Chevrolet debuted it’s Advanced Design series of trucks in 1947 and kept building this great design until 1955. While most of us that are into these trucks are on the hunt of the light duty half-ton models, there’s no denying that their heavy hauling Cab Over models are weirdly awesome! Just look at this 1951 Advanced Design COE in all of its bulbous glory. If you’ve been on the hunt for one of these unique trucks, you can find this one here on eBay in Aberdeen, South Dakota with a current bid of $8,100 and no reserve!
As cool as Chevy’s conventional heavy-duty 6000 series trucks are, the squashed down looks of the 5000 series makes this truck one tempting project to take on! The seller points out that the body is quite straight and solid. It has a few rust bubbles forming in the cab corners, but overall it looks to be very solid. The chassis looks to be in good shape as well, but we will see if the next owner keeps it or drops the body on a more modern truck chassis.
It isn’t uncommon to see these cabs ridding on a newer chassis with more modern power. Given the unique looks and the fact that Chevy used the same 235 cui 6-cylinder to power it that’s found in their lighter duty trucks, it isn’t surprising that people would drop the cab on a Dodge chassis with a powerful Cummins diesel to power it. Don’t get me wrong, the 235 is a bullet-proof engine that produced decent amounts of torque, but a modern powerplant would help this truck keep up with modern traffic so you could actually drive it without holding everyone up.
The interior is as spartan as you’d expect a ’50s truck to be. It looks to be in decent shape and could likely be used as-is. The floors look to be as solid as the seller claims, so that’s a plus. There’s some surface showing that will need to be treated but that shouldn’t be much of an issue. With a good detailing and just a little work, this looks like it would be a nice place for cruises to events or the lumber yard. It’s lacking a bed, so you will either need to find or build one for it. It sure would make for a cool rig to haul barn finds home with!
The seller doesn’t offer any of the truck’s history, chances are they don’t know any of it, but clearly, it’s been repainted. It has a cool look to it though, so you might be able to clean the paint up a bit and just run it as is. You’ll want to address the cab corners before too long though. Whether you restore it, drive it as is or build it into a wild toy hauler, this is going to be one cool truck to have! So, if it were yours, what would you do with it?
The only way this truck looks like this, is because it was a farm truck sitting inside. Amazing find, just shows to go ya’, they are still out in those barns waiting to be found. I think these had the 216, as I read, the 235 came out in ’54. No matter, has a snowballs chance in Hades of staying in there, and destined to be a rolloff resto-mod something, and that’s okay. Like this, it has little use today. I’ve driven similar trucks and it’s a chore, to say the least. Naturally, I’m astounded by the price, but a better example to transform, I doubt you’ll find, and the bidders know that.
Wow, Advanced Design, COE and five window. I have wanted one of these for so, so long. Drop a vintage Airstream or some tiny home on the back and just wander the highways and byways. The closer the look of the back addition to the existing front, the better in my view.
I would avoid resto-mod, maybe convert it to steam power. Or something else that didn’t work very well.
This is totally cool! A metal man creationists DREAM come TRUE!!
If this baby was mine, (I’m building two cars at the present and can’t do 3) I’d shorten the frame and build a Gypsy style camper on the back with an overhang roof and deck.
It would make people GREEN with ENVY!
Cash talks on any deal.
Tallest firewall in the biz.
My families business had several of these back in early 50’s as coal delivery trucks. If memory serves me they were CAB FORWARDS. Not COE’s
Exactly. The cab isn’t over the engine, it’s positioned forward to shorten the nose. But the engine is still in front under a hood, not under the cab.
I’ve heard that said many times on here when these come up.
Must be right then!
A COE is the coolest design.
Cab forward too for that matter.
Some great possibilities here!
Don’t know what I’d do with this, but it’s cool anyway.
God bless America
What the heck does “God Bless America have to do with this truck. ???? Silly silly Yanks
God bless America has everything to do with everything American. I love America, I’m proud to be an American. That’s not silly it’s patriotic.
God bless America
That is in great shape…I think it’s the nicest stock one I’ve seen on here.
Want to buy
yup, final price ?
lets keep it on the vehicles, not the people~