We do like panel trucks and maybe you do too? Josh posted this one in May of 2015 here. Kevin the seller asks you to contact him for more information on this unit. Listed here on craigslist in Terre Haute, Indiana is this 1946 Chevrolet Panel Truck priced at the reduced price of $7,900 OBO. Kevin had been asking for $9,500.
This truck has the factory straight 6 with a manual transmission. There is not an image of the engine or any details of the condition of it or the running gear.
There appears to be that famous “surface rust” on the interior. Think of all the stuff you could haul in this panel truck!
Here’s is the right side of the interior. It appears someone has been spraying some paint to cover and/or contain the surface rust?
The floor board appears to have had a replacement panel screwed in. It doesn’t seem like the best way to solve the issue, but it’s something.
We don’t know when the last time this truck was driven. It appears it has been awhile based on the amount of dirt on the seats. With your purchase you will receive one original seat, tail lights, and a sun-visor.
We don’t know the history of ownership or the status of the paint on this rig, you will have to ask Kevin the seller. If you desire to have this ’46 panel in your garage, shed, pole building and/or barn and happen to pick this unit up please let us know!
Motor-on,
Robert
That’s a nice looking panel truck! I like that wood flooring, looks really nice, but to see how nice it really is will require a long look underneath. No mention of rust on the underside, that too willl have to be inspected carefully. I like the seats he has in it, I wouldn’t replace them! The floor replacement looks pretty good, just needs to be welded. Having a picture of the engine would be nice too. Does it run? Sellers on Craigslist need to remember there’s not a word limit! Tell us why we should drop $8K on your vehicle!
If it’s a factory white truck, it would make a nice retro milk truck from a local dairy that had one new. Nice piece, easy resto.
Those seats belong in someone’s living room.
That is a real head turner for sure. Hopefully he and a buyer can agree on a fair price and get that puppy on the road. I’d put a big block in it, provided no cutting had to be done.
Love the panels. Here is our 35 Dodge Humpback
Love your Dodge! Thanks for sharing the picture and for saving a piece of history. I’d love to hear about it, see some pictures. (I’m sure a lot of us would!)
Fantastic looking ride! How long have you owned it and what kind of condition was it in when you acquired it?
Go to FB and put in (Dodge City Vintage) We have 14 Dodge Humpbacks from 1933 to 1938. 1/2 ton to 1 1/2 ton.
We have had this for about 20 plus years and was used to go to the swap meets. The people would come to us with the Mopar parts for sale because of this Red Cross Truck. It is up for sale also.
Cool looking rig, but the price seems way high.
These command good money. Sold worse for 15.000
Certainly deserves restoring and priced right. Something about those little rear windows I really like.
Most of these early vehicles had a removable floor panel around pedal controls it was to have access for maintaining brake and clutch mechanics from the top. I would not weld that down. This sure is a nice old panel truck. The possibilities of what you could do with it are wide open. I’d put a newer model year inline 6 in it just to get away from that old oil slinger that’s in there now. The rest would be a basic restoration, with a colour change. Forest green fenders and running boards and cream coloured body. That white is ugly on there. Burnt orange over dark chocolate brown would be my second choice. Nice find to bad I’m not in a position to have another project car.
This is a great find. I believe Mark is right, that floor panel is original. The brake master cylinder is under there ( with access to the cap under that black round piece) and the battery was usually under the floor ( rectangle hole on pass. side) and should be a cover for that. Panel trucks are pretty cool, but in their original configuration, they were a pain to drive. Poor visibility, extremely underpowered,( with a load of anything but styrofoam), hot/cold, rattled like 6 marbles in an empty can, rode rough ( usually heavy-duty suspension) and much more suited for a load of city deliveries, than any kind of long distance travel. However, as stated, the possibilities are endless. Very cool find.
Howard A. has his finger on the truth. I own a ’46 Chev panel converted to a suburban (all windows) by the local Dept. of Education in ’46 straight from the factory, for use as a school bus, on a 134 1/2″ wb. It’s a one-ton truck. I’ve put a 350 SBC in mine with an 700r4 column shift, and a Camaro rear end and Mustang II front end with discs. and it hauls ass. No cutting, but we did modify the floor board to make an almost flat floor. It’s very smooth and comfortable to drive with that long wb and it’s not skittish on the corners, front or rear. All the re-engineering was worth it.
The floor pan in the cab area looks correct on this truck and it does not get welded in. You need access to all Howard says and then some; and it does sound like a rattle can despite all the insulation I’ve put in to date. Needs more.
White is not an original color on this truck and what you’re calling “surface rust” is likely the remainder of the original Tan metallic color sprayed inside.
I think $7900.00 is still high, though these are fairly scarce and this looks to be in decent condition. Maybe today, about $5000-5900.00 not running.
…and that original rear bumper is worth its weight in gold!
That is one sweet ride! I agree on the pwertrain, dont go crazy cutting it up, try to do as much bolt on as you can. But those original motors, and trannys were not too much fun to drive. Same with the suspension and brakes. Ive driven a lot of old trucks from that era and just fine as a hay truck on the farm but on the road can scare the beejezus out of you if some soccer mom swerves in front of you because she is too distracted with Hunter and Ashely in the back seat and she is handing out happy meals. But that body work is just plain art on wheels. Price seems a little steep, but while i have tackled some real rust bucket, You really cant put too high a premium on spending more and getting a better quality core to work with. You make up the difference in time and labor quickly.
Don’t give up too easily on that old 216 babbit-pounder. It’s a lot tougher than a lot of people think it is. We had a neighbor a few years ago who ran a ’51 Chevy 1 1/2 ton that was used more like a 3-ton. He hauled grain and livestock, and several times a year, water for the house and farm. I heard that engine hit some astronomical rpms, especially when the vacuum-shifted rear axle missed a shift. Around 40K miles the oil pressure dropped below the normal 12 psi. (that’s around the normal for my ’49) and he thought the engine could use some freshening up. He brought the truck to the shop and we did that engine. There was maybe .004″ taper on the cylinders, and I think we took up .002″ on (1) con-rod; the others were fine. A valve job that included (3) guides, a new oil pump, a water pump and a bushing in the distributor rounded out the overhaul. The owner continued to use the truck until he sold out in ’84. I don’t know where the truck ended up but I’m sure that the new owner wasn’t disappointed.
And if I had this panel it would be restored bone stock, albeit with a maybe not so stock paint job…
I like the look for the most part, especially the unmolested canvas.
Initially addressing the original state with the finest fluids and mechanical/safety being addressed at least so it can be locally/property driven perhaps short excursions while the theme is being pondered…
My first thoughts are to wet sand and polish the main body and complete the side blank billboards with a period correct, and patina conscious hand painted G.M. dealer logo complete with original phone numbers, Parts, Service etc (you get the theme, local dealer or favorite logo or location).
…even decals could work and would keep the budget down. Just not as period a finish.
Prep and paint the fenders and running boards in fresh shiny rich black paint…
…and continue brainstorm a cool unique (budget wise) theme for the interior.
Just my 2 bits…
great project panel truck. have you sold it yet?
thanks for the info,
Jerry