or light-delivery pickup, as they were known, is wearing a five-plus decade coat of heavy surface rust, but we’ve all seen (fake) TV reality shows bring a truck like this back to looking like new in three days, so it can be done. I’m kidding, of course, on the three days part.
Chevrolet’s AK-series pickup evolved into the BK-series toward the end of its run, and this one is said to have been used in Iowa’s CCC program. There’s a photo showing a faded CCC name on the side, and in decoding the VIN that the seller provides, it does appear to be correctly identified as a 1942 BK half-ton (Light-Duty) made in St. Louis. The bed looks better than I thought it would, and the original heater and radio are shown in the back, in the photo above.
The seat could use a bit of help, ha. Clearly, this entire truck needs work inside and out as it hasn’t moved in at least five decades, and is said to have last been registered in 1960. A three-speed synchromesh manual is on board, and the seller says they’ve never had this truck running or driving; it’s just been sitting since 1975.
The engine is Chevrolet’s 216.5-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 90 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque when new. Sadly, this drivetrain is locked up. I can’t imagine that in today’s restomod world, anyone would restore this truck back to bone-stock factory specs. How would you redo this one?
I’d like to see it restored as I’m a big fan of stock, but alas it is destined to be hot rodded.
Either way is fine with me but going back to stock is going to be hard and long time coming.
Just a little rusty but a little bit of rust never held me back. Might have taken a little longer to get the job done but that’s just a few more stories. This one is worth fixing up. If it came my direction, it would get the driver-quality restoration. Unless that Stovie was beyond hope it would get the major rebuild. I might even get the mains and rods re-babbitted although I’ve met some who say that they can be machined and will accept precision bearings with no trouble. But I might be tempted to replace the engine with a 235 if this one was shot. They always look good after a little TLC…
Another gorgeous example Geomechs. ( I’m reffering to the Studebaker photo you added too). It is absolutely worth restoring it. I always wondered how hard it would be to drop a 292 in one of these. If it could even be done. This one looks like its all there. It will definitely need some wiring ( looks like I was working under the dash of this one lol). But it looks solid and was thankfully kept out of the elements for decades. It doesnt matter if it’s a barn, a chicken coop, a corn crib or a lean-to, its better than being in the elements. The seat frame and springs are still there a good upholstery shop can probably get that seat done nicely. I hope it gets saved.
I think a 292 would fit in the hole with more room to spare than what’s already in there. But then you’ve got what’s behind that you’ve got to deal with…
Geo, we had Chevs of the 40s machine a set of 216 rods to take insert bearings. They’re still splash lubrication but that’s what the owner wanted (‘the motor that was in the truck when Dad bought it new’.). It’s still running and will be easier to replace the bearings another time.
If it were mine then, yes, go with a 235.
Geo,
We had Chevs of the 40s machine some 216 rods to take insert bearings. They still splashed oiled but will be easier to replace. It wouldn’t have been my first choice but the owner wanted ‘the original motor it had when Dad bought it new.
Overall, I’m with you. A 235 if it was mine.
Stu
This stuff coming out of the woodwork,,,literally. Fun to pay tribute to these long forgotten workhorses, and not for a bag of dog food from Farm & Barn either. I question the “1942”, as vehicles after Jan. 1942 were not being sold to the public. I believe only in a commercial operation and lots of red tape. It appears to be a “blackout” model ( chrome bumper and hubcaps added later) and the CCC( Civilian Conservation Corp) probably got it as a govt. surplus truck, and went gonzo with a red paint brush inside, as ordered. You know, it’s one thing to look at Geos pictures of pristine examples, and what can be done, but, and hope I’m wrong, those restorations were done years ago, and to do something like that today is for the deep of pocket, and for what? Like the Studebaker before, dreams are easy, making them come to life today, well, I just don’t see it, sadly. Like the Studebaker, for us, a wonderful find, but Jim nailed it, a resto-mod with a mombo motor and clown wheels gets the attention today.
A friend who is familiar with these vehicles says that the vin does decode, as the seller states, to late 1942. I sent him the link because I was also skeptical
Howard A, The CCC was terminated on June 30, 1942, following the United States’ entry into World War II. This 1942 truck was likely produced prior to the Feb 1942 government directive to end production of vehicles for civilian use if the CCC used it. It would have been a new truck for use by the CCC not government surplus.
Actually, Howard, out west these completed restorations are popping out of shops every week. I’ve got customers sending pics to me constantly. I would say that it’s 50/50 for resto-mods to full restorations.
There were still some vehicles sold to the public in early 1942, this could have been a civilian truck. The 292 would go well with a 4 speed as I have that combo in two of my old pickups. I would probably put in a more modern rear differential or axle assembly so that you could drive it in today’s traffic.
There is room for the 292, but it has a different bell housing bolt pattern. The 235 would be the easy way. (Maybe a 262? GMC? Come on experts correct me if I’m wrong.) You might get away with the 292 AND truck bell housing to bolt to the original transmission. If not, you are looking (if you really have to have a 292) at a later model transmission, drives haft and rear differential. Which may not be a bad thing. However, if you are going to that much trouble. Just park the body on a modern chassis, with modern brakes, etc. Since it is a Chevy, S10 makes a nice donor chassis. Ok, I’m done for now.
I would love to see her restored as I have a 1941 have ton . Been in our family since 1974
Put a stock 4.8/5.3 in it and leave everything else stock and just make it all work. Would be a cheap dependable cruiser.
Leave it stock,do the interior stock and shoot some nice factory color when it was built have the chrome cleaned up and just drive it
Auction update: this truck sold for $3,100.