1931 Chevrolet Universal 1 Ton Truck
"From every angle, Chevrolet six cylinder trucks meet every truck requirement" proclaims the 1931 truck brochure from Chevy, a work of art with five brightly illustrated vignettes showing various truck configurations in their "natural habitat" and wearing the painted names of businesses that would likely use them. Prices started at $440 for a pickup truck with a commercial chassis and if you wanted bumpers, that would be extra!
For consignment, a 1931 Chevrolet Universal 1 ton truck with a title verified 16,238 actual miles, lovingly restored over the past 20 years with careful attention to original specs and original condition. This is a dramatic classic truck that would be right at home driving through an episode of The Waltons delivering goods to ol' Ike Godsey's General Store.
Exterior
This tall truck starts with a high bumper at the end of a beefy black chassis with headlights set inside the glossy black fenders and in front of a black grille. And that's where the body begins, painted bright red. Based on the color brochure, this is an entirely likely available color. The louvered engine covers, window frames, doors, windshield visor, and entire cab shine in red, a dramatic contrast to the black fenders, running board, and visible chassis. 20-inch black wheels keep the bottom third of the truck monochromatically hued while the tall stakes are constructed of beautiful honey colored planks attached with stainless hardware and black latches. The bed itself, an alternating series of coated planks and stainless braces, is in perfect condition. In fact, we could not find any exterior flaws on this work truck.
Interior
The professionally restored interior begins with beige vinyl panels on the doors, simple and smooth and framed by a stitched edge. The thickly padded bench seat has wide stitched panels, upright and clean. The rest of the interior is as simple as could be with a 3 spoke steering wheel fronting a red metal dashboard housing four gauges and four knobs including choke and throttle in contrasting black, just like the exterior! A bowtie embossed rubber mat covers the floor from which a tall shifter and handbrake rises. It's all in spectacular condition.
Drivetrain
More mint like conditions are found in the engine compartment where a blue blocked 194ci inline 6 cylinder sits pretty and showroom clean. There's a 1-barrel carburetor onboard and a 3-speed manual transmission that sends the 50 horsepower to the rear axle with 6.33 gears in dually configured wheels. Drum brakes are at both ends of the truck.
Undercarriage
Clean underneath with minimal surface rust and dry conditions. A single exhaust flows from the engine to encounter a stock style muffler before exiting under the truck bed. Leaf springs take care of suspension on this big rig, front and rear.
Drive-Ability
Having been built at the Buffalo, New York assembly plant, it's not out of the realm of possibility that this truck may have passed through Morgantown before, in 1932. So, we won't call it a maiden voyage, but we step up to the cab, adjust throttle and choke, and start this better than new stake bed and did a quick loop to test functionality. The ride is smooth on newer tires and while the cabin is car sized, the height and width of the truck must be kept in mind when turning corners and entering garages. No problem! And everything worked as it should including lights, gauges, brakes, and transmission. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Perhaps the most interesting bit of information in our consignor's notes is that this truck has never been entered in a show! Perhaps there was no time due to the devotion given to getting this truck right. And the next steward may or may not take this into the public forum. But it's a fantastic period piece that is also emblematic of an industrious time in America, so whether museum, collection, or show circuit, it will ultimately be enjoyed by someone, most especially the next buyer. Make the call, then say Goodnight, John Boy.
12LS3099
12-Buffalo, NY Assy Plant
LS-1930 Universal 1 1/2 Ton Truck
3099-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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