1 Family Owned/10 Year Restoration/235.5ci I6/4-Speed Manual/Shower & Hauler

1949 Chevrolet 4400 Series 1.5 Ton Stake Body Truck 

For consignment, a 1949 Chevrolet 4400 Series 1.5 ton truck that was purchased new by our consignor's great grandfather who used it on the farm.  It was sold out of the family and then years later tracked down by the consignor's father in 2001 who took the next 10 years to fully restore the truck.  We live for stories like this and are honored to represent this awesome truck in our Hallowed Halls. 

Exterior
Beautiful blue paint covers the cab of the truck which had to be one of the largest vehicles in 1949.  It's certainly one of the tallest.  The gleaming paint is accented with a white bumper, silver grille inserts and brightwork that includes headlight rings, door handles, stainless trimmings, and stamped Chevrolet plate on the nose.  Cab lights crown the vertical, two piece fixed windshield.  Vent louvers are located on the right side of the cowl, while a vent panel is on the left.  Wipers are on the windshield cowl rather than on the header as in previous generations.  The wood bed and staked sidewalls are show quality.  As utilitarian as this truck can be, we'd hesitate to put anything back there!  The massive frame has extra taillights and gigantic rear mud flaps create a clean look in the back.  20-inch black wheels hoist the truck upwards with dual wheels on the rear axle.  As the truck has mostly been stored since restoration was completed, we were hard pressed to find any flaws on the exterior. 

Interior
Painted bronze slatted door panels are topped with a brown vinyl section that houses the window crank and door actuator.  The simple bench seat is covered in smooth black vinyl.  The rear wall, and dash are painted in the period bronze hue, all looking pristine.  The steering wheel has a patina we're guessing was left intentionally because it was likely worn by the hands of the great grandfather.  A speedometer in an art deco font is flanked by a clever gauge package of four readouts formed around a circle.  The faces of the gauges also look unrestored.  A robust metal grille in the center which would serve as a speaker grille if this hauler wasn't a radio delete truck, and the glove box has continuity in the grille pattern.  The floor mounted shifter is tall and meets the rubber floor mat that covers the entire floor.  The headliner and visors are a dark saddle brown melamine and in fine shape. 

Drivetrain
The hood opens “alligator” style which was new in 1948.  Inside, a 235.5ci inline six-cylinder engine is in place and this was exclusively a truck engine at the time.  It was rated at 90 horsepower and is fed by a 1-barrel carburetor.  A 4-speed manual transmission sends the spin across town to the rear wheels and 4.56 gears.   The olive green engine and the rest of the engine bay is spotless.  Drum brakes are equipped front and back.  

Undercarriage
The massive black frame and just about everything else underneath is painted satin black.  It's very clean, perhaps just some surface dust and dirt but nothing an hour of detailing couldn't perfect.  The single exhaust has surface rust and trails the length of the truck to meet a muffler and then immediately dumps downward under the bed.  The front leaf springs show just a bit of rust on the edges and the rear massive multi leaf springs look great. 

Drive-Ability
I don't think CDL's existed in 1949 and that's good because I don't have one!  We turned the 6 cylinders over and off we went onto the test loop where we won't be asked to parallel park this giant.  The engine runs well, showing not much speed, but plenty of torque to get the six wheels moving.  It's quite a perch and has a very commanding view of the road.  We broke early and with space to check things out, and everything worked as it should save for the horn relay clicking but no tooting heard when prompted. 

Show truck, museum piece, parade vehicle, collection addition. There's so much potential with this beauty and it's a lot of vehicle for the money.  It's essentially a one family truck with a few years in the hands of another steward.  We have plenty of post war vehicles at the mall but not many have a known history and story like this one.  Are you ready to write the next chapter?

14SKL1087

14-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
SK-1949 Series 4400
L-December Build
1087-Sequential Unit Number 

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