- Seller: David G (Contact)
- Location: Goshen, New York
- Mileage: 100,000 Shown
- Chassis #: BN611175
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 235 cui Inline-6
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual with 4×4
The G506 series trucks were the quiet workhorses of World War II, and every now and then, one surfaces that still carries its wartime toughness into the present day. This 1944 Chevrolet 1.5-ton 4×4, now listed as a Barn Finds Auction in Goshen, New York, is exactly that kind of find—a genuine WWII-era Chevy that has avoided the fate of many surplus trucks and remains remarkably solid for an 80-year-old machine.
The seller describes it as an older civilian restoration, though traces of the original olive drab paint remain around the firewall. What stands out most is the condition of the frame, which is said to be “super solid,” an ideal starting point for anyone looking to preserve or restore a wartime vehicle. These trucks were built for punishment, but decades of post-military use often left them weakened. Finding one that still has strong bones is increasingly rare.
This G506 still runs, at least with a bottle feed, and was fired up and moved this summer after a basic tune-up. It’s powered by its original-type 6-cylinder engine and uses the factory 6-volt electrical system. The seller notes that the starter can get sticky but still cranks, and it has been removed and cleaned several times. There’s also a minor drip beginning around the filter housing, and an NOS filter is included for its next oil service.
Mechanically, it’s close to running status but not quite ready for the road. The brakes need work, with the master cylinder due for a rebuild or replacement. The Carter carburetor could use another light rebuild, and a spare carb comes with the truck. A postwar fuel tank is mounted on the side but disconnected due to sludge, so the truck is currently set up with an electronic pump drawing from a marine container. The clutch is at the end of its adjustment range and may need attention as well.
Cosmetically, the cab has some rust bubbles and holes in the upper door frame, and the flatbed wood will need replacement. Still, the overall picture is of a largely complete, solid G506 that has avoided serious deterioration. The 4WD system reportedly works, and for someone familiar with these trucks—or eager to learn—this is a project with far more potential than pitfalls.
A clean New Jersey title and registration are included, along with a bill of sale, though the paperwork was never submitted in New York. The truck is not drivable as-is and will need to be flat-bedded to its next home. For military-vehicle enthusiasts, this Chevy represents a chance to save a true wartime veteran before it becomes yard art. Would you restore it to full GI spec, or preserve its honest, well-earned patina?
Bid On This Auction
ThomasHolowiak bid $300.00 2025-11-26 14:54:53
Worth something to a collector, not much to the general public. 90hp 216, straight cut sliding gear tranny, no power steering made worse by the 4wd, kick start and slooow. Great truck for someone like me that can sort out the mechanical issues and deal with the poor drivability, but I’ve got enough projects. Good luck is all I can say.
Thanks for the feedback Jim R. You’re right that the steering on her will definitely build up your arm muscles!
This would make a nice hay hauler for local deliveries. I picked up a non-running 1950 International L-170 some years ago with thoughts of doing just that, but before I dug into the truck, a tornado took the machine shed in which it reposed and I sold it off later that year as I figured I had enough large projects on my hand for a while. Hope to see this one get put back to (light-duty) work.
Hey there Stembridge. Your comment about “hay hauler” probably isn’t far from the truth as she was living on a local horse farm when I picked it up some years back. Looking forward to her getting a new ‘caretaker’ to bring her back on line and have some fun with her.
As Jim says, ain’t going to be a pleasant or easy drive. But what a neat and rugged 4wd truck.
Thanks Stan.
Your welcome. Great rig 👍
Bless the seller for their honesty-all kinds of photos of the good and bad. Always wanted to have one of these set up like this but everything worthwhile/affordable out our way has been gone for decades.
Good looking truck with a lot of potential to start with.
GLWTS
Really appreciate the feedback Nevadahalfrack. Really tried to capture her in the pics.
If I prevailed, how long do I have to pickup it up. I am in Texas and truck is in the shop for a transmission rebuild. (2017 ram)
the first thing it needs is electric p/s
Hmmm…never thought of that for this one Ron W!
I do wish that the current owner had not splashed red paint ALL OVER the interior. I would much prefer the faded, rusty, dirty, original paint in whatever condition it may have been in. That would be appropriate for an old workhorse. This just looks like lipstick on a pig.
It was the best they could d o without masking tape.
Hi there Dave. I can’t take credit for the red, but still love the olive drab bits popping up here and there. Thanks for the feedback.
Personally, I do prefer the red paint over the faded, rusty, dirty, original paint in whatever condition it may have been in. The red paint means someone picked it up as a cheap surplus truck and put it to use, and took care of it. A lot of trucks like this weren’t so lucky. After 80 years and a lot of hard use, you’d be hard pressed to find one with original paint that’s anything more than a pile of rusty scrap metal. Even a lot of the ones that got parked in the southwest are getting rather dire.
I’m saying this as a collector of milsurp, someone who cringes at Bubba’s abominations. I’d much rather see a farm or county truck still working than see an unloved original truck go to the crusher.
This is the first time I have heard of or seen one of these. Cool old truck. This article says 235 engine but valve cover looks like 216 . Is this a derivative of the 216 babbit pounder? Is it a babbit pounder? the gauge package has oil pressure, amperers on the right of the speedometer. And there is 2 on the left side. Temperature and Tachometer? Since this is HD application, Is this the predisesser to the fully pressurized oiling system to the later (early ’50s) 235 engine?) Inquiring minds (at least mine) want to know.
The early 235 engines (like this) were babbitt-pounders, like the 216, and that included anemic oil pressure, which fed the mains, and valve train. The rods were equipped with dipping cups, and that system actually worked quite well. I worked on a lot of GM 6 cylinder engines, from the 216 all the way to the GMC 302, and that included the 194-292 (’63-’84). There were a few conrods got too loose on the older engines but I saw a lot more “ventillated” full-pressure 235s and 261s than 216s and older 235s. And we sure got a lot of farm trucks in with something knocking and wanting out very badly.
I wouldn’t worry about taking on a babbitt-pounder. I do admit that it’s getting harder to find someone with the skills to pour and scrape babbitt. Right now I send my customers down to an outfit in MO to re-babbitt rods and to reline bearings. Good job, is the feedback I get. A lot of people are machining the rods and blocks to accept precision bearings and from what I’ve been told, the end result is very good. Possibly, when my own 216 is ready for a bottom end, I will look into that…
Hi Wayne. The two gauges on the left are for temp and fuel. Tried to attach a better pic. not sure if it will upload.
Thanks!
My dad drove a GMC onto Omaha Beach on D-Day. Looking at this truck makes me think of what he saw thru the windshield of that truck on that day. He said you were assigned a truck and you were responsible for water proofing as much as possible so they would continue running in water. He said when you drove off landing craft you put in super low with gas on the floor and prayed that he made it on the beach which he did many did not. His truck was loaded with radio equipment.
Great story about your Dad Blu. The history associated with these rigs is incredible.
Thanks, I just remember him saying it was a GMC, and I thought he said 6×6, but I think he meant 4×4. I would imagine it looked like this with the front fenders. Afterwards he drove jeeps and had a lifelong love for them having a 46 then later a 48.
Awesome story! 👍🏻
What a great find!!!!! In the 70’s our local Volunteer Fire Dept had one set up as a brush fire unit, with spray bar on front bumper for grass fires. As Is, This truck can be easily returned to road worthy and will make a great weekend hauler and C&C / local show conversation piece. Although I agree with Dave that the red interior must go!! Navy Grey??? With some serial number research, It looks good enough to be restored to military spec and shown as such., Although I question the 4X4 conversion tag?? It should have come from the factory as a 4X4?? Maybe one of the military restoration people can advise if Chevy made any 4X2 models of this truck?? If I were not 80 years old I would definitely consider this truck.
It looks like everyone was building similar trucks for the war effort. I find it interesting as a lot of M-1-4/M-2-4 trucks that I’ve come across are made by International. I’ve heard of Dodge and Studebaker as well. Of course, GM was included in the mix. Obviously a group effort…
That’s an impressive restore Geomechs, And I see it still has the International script on side. What year?
And Diamond T built trucks and halftracks.
Hi 44G. I’m a little unclear about the exact year. A customer of mine sent me that pic. He’s a military vehicle collector. It seems to me that we nailed it down to late ‘43 when it was built…
Hey there Brocky. My Dad was a huge firetruck buff, so great to hear one made it to your fire dept in civilian life. The 1945 conversion tag has always been a bit off a mystery to me, but it was the only tag on the truck still legible. The others may come back to life with some gentle persuasion. Thanks for your comments!
I grew up with these trucks. They were common sights in the wheat fields of Eastern Oregon in the ’50s & ’60s. Typical harvest truck drivers started at 13 years old, graduating to combines and Cats in High School. After that, most of the kids were gone but the new group was always coming up. The bed was a half of a steel tank (curved bottom) with a steel sliding gate about 2′ square in the back. You’d drive along side the combine as it moved through the wheat, and when full – off to the elevator where the front end was raised and the wheat unloaded through a grate in the scale. Then back to the field. The terrain was sometimes flat but often rolling hills. These trucks were tough and Dad converted most of them to 235s which were in plentiful supply. I never really thought they were particularly hard to drive, but did require skill. Great memories. :-) Terry J
The pictures show the muffler under the truck. Wheat trucks had the exhaust run right off the manifold, out the apron and mounted vertically on top of the fender with brackets & braces. Nothing so terrifying as a wheat fire. Terry J
I bet they spread fast Terry. People often don’t take grass fires seriously, and they can get moving in a hurry w some wind.
Here in the east it seemed that every town in the 1950’s had one or two of these in the road maintenance fleet, set up for snow plowing or just general haul duty. Must have been a bunch sold off as surplus to local governments. You still see them, but mostly parked and silently returning to earth.
Stan: They create a rolling “Horizontal Hurricane” of superheated air rising then being sucked back down to fan the flames, much like a brush fire I suppose. Old farmer Ernie tried to outrun one in his pickup but at the end of the field he had to turn around and then tried to bust through it. He didn’t realize that there was a zone that was devoid of oxygen for his truck. Or for him. Terry J
A few years ago, when I was just a kid, we had an old Chevy army truck like this one. I don’t remember what year it was, where we got it from or where it went to. One day when we were putting in hay my brother talked my mother into driving the truck while us kids loaded hay. All was good until the truck was full and Ma went to back up to the barn to unload it. She couldn’t get the truck into reverse. Somebody walking by advised her that if she pulled up on the little lever just below the shift knob, then she would be able to put it in reverse. Well up she pulled and the whole shifter came up out of the transmission. I had to go get my brother, he just eased the shifter back down into the tranny and backed the truck up to the barn. Some how I got the feeling it wasn’t the first time this happened. Then in the 1970’s there was a blizzard. We lived on the corner of the town road and the state road. Neither road was plowed. Snow drifts were deep. My father and brothers got the old Chevy warmed up and it walked right through the snow like it was enjoying it. They drove down the unplowed road 2 miles to the sawmill, got the payloader, and plowed the state road back up to our house. Had lunch, plowed, went back to the mill and plowed some more. Eventually the state came down the road with their payloader opening up the state road so the plow trucks could get through. We don’t get snow like that anymore. Hope I didn’t just jinks us.