I am trying to help my father get information on his panel van due to the fact that he says he's to old to start working on it and it needs a new home. I am waiting on him to get the VIN from it The previous owner stated it was a 44 Chevrolet and that's where it ends The rear windows seem to be vintage aftermarket or suburban donor He is looking for information so he can sell the van, he wants $5000 but we need information to see if he is way off asking price. I do have more picts and can get any specific that help Thank everyone for the help.
buddy of mine has this one, updated front susp amd rear, runnin a big block Chevy; his was from a furniture store a long time ago. yours is worth whatever someone's willing to pay...
A 1944 Chevy would not have a chrome grill. They would be blackout style, due to WW II. Also, the front edges of the front fenders would be slightly cut away, in order to save on the steel content. The steel was needed for tanks, ships, and planes, etc.
As above, there would be no brightwork on a 44 anywhere nor things like rubber weatherstripping (it would be rolled cloth)and floor mat. The front clip might of been changed to a later post war but look for the rubber to help ID as a war model. The window was probably put in by the coach builder that did the conversion to ambulance, assuming it was always an ambulance or FD rescue truck.
44 HUH? It's possible....check with www.stovebolt.com and www.brads41-46chevys.com for information on this truck. I just acquired a title to a 43 Chevy pickup.
VIN should be on the side of the cowl, under the pass side hood. MR is the 1942 code, OR is the 1946 code for a 1.5 ton panel truck. 134" wheelbase. Important info is the condition of the truck, rust is not good for value. There might be military or professional vehicle collectors who'd pay some money for it. Kind of long and heavy for a hot rod....but you never know
It's very possible, I don't think these were avalable to the general public, it was military or emergency vehicles only. Beings it is an ambulance/rescue vehicle, try to track down the dept. it was used in. Chances are it wasn't retired till the 60's-70's so there may be an oldtimer that remembers using it in service. This can really help to figure out a price. Plus opens up the market to other types of collecters.
Yeah, BIG 'hot rod'. I saw a '50 Ford 1-ton panel with tall 7.00 X 16" 6-ply tires, done up as a "Ford Dealer Service Car". (they called light trucks 'cars' back then, such as "Tow Cars", etc.) This truck stood tall, was painted Washington Blue, black fenders and beltline, wheels were black steel Budd 6-windows with Washington blue stripes. There was a fictitious Ford Dealer name and phone number on the doors. (KL4-4500 or something similar) Just a mild resto, nothing concours. Looked like a well-maintained Service vehicle, still in use but freshened up. It was memorable.
The bumper does look like it's painted, but the grill and hood side trim, are kinda tough for me to tell. The front fenders are not cut away like a 1944 model would have. Course the front sheetmetal could have been changed at one time. Like Metalman mentioned, look for rubber gaskets, etc. There would be very little rubber used in WW II production cars and trucks. Rubber was a vital war item and had to be saved for the military.
did chevrolet make the van bodies or did the coach builder? might be an earlier chassis that was retitled when the coach builder redid it? trying to remember if the 42-46 cabs(military) had one wiper or two?
That's a big panel truck, built by Chevy. Most coach builders started with a car chassis and front end, and built their own bodies. For examples, see hearses and ambulances based usually on Cadillacs, but also on LaSalles, Packards, Buicks, etc
Reason I asked is that most fire engines were built by different companys and the big 3 cab and chassis. I say big 3 but I know there were more, fwd, federal, oshkosh and so on.
man that thing is rare as chicken teeth,is it possible seeing it was an emergency vehicle,I used to own a 41 1-1/2 ton w/2spdmanual rear,it was a KOOL truck.
Looks like it's going in the for sale section.... Dad is still looking for the vin plate it's mounted on a piece of wood from when the Boy Scouts had the van and used it for shows and parades, it in a box in his attic.
Was a chrome grille an option on this style of Chevy truck? Or did some years come with chrome and other years plated? I've got a 46 half ton pickup, dead stock right down to the original manual crank stowed under the seat, and it has a painted grille. Been in the family since my dad bought it for $75 in 56, and I know nothing has ever been changed on it. The hubcaps are plated and it has wheel trim rings that are either plated or stainless, but the grille was definitely painted from the day it was new. Just curious, and if I ever get around to doing anything with it I'd leave the grille painted. More wondering if chrome was an option, or if there were standard and deluxe versions of these trucks, and the deluxe had a chromed grille.
Interesting....I have a 1946 chevy parts book, it only lists one number for the upper and one number for the lower grilles, no mention of material or finish.
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