trucks built from cut down sedans.

A few years back I built a really nice pickup cab from a rough 28 Essex 4 door sedan. I wish I could find the pics of it but so far no luck. Anyhow I am thinking of doing it again but with a much bigger car. I have a very nice wedge bed car hauler that had an 81 chevy cab on it I used on another truck. The bed, frame, and running gear are all still complete. My plan was to use an older cab on it, but haven't come across anything to suit me. I have a 37 Cadillac 4 door sedan that has an unbelievable front end and front doors, but has plenty of other issues. I have tried to part it out for a couple of years but have never sold the first part. I am considering cutting it down to a truck cab. I measured it all out and it is very close to a perfect fit the way I would cut it. Has anyone else done this with a big mid to late 30s GM? Caddy has a very long front end, and I think it would look bitchin! No sidemounts on my fenders either. I have a beautiful original dash for the caddy too. Let's her some opinions.

 

I think if done right that would look awesome.

 

I think it's a GREAT idea!..a while back there were some pics floating around of a '38 Buick sedan made into a pickup that was used to pull a horse trailer back in the day.
It could/would be similar to a late 30's Studebaker Coupe Express......handsome vehicle. The Caddy would really have a lot of class. The rear cab enclosure and bed/fender style will be important. Go for it!

 

Something coming up soon !

 

My Essex started life as a 2-door sedan. I see no reason why newer bodies couldn't be done as well.

 

Well as for the bed and rear fenders they would be a wedge car hauler bed. The reson for the interest in the big car is for the 1 ton car hauler frame. The wedge bed was a factory conversion on an 81 chevy that I took apart. It only has 26000 miles on it and is like new. It is a very neat truck and I think the caddy turned truck can would be very fitting. I have had Mack, Reo, and Diamond T car haulers, but I want somethin 1 of a kind and different this time

 

I think it wuld be awesome if done right. I'd say go for it...you have nothing to loos but time basically. Post pics and keep us updated!!!

 

I am going to build it. I just have to finish the dually I am building now before I get started on it. I have to figure out what I am going to do with the back yet and decide on what motor to run. The truck frame has a great low mile 350/4 speed set up now, but I also have both 49 and 56 Caddys with good running mills in them that I am parting out. I might go with an all caddy running gear. Decisions decision!

 

About Ten years ago I painted a 36 LaSalle that was originally a 4 dr, They kept the Door post dividing the two doors, cut away the rest Except the roof, and Folded the roof making the back of the cab welded to the post and leaded up, with a generic oval back window. It was done pretty damn well and looked cool!

 

That sounds like a cool ride. What did they use for a bed on it? Any chance of a pic? The backglass is another concern of mine. I have the tall wedge bed to deal with and have to figure something that will be able to be used above the bed line. I am going to have to do some measuring.

 

Anyone have any pics of mid to late 30's GMs cut down to truck cabs?

 

Somewhere I seen a real cool 41 Ford made into a pickup, I think Scratch was the builder. Can’t find any pick’s of the truck, perhaps someone have some picks.

Lars

 

No sadly I didn't take a pic of that one, there was no bed on it, but the owner was going to send it out and have a custom oak canopy body made, like a fruit vendors truck, I never saw it finished out cause I moved before he got the body on. The window was just an oval shaped with universal rubber cut to fit... If you look around long enuff on line you'll see pickures of stuff like this as apparently this was common in the 30's and 40's to cut things down. I'll see what I can drum up.......

 

I've seen several big 30s Buicks and such made into trucks - probably because in WW2 you got a bigger gas ration for a truck than a car. There has been a 1938 Chrysler pickup (labeled as a 1939) on Ebay every month or two for the past year.

 

I'd bet that if you post some side shots of the car and the chassis taken from the same distance someone on here would be glad to photo shop it for you.

Maybe you could use the back of an advanced design cab, suitably narrowed and somehow matching the bead up.

 

They often used large cars that were used/wrecked and relatively cheap to make wreckers because they had strong frames and big motors, and new trucks cost a lot.

 

Hudson trucks should look pretty close to what you are thinking of. they have a really long nose on them.

 

I don't have pics of it, but a friend in The Islands has a big battery business, and also loves old stuff. He bought a 39 Chevy COE Cab and had it shipped to St.Thomas. Also found a 30 Series HD short frame Chevy Chassis with a blown engine. Got a 6 inline crate engine, mounted a flat bed. Took the cab split it and made it 2" wider, made it a tilt cab, added AC and he has a battery hauler, able to haul 2 pallets of batterys and it looks great. Couldn't get any head lamps, so he mounted 32 Ford Repops and they look real sweet on the original stands. So its some thing similar to your your plan, and it can be a real nice job if it well planed out. Iceman

 

My 37 Dodge, former 4 door.

 

Just found this pic searching the web. It is a 37 Plymouth it says. I dont know if it is a cut down sedan or a factory truck but it is badass and exactly what I invision.

 

I want that truck!!!!!!

 

Anyone have any info on that truck. after looking again the link on goog;e was back to the hamb so someone here posted the pics. Any info?

 

Evel...that's a nicely done Diamond T truck, not any Plymouth.
the 38 Buick mentioned earlier that was made into a truck was the one built to haul the famous race horse Seabisquit; the horse's owner had it built and he also owned many Buick dealerships in California, got a photo or two somewhere...

 

That Dimond T is soo badd ass!

 

Yeah after a cloer look it is defientaly a Diamond T. Kinda odd I messed that up. I have one...lol. It is for sale in the classified section here. I just was reading half asleep and searching for 37 Plymtouh and that came up. SOrry. Still an awsome hauler non the less.

 

1939 Pontiac moredoor into roadster ute

 

this seams to be what that started out as,as far as the sedan,like someone said ,post a side shot picture for some photo shop

 

toddc you have any build pics on that 39 RPU.Looks very interesting and a good use of a old more door.Would love to know what the metal is from that is used on the gate and sides.Looks to be from another rig.Nice work.

 

Hell yeah it's a cool idea! you'd have nice long doors and some legroom if you used a 2door.
I had bid on but didn't win a 38 chevy 2 door sedan body shell. it didn't have doors I was going to chop the top and shorten it into something of an extended cab. for doors I was just going to make half door frames and cover them in canvas jeep style.
I don't know if I'll get to it but I mapped out how to chop narrow and section a 77 ford van into a pickup cab. I have it all cut up and put away for the winter.
I photochopped it (really badly) as if it were welded back together and on some other Hamber's chassis


I picked up a 75 f100 chassis it has the perfect shape to flip upside down, put the cab where the front of the box should sit and the drop down in the frame for the old f100 cab will become the kickup in front of the fabricated cab where the new engine will sit.(if I ever get to it)
I got the frame with a 9" in it for $100 and swapped a set of old tires on 8lug rims for a 64 c10 rear suspension. picked up a 46 chevy front axle cheap from a guy switching to MustangII and have a fresh broke in 389 pontiac with an offy dual quad and a 4speed That I swapped a couple parts cars for.
I don't know if I'td be cool but it would be fun to stitch back together
I like your idea!

 

Fitzee,the '39 Ute looks like it is built on/from a S-10 blazer,in the '90's. the stance and wheels say S-10,the rear body tub is and it is sure neat! leave it to an aussie!