COE How Many Running / (or close) COE's in the world

I have often wondered how many 30's, 40's, or 50's COE trucks are being driven, are running, or are currently being built (basically not setting in the dirt field).

Anyone want to venture a guess???

 

Can't count me yet. My '54 cab is sitting inside a friend's shop and my '76 dually crew cab ch***is is sitting behind a buddy's bodyshop. I'm working on collecting parts and should start on it summertime.

 

They aren't all that common at shows. Maybe 3-5 at the average 3-4000 car show, but you see a lot of cabs for sale at swap meets.

 

There were 3 at Scottsdale Good Guys .

 

Personally, I was thinking maybe 400 were being driven/built worldwide...(that includes you daddio) and that would also include restored trucks. Am I too low?

 

When you consider all the restored/originals that are stuck away in garages and never see daylight, I think you are way low. Remember that there are a lot of restorer type people that don't come to the hot rod type of shows, but end up going to the local old tractor/truck shows and i think these includes a higher percentage of COEs than the hot rod scene. My guess is closer to 1000. (not including mine yet)

 

I would guess there are thousands in the US, registered and insured, stock and hot rods. Hell, I'll bet California alone has 400 registered legally, not counting any non-running projects or roadworthy trucks with expired tags.

I'd say Autralia and Europe probably have thousands combined as well.

We don't see that many because, lets face it, there's nothing practical about driving them.

 

Thousands? Over the past 30 years, I have only seen a handful at car shows, and all but one of those were in the last four years. But I guess in basic math, 50 states, average of 100 per state would make 5000.

Oh, and mine is practical...it is practically finished.

 

I will have to agree with thousands as well. I do not have a good idea as to how many thousands. Shoot, I have 3 if you count the LCF. Only 1, the diamond T, is running/driving at this time, but the Dodge and LCF are app 1/2 done each.

I have a theory that coe's are like corvairs, rarely does a person only own one.

I have been to an ATHS show and have seen lots of pics from other ATHS shows and there are more at that type event than others from what I have seen.

I have been paying attention to trucks in general my whole life and coe's in particular app half that, so I probably notice them more than the average person. I would say that I have seen in person more than 100 (running/driving) I am sure.

I do think that most have been repowered vs running the original drive train. Ironic that my DT is all original.

 

I've got 2 at my house if you lump the LCf trucks into the cab over category. One registered and one waiting.....I do not see many but I am in the rust belt so most of ours have returned to the earth.....

 

I have one running/driving original 1959 Ford C550 COE but that is it. I have seen 2 or 3 that are in running/driving condition in Tulsa, that is including one White COE Semi. (That is one ***y truck) I would say in the USA, maybe 3-4000 that are roadworthy... Just a guess though.

 

I saw one Stude COE at the Del Mar,CA good guys 11/2013, Zero at the Costa Mesa For a Cure show in Sept (ish) 2013. Im guessing thats 1 out of about 1300 to 1500 cars.

 

I think the numbers are quite low. I've been going to swapmeets and carshows across Canada and the US since the early '80's and have seen less than 5 COE's in all that time. There have only been about that many appear in magazines (that I'm aware of). And besides mine I only know of three others in this area - one driver, one project and one fully restored. Sure, there are some rotting into the ground but they shouldn't count until someone has at 'em. My guess would be 500 tops in North America - 1000 worldwide ... TOPS !

 

It's a great question and I have no clue. Anyone have a connection to an insurance company with the ability to look at the numbers? Mine is sitting next to the garage waiting on me to get started on it, so not running and driving at this time.

 

CG - yours counts because you are working on it (even if it is just on the in the planning stages).

 

My 2 cents is there is a lot of caretakers of c.o.e's and way fewer that go up and down the road. I have 5 and only one drives. Also the west has way more survivors due to the eastern rust belt.I also think that the steering beats quite a few builders as well as unlike a 32 ford or something similar there is no catalog for building one so some skills are needed. A few years ago they took a picture of 10+ at the GG event in Spokane WA. I'll guess this was the most Hot Rodded c.o.e.'s from the 40's and 50's in one place. Picture someone please!

 

You are right. I personally know of 9 COE trucks in Kansas City, only 4 of those run and drive. I was offered a 38 Ford COE, if I would build the steering for another. I'd do it, but I misplaced the guys phone number and name.

 

I also know of several parked COE's but only a few that are drivable. Unfortunately, they were mostly farm trucks. When they got older, a lot of them became buckrakes or hay wagons. I would guess several thousand left, but maybe about 1500 updated and drivable.

 

Found that pic I posted about. OK there's only 9

 

At the Grand Nat. Rod show in Pomona Last week their were None. The show was excellent and the most cars/trucks I have seen at one location.

 

Sure there was, but it was in the parking lot.

 

Well, at least I know mine runs and drives. I had it out this week. It was 24 degrees outside, no heater and I smiled the entire time.

As for the picture above...
I really like the trim on the top of the box...!

 

In my area of maybe 50k people, there are 5 that I know of including mine...all drivers except mine.

 

Post some pics of all those drivers if you have them Scott

 

I just bought one and it's due to arrive tomorrow. Its a running 1947 Ford COE dump bed. I have some plans for it, that's for sure, but I've been looking for guidance on here...so I'm planning on loading pictures and starting a project page next week. It's been a bit disappointing because most of the "projects" on here don't really get "finished" on here. I haven't been able to upload any pictures, do I have to be a member? Thanks in advance for all the future input guys, I'm gonna need it!

 

Does mine count? Been rocking & rolling since 1986.

They ARE like Corvairs, when you drive 'em, somebody says "hey I know where one of these things, can be had" And "off we go" had 6, from '39 to 52..
Corvairs, had over a dozen, still can't walk by one.. hav'ta look.

 

Hey, I can get "counted" now too!!

At the hot rod reunion at New England Dragway last year, there was my COE and 1 other (who is a member of this forum). I don't know the car total at the show, but it had to be more than 1000.

 

Counted 18 at GG Scotsdale last November. 12 at LSR this year , mine by end of year .

 

Just got my original 39 Chevy 1 1/2 Ton COE 131" WB home a few weeks ago and find this site very informative. Plan is to hot rod but would like to find out more about ch***is/drivetrain set up as I need it to be lower to the ground and really long trip drivable as I put about 25k miles per year on my 39 Chevy 1/2 Ton Street Rod.

 

For some reason, never clicked to view this thread.

If you count the 1957-1990 ford square face tilt cab COEs, the number goes thru the roof...
JML