The shop truck/work truck theme has been very popular for several years with no sign of slowing down. Whether they have “real” graphics or “fauxtina” ones, they stand out in a sea of standard pickups. This one can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $11,100. Located in Burbank, California, there isn’t a ton of information in the ad, but we can get a good idea of what it is based on the photos. Have a look at this cool farm truck.
The seller says the straight-six runs well and it looks pretty clean. The truck has been converted to a 12-volt electrical system, which is a great upgrade for 6v classics.
The interior appears to be bone-stock. Perhaps the seat has been recovered. Other than that, it probably looks about the same as it did eighty years ago.
The only real question about the body (besides the graphics) would be what appears to be a cut line at the peak of the rear fender. Based on the radius of the wheel opening, it doesn’t look like the fender has been sectioned. Perhaps the original fender was damaged and a replacement piece was welded in place? What do you think?
The bicycle dealer in my little town I deal with, has a truck almost exactly like this, mainly as an advertising prop. It’s a great gimmick, and almost an instant conversation piece, and ultimately a possible sale. I don’t mind giving him a plug here, he was sympathetic about my crash, and got me back on 2 wheels with an older Gary “Pischer” ( Fisher) for a good price.
I think this is a 216 “babbit pounder” (Geo ?) and horribly anemic for any travel today. It’s Resto-Mod City for this old gal. When new, this farm was mighty lucky to get a 1941 anything, as production stopped in Jan. ’42 for private folks. Not sure about farms though.
Naturally, I wouldn’t spend $10gs for something that can only go to Walmart, 6 blocks away. Any attempt at road travel would be foolhardy. The fender crack is common, and was probably missing a “stay rod”, that prevented vibration, cracking the fender right there. Wait until I tell the bike guy what his truck MAY be worth, although, I’m sure he knows.
https://pixels.com/featured/old-chevrolet-salida-bike-co-bw-tony-baca.html?product=greeting-card
Most definitely a 216 in that. Good for 92 hp and super anemic oil pressure. However, I sure wouldn’t hesitate to take this beast on a trip. I’ve taken my ’49 on 900 mile (one way) trips and it never even hiccuped, although there were a few import SUV jockeys who thought I had no right to be on the road (why is it always import jockeys who are the biggest jerks?). You’ll likely be running 4.11 gears in the rear end so you’re limited to 55 mph. I wouldn’t do anything to this truck other than restore it and drive it…
My brother and I owned that Chevy truck .we bought at the farm named on the the side.it was bought new by the farmer the paint and graphics are original, only the wheels are repainted and interior freshened up.we got it running and driving, sold at the Hershey car event in Pennsylvania it was still in New Jersey several years back ,the fender was cracked,.it ran very well back then and drove well .better than a trip to Walmart she’s along way from home now.should be enjoyed like it is ! The car world is smaller then you think.
The one in black primer was mine, not stock obviously. I love that style. I chopped it 3″, installed a Pacer front suspension, small block Chevy and a turbo 350 transmission. This is the one I should have kept.
I’ve got the same truck. All original with the 216. It will do anything I ask of it except go down the interstate at 70! Made to work.
magic
Trucks of this era were built to work,not ponce around at car shows.My ’51 International has a top end of 40,with a later granny box and fully floating rear axle.That’as fast as it will go,so if you are behind me,be patient!
I don’t have a picture of the one I once owned, to many life happenings. I got mine through trade back in 1970. It wasn’t stock, but only the drive train had been changed. A previous owner put 392 Hemi in it with three speed manual transmission, I’m not sure what rear end or drive shaft it had but it was an open drive shaft. It was 12 volt system but had no working lights when I acquired it. I re-wired the entire truck and had everything working properly. It had so much torque that if I wasn’t careful it would snap the rear u-joint on take off, I replaced several as I liked to jump on it. I had plans to put a complete rear end assembly from a 62 Olds Starfire that I had, but never got around to it. It was royal blue in n out. I have great memories of that old truck.
Gpd Bless America
Long live old trucks! This good old gal belongs back on a farm, not sitting in somebody’s suburban driveway or a mall parking lot looking foolish. Put her to work carrying bales of alfalfa, rolls of fencing, sacks of grain . . . that’s her comfort zone. She’s not for the freeway commute to the office.
My ‘50 GMC had a ‘55 235 transplant. You learn quickly to stay in right hand lane. 55 mph all out with a good tail wind. But back in the seventies there were still plenty of two lanes around. Cruise along at 45 all day long. Loved that old truck. It was the wedding vehicle by request of my best friend at the time. Ah memories.
Those old trucks, regardless of make had a top speed of about 50 mph, empty or loaded. My dad had a 1940’s International “cornbinder” and 50 was top speed.
I agree with @geomechs. I wouldn’t touch the beautiful original. It is so much more of an interesting truck in its original configuration than doing a ridiculous retro mod.
I’m tired of seeing 350 motors with 350 turbo trans.
Interesting how a truck from Stockton, New Jersey winds up in Burbank, California…! Would like to hear the back story about that cross country journey.
I have one, body and frame are original,. the rest is fun!
For all those tired of seeing small blocks with turbo 350s, just don’t look. We hang with different crowds and that’s okay. I started with a shell that had already been used for parts. It had no drive train at all. No restorer would have even considered my truck. Three years of searching for parts, rebuilding doors from ones that there bottom 3 inches rusted off, chopping the top using 2 roofs because mine was pretty crushed in one corner, is how mine came to be. I drove it thousands of miles, sometimes in one trip. It was fun. It was safe. I built it. Now I bet you’re expecting me to say I don’t like or appreciate antique vehicles but nothing could be further than the truth. I can fully respect someone else’s desire to keep their vehicles 100% stock. I will go to car shows that allow only original cars and enjoy myself. It doesn’t matter to me if you like my vehicles or not. I built them for me.
Right on, pal. I’ve said many times, while a resto-mod goes agin everything a purist holds dear, facts is facts and old pickups are just that, great for 1941. Obviously, only a fool would take a truck like this on any kind of long drive. It’s downright dangerous. For example, my elderly neighbor, goes like 45-50 on major highways. Riding with her once, you wouldn’t believe what impatient people would do to get around her, almost passing on the shoulder. I told her, “you better speed it up”, she didn’t, but my point is, todays highways are no place for an old vehicle that can’t do the speed limit. You make a good point, and one I’ve said all along, is it better to have one like this, that a ride to Walmart is tense, or sit as an advertising prop, or really enjoy the truck itself with modern updates.
Well, Brian, the kind of truck you restored is exactly the reason to resto-mod. What irritates me is those taking sometimes a shiny, bone-stock classic and butchering it into a mere shadow of what it was. I saw a complete low mileage ’35 Ford 3-window coupe go to a couple from an estate. The car was nearly perfect and they butchered it into something that was barely driveable. Now we live in a country where it is still legal to do that but I attend swap meets every year and see dozens of cars and trucks that could be modified and enjoyed. Leave the gems for the purists, I say…
Present and former owners of these trucks:
I’m six feet tall. Will I fit comfortably in the AK series? Had a first series’55 AD and fit fine. Have never even been close to the AK series before.
Thanks,
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
I am 6′ tall and I fit well in mine even with it being chopped 3″. Mine had seats that were thinner in both the seat and back though. I drove it with the original seat for a while and will admit that I had to get out and stretch my legs once in a while on long trips.
Brian T:
Thanks for the reply/info. I got the buy-in from my partner, she likes the art deco look. Now all I have to do is convince myself to spend the money to ship it back to the east coast.
You’re welcome and good luck!
Brian T,
Thanks for the input. The truck appears as original, so maybe the drivers seat dimensions will work. No plans for a chop. Worst case is I have to find a shorter bench or shorter custom buckets.
Jamie