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Solid COE Project: 1954 Chevrolet Cabover

Update 7/13/20 – After being bid up to over $6k and not selling for some reason, this cool cabover has been relisted here on eBay with no reserve!

From 5/28/20 – COE’s (Cab-Over-Engines) are a great sub-set of the classic truck hobby. While they share a lot of the same components with their light-duty cousins, the exaggerated hoods and tall stances make them very unique. If you line this one up in a row of standard 1954 Chevy trucks, you can guarantee that this COE would get the most attention. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $5,450. Currently located in Ogden, Utah, the seller states the truck spent its whole life in Utah near Cedar City. Take a look at this awesome project!

Although these trucks were made for work, the interior on this one has obviously seen better days. The metal appears to be solid with just surface rust, which is a good thing. The only concerning part is the wiring hanging down from under the dash. The electrical systems on these trucks are pretty simple, but if there’s been backyard electrical work done, it may need re-wired.

There isn’t a lot of information regarding the mechanics of this truck. The ad does say it ran about ten years ago. These old straight-six engines aren’t too hard to get running as long as there are no major issues.

Overall, this seems to be a really solid project. The seller does point out a few areas of rust, but they don’t seem too bad. The ad doesn’t point out any other specifics and only speculates on the mechanics of the truck. It seems like maybe it was purchased as a flip and the seller never had intentions of restoring it. Hopefully, with a new owner, it will get a new lease on life and will be enjoyed for years to come. What do you think of COE’s?

Comments

  1. Avatar JohnfromSC

    On a truck like this, most bidders are valuing it based on body, and chassis at most. Likely will be totally rewired with new harness, so that hardly factors in. That’s reality.

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Ken Carney

    Cannon Ball, Cannon Ball! That’s what I
    thought of when I saw it. I’ve watched the series on YouTube several years ago
    but I think their truck was a GMC. I was
    very small, but my biological father drove
    one in ’58 or therebouts. I recall sitting in
    the front seat while Mom held my baby
    sister. To a 4 year old boy, that truck was
    absolutely mammoth! This old beast
    commands all your attention when you
    drive it. You’re definitely engaged in it’s
    operation when you do so. Nice to see
    one that’s not all beat to hell. Great find
    and priced Right too! Geomechs will
    absolutely love it!

    Like 9
    • HoA Howard A Member

      Cannonball!!! Mid 50’s GMC 950 COE, Detroit powered, natch. That was a very popular show.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umvbqPUMoKg

      Like 4
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      I tried to find the TV series’ I used to watch when I was a kid. The only one I was able to find in its entirety was Highway Patrol. I only got one episode of Cannon Ball. I also looked for Rescue 8 and only found clips. I was told that Whirlybirds was up but I’ve been too busy to look for it. Now if you believe that…

      Like 5
      • Avatar Kevin

        Rescue 8 Youtube has few episodes.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Lance

      It was a 51 GMC Ken.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar geomechs Member

    This would be a great truck to run a flatbed and haul an antique tractor back and forth to the threshing show. Please, not to sacrifice its cab to go on a 1-ton diesel chassis. Tar-N-Feathers for those who want to follow that route. Someone took a step backwards as far as the engine is concerned. It should have a Full-Pressure 235 and while that may be a 235 it would be the older version with the anemic oil pressure option. I would want the proper engine but I seriously doubt if I would run anything else but maybe a 261. Hope this goes to a good home.

    Like 28
    • Avatar Tom Bell

      Right on point as usual, Geomechs. Too many of these get cut up and another piece of automotive history circles the bowl. Trucks are built as cab & chassis–restore it as built and then put your body on it– you’ll have a great platform for a car hauler.

      Like 4
  4. HoA Howard A Member

    Another wonderful find. Just love vintage single axle dump trucks, as long as I don’t have to spend 9 hours a day in one. Poor geomechs, we can always count on him taking the “original” route, yet, I’d have to think in this day and age, he is constantly disappointed. We were just born a bit too late, my friend. Him, me and probably 5 others in the world would keep this original, but I say this time and again, it was okay in 1954, but safety wise, falls dangerously short for todays travel. For putt-putting around the homestead hauling a load of the wifes horses crap to the back fenceline, be great, but on the road, well, let’s just say, trucks have gotten safer for a reason.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Johnny

      I,m with you and Geomech,Howard. I have a old 56 Ford C-600 and like it alot.. Alot easier to work on and if a person keeps a check on everything their shouldn,t be any problem.Out of about 5 years,. The only problem I had out of mine was a carrier bearing,a wheel cylined and vaccuum booster. Got about 10 mpg loaded or empty.. Have some great memories in it and long hours. Still have it and plan on getting it running this summer.

      Like 7
    • Avatar Johnny

      On two lane roads its not. The main problem with today,s drivers is. They are always in a hurry. Alot of these new trucks are just as dangereous as these old trucks. I had a friend.Had a new tandem with a load of logs coming out one day. He went to shft gears and couldn,t. The truck got totaled and my friend almost got killed. Seems a VACCUM LINE CAME OFF. That won,t happen to any of the old trucks. This old truck with its manual brakes and double clutching is alright with me. I like it and would keep it like it is .Fix what needs to be fixed and drive it.

      Like 2
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        Today’s drivers, you’ve got it. I’ve seen a lot of personal luxury car jockeys take some big risks trying to get around a slower vehicle. And all so they can be right in front of you at the next stoplight. But I don’t give a turkey; whenever I take my old beast out for a run, I’m just out to enjoy some good times. Let the jack-donkeys risk life and limb to get to that meeting (which they should’ve given themselves more time to make it to). They can give me that single-digit wave and I’ll wave cheerfully back. I think that gets their goat worse than actually returning the gesture…

        Like 4
  5. Avatar Little_Cars

    You got me laughing with “putt-putting around the homestead hauling a load of the wifes horses crap to the back fenceline” I’m living that life ever since marrying a horse woman in 2017. 12 acres of fenceline. Hauling manually with a wheelbarrow. And, I am of the belief that this truck should remain original. Looks like a grand old lady to me!

    Like 11
    • Avatar Michael Member

      I’m REALLY happy to hear from you guys liking these old beasts! I have a few and was wondering what to do with them! I’m in California so they’re not rusty–just have to move a half dozen other dead things to get them out!

      Like 1
      • Avatar Johnmloghry

        Hi Michael. Give contact info, and pics if possible.
        God bless America

        Like 1
  6. Avatar David Miraglia

    Nice COE.

    Like 8
  7. Avatar alexanderkress

    I used to drive one of these that was a tow truck. It originally belonged to Anchor
    Freight which was the company that moved Chevrolets built in Tarrytown, NY
    About two months ago I called the body shop that had it to see it they still owned it and a Dodge Power Wagon. Both long gone.
    Great truck.

    Like 6
  8. Avatar Johnmloghry

    I like these beasts, but have no use for one. Custom shops like to get hold of these rigs for car transporters, but when they’re finished they barely resemble the original truck. I wouldn’t change anything, just get it operational and perhaps use it as a grocery getter.
    God bless America

    Like 11
    • Avatar Michael Member

      I’ve seen something like a Peterbuilt with a 3-4′ pickup box,–a HEAVY DUTY pickup!

      Like 1
  9. Avatar Truck Writer

    Small point, but this isn’t a COE. The engine is mounted back a bit but remains forward of the cab and accessed through a hood. A true COE has no nose and the entire cab lifts to get at the engine.

    Like 9
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Technically you’re right, but Ford started referring to this as a COE. The term went through all the truck builders including Diamond T and International. GM was the first to veer away and offer this style as an LCF (Low Cab Forward). Of course, it was anything but a low cab but they didn’t ask me (lol).

      Like 11
      • Avatar Johnny

        What can anyone say Geomech–but laugh. hahhaha Your right and your an important person too.

        Like 6
      • Avatar Johnny

        Geomechs, you mentioned the up draft carb on this truck. First time I had seen one on the old Chevrolet motors. In reality why did they stop useing them? To me they are alot safer and you wouldn,t have to worry about a gas leak starting a fire–like you would on a hot exhaust pipe.

        Like 1
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        Updraft carburetors can be just as efficient as a downdraft or a straight-in, natural draft. Problem is they’re prone to icing. All that manifold the fuel-air mixture has to draw through and then get to that venturi and you’ve got a tendency to form ice, just like refrigeration. I’ve seen ice form on a moderately warm day. Just using the old gas-powered tractor and you look at the carburetor and it can be encrusted with frost.

        Like 4
    • Avatar Johnny

      I,m like you Truck Writer. I call it a snubnose. Under Ford they call it a COE. They do alot of things that has odd ways I guess to each their own,but I call mine a snubnose. I hope who every gets it. Keeps it original . Putting them on 1 ton with the small tires.Looks like they have broke springs .haha

      Like 6
    • Avatar Wayne from oz

      COE doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole cab tilts. Early COE didn’t have a tilting cab. This type of cab is commonly referred to as a snub nose, semi forward control or pugnose. Very unusual also to have an updraft carby on a vehicle of this era.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Johnny

        Wayne, first time I heard Pugnose in along time. Been over 38 years I guess. Dad had a 41 Dodge and I guess he was the last person I heard say it and he passed in 92. Thanks for the memory . I guess the tilt cab was the real cab over. Weren,t they. ? In 78 Their was a junk yard in Baldwin,Ill. A guy had a White cab over in it. My brother wanted to buy it and have me drive it back to W.Va. In Tilden,Ill .It wasn,t too far away. A guy had his own collection of old cars–mustangs,comaros,ss,javelin,s. . Again,thanks Wayne

        Like 2
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        The old Dodge trucks ran an updraft too. The Binders and Fords had more clearance…

        Like 5
      • Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

        Wayne,

        I’m thinking the updraft carb & manifold may have been factory installed, in order to keep the engine cover flat enough to allow legroom/footroom for 3 passengers.

        Like 2
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        It was entirely a space thing. Those old carburetors stood fairly tall…

        Like 4
    • HoA Howard A Member

      This is confusing, and like geomechs sez, it depended on the truck maker. The 1st cabover, I believe, was Autocar. Wiki claims, they were called “engine under seat” trucks, but eventually became cabovers. The 50’s had cabovers from Kenworth ( bullnose) and Mack ( cherry picker) with almost flat fronts.The 1st real cabover with flat front, that I know of, was the Freightliner.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Johnny

        Howard, –White also had a flat front on them.

        Like 4
  10. Avatar Ford Fixer Member

    I have a 52 F6 (COE, snubnose, or LCF ). Still has flathead V8, 4 spd, 2 spd rear ( low and lower ). Changed to 12 volt, shortened the frame. Slow, poor brakes, but fun to go to the beer store in. Just in the second week of changing out the 68 yr old wiring to new and about 12 fused circuits.
    NO plans to change to newer frame / drivetrain components.
    Owned about 15years

    Like 8
    • Avatar Johnny

      Ford Fixer ,you might want to take the cover off of the 2 speed once in awhile and clean the points off. I don,t know if the 52 is made like my 75,but it might save you some trouble and money. Keep on trucker in the old reliable 52 Ford.

      Like 2
  11. Avatar Wayne from oz

    My pleasure Johnny. Cheers from Australia.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Johnny

      Your welcome mate. Anytime your in W.Va drop in and we,ll talk old cars and old trucks. I like,em .

      Like 6
      • Avatar Wayne from Oz

        Johnny, excuse my ignorance, is that Western Vancouver?

        Like 3
  12. Avatar Johnny

    West Virginia,U.S.A.—

    Like 4
    • Avatar Wayne from Oz

      Johnny, thanks, I realised after I replied that Vancouver is in Canada, so it had to be West Virginia. You’ve probably realised Geography wasn’t my best subject at school.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Johnny

        Quite alright,but the invite still holds. Take care of Olivia Newton John and have a great day.

        Like 6
  13. Avatar Wayne from Oz

    Thanks, Geomechs, I learn something new every day, probably because I forget everything I learnt yesterday. lol

    Like 8
  14. Avatar Johnny

    Their was a old Chevy or GMC on a ridge top near Summersville, W.Va. I watched for it a couple of weeks ago,but didn,t get a good look as I was driving. Monday I,ll try again and if anyone is tinkering near their. I,ll stop and try to find out something about it. They are really nice looking old trucks and were well made .

    Like 4
  15. Avatar Truckwriter

    Having covered Trucking as a journalist for 30 years one of the first things I learned was there are always multiple names for the same thing, usually regional. Ask four industry vets what they call a tractor operating without a trailer and you’ll get four different answers. To me this is a short-nose conventional, but all the other designations fit as well.

    Like 3
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Yes, and when you work in the shop repairing trucks, you hear a lot of different names yet. LOL.

      Like 5
  16. Avatar TimM

    The cab in this truck looks really cool!! The shifter has bee named welded and there is a bracket that come so off the back of it that for the life of me can’t seem to come to a conclusion of what it could possibly be for!!! Anyone have any thoughts on that!!!

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Johnny

    Emergency brake? I guess maybe the other two-to the right of the transmission. Was for the pto. I remeber looking at a old Cheverolet truck and asked a guy about the extra two gear shifts. He said they were auxilary and it had 16 forward gears. I had to laugh. I told him buy the time a person would go through all the gears,. He,d be ready for retirement. Anyone else seen one .like it? I know they made some really heavy duty truck back then.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Truckwriter

      12 to 17 speed transmissions are common today although new automated manual are quickly displacing them. And this are non- snychro

      Like 3
  18. Avatar Johnny

    Sounds like it cold keep your drinks cold too. haha Thanks Geomech.

    Like 2
  19. Avatar Johnny

    Geomach, I have one on and a better one. One day I was hauling a load of scrap and I had this long steel pipe hanging low with the red rag.To warn people. I was coming up this hill to the signal light and was trying to keep some distance to be able to pull away safely. When this sporty cra would keep coming up. Finaly it pissed me off and I decided it was time they learnt a lesson. As the light turned green. I let it drift back and took out their radiator and I kept on going as nothing happened. The people on the side street started laughing like crazy and started giving me the thumbs up. I gave them the thumb up and smiled. I have some good memories of that that.

    Like 3
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Payback can be such a be-otch! LMAO!

      Like 3
  20. Avatar Ford Fixer Member

    Johnny, just saw your comment on the 2 spd on my 52 F 6 snubnose? The electrics did not come out til later. I had a 56 that was electric plus a few of later ones. This 52 had a vacuum shift, which would not stay in gear ( probably a weak or broken diaphragm) so I just converted an unused dump lever and some rod and made a mechanical shift. Works just fine, have it sprung lightly to high, and push, hold for low. Have a safe one.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Johnny

      Well I wasn,t for sure or if you knew or not. I thought I,d just pass it to you in case you din,t know and it tore up a rear-end –to save you the trouble and money. I like them old trucks. Can,nt you imagine putting one of the truckers in a old truck and seeing him try to change gears. ? No jake brake,manual brakes,no air conditioner,double clutchin? hahaha Watching the gauges going up hill and brakes going down hill with a good load.? Then they would know what spending all day in a truck is all about.. Climbing a hill on a hot and dust road with the windows down and the dust would get so thick inside the cab.You,d have to stop on a hill for the dust to settle.So you could see. hahaha Yeah, I remeber those days and when you got home. You earned your pay with no benifits.

      Like 2
  21. Avatar FordFixer Member

    Johnny. Funny you say that about the newbies. My after retirement job I do now is CDL examiner, so I can afford my Ford and Jeep toys. I’m afraid I wouldn’t want to be on the same road with many of them piloting ( or herding ) a 50’s model KW with 3 sticks !! I think they sometimes are blowing smoke when I talk about driving in the oil patch in the 60-70’s.

    Like 3
  22. Avatar Johnny

    I remeber one time. My brother and I had dropped of a load of scrap and picked up a load of gravel on the way back home. He worked the evening at this factory.. Before I started down this hill. I checked my brakes—-it went to the floor. I never said anything. Didn,t want to shake my brother up. As we started downhe said don,t you think you better check your brakes. I told him yeah and hit the brake and it went back to the floor. His eyes got big and said we don,t have any brakes. I told him I know it and if he wanted to get to work on time. Just sit back and relax. I,d get him their or he could bail out anytime. Well he stayed with me and I made it. Had a hairy time in one curve though. haha. I went back up this other mountain and it levelefed off and I had another hill to go down.Just as bad. I pulled off this little gas stationand got a can of brake fluid. Poured it in the master cylinder and started the truck up. He asked me if I was gonna go down the hill. I told him hell yeah,I got brakes now.haha Made it home and he made it to work on time. Before he left for work .He said I was crazy said I was crazy. Maybe I was. They said the same thing about me in country.

    Like 3
    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Wow! You had all the makings of “Wolf Creek Pass” except for the fire falling off your cigar and going into your boot to burn a hole in your sock. CW McCall at his finest…

      Like 2
      • Avatar Johnny

        Thank you Geo. I remeber this one cold snowny night I was coming back and down this hill with my cousin. Good thing I was not driving to fast and on a dirt road with no traffic on it. I felt something go from one shoulder to another UNDER my coat. I stopped and got out.Yankked off my coat and a little mouse about 2 inches long jumped out. hahaha It almost scared the crap out of me. and I,m sure you all have simil;ar storys too. haha I even got WHIPPED buy a falling tree once.While I was standing on the truck running board .While my brother was driving it. HAHAHA

        Like 4
  23. Avatar Little_Cars

    Johnny, that sounds exactly like a bus safety film I watched in grade school. The bus driver is trying to tame a bunch of rowdy kids in the back, coming out of their seats, etc etc. One kid has their pet mouse for show and tell and decides it would be fun to bring it to the front of the bus and swing it like a pendulum in front of the unsuspecting driver. Mayhem ensues.

    Like 1
  24. Avatar Johnny

    yes,it was funny. I seen some unbelievealble acts from people too–some would call them X-RATED.HAHA I,m sure other had some good times as I did too. Met some really great people and some down right rude,but the good people always make me forget the bad ones. Have a good one and thanks

    Like 1

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