Don't bother IDing it, just buy it! (yes, it's a GMC...but you are probably trying to figure out who made the unique body?)
My first thought was "to see if you were near Hollywood" ...and you are. My thought was that it may well have been a movie/film related truck. Paramount, 20 Century Fox, etc
Except for the apparent lack of entry doors I would guess a bookmobile or something similar. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
the 1940 GMC COE cab in the first picture, plus the body in the second picture, plus a little bit of styling by adding some molding ribs in the right place...there you go... Might be difficult to find the name of the body maker. Or there might be a tag inside or outside that tells you exactly who built it, where, and when.
I think I see the outside access door to a refer and also the vent on the gas heater. Looks like custom RV to me.
Judging from surrounding area, I would be surprised if its available for purchase, Prove me wrong..............
Big series engines. Cylinder blocks bolt to crankcase, no parts common to 228 - 302 family. That style cab was held over into the AD era. The AC gauges in those trucks are as slick as any S-W ... After seeing dash, previous YOM guess went out the window - it's pre-war ...
i am going to guess 1940 due to the parking lights and sealed beams. super cool. i saw some trucks like that at a collectors lot in Maine. he collected military vehicles and bought a lot of stuff at auctions. the trucks he had were rolling work shops for the motor pool. i don't think that one is military but it reminds me of the ones i saw.
Amazing find. I'm guessing very late '30's or possibly just after the war. I'm thinking a high cl*** horse trailer. Did you get to peek in the back to to see if there was any remnants of straw or an "ode d'manure?" Did you get to see the motor?
Looks like something from the Funky Junk guys. Howard Hughes had a jimmy of similar year but not quite that big of a body, I believe it was built as a dressing room for the motion picture company.
That is an awesome looking project! That migth have been a "making movies in the wild/field office/photo and film prossesing/film crew"truck But I lack the right words, and appropriate funds to fix something like that.
I agree, the AC gauges were some of the best looking for the period, all the way into the 1960s. This attached pic is a 1939 military bus. Note the tow hooks, and the 4x4 front axle. The same basic ch***is was used in the WWII "Duck".
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