Farm Fresh: 1941 Chevrolet Pick Up
If I had unlimited resources, I would certainly own a large storage space and it would be full of old farm trucks. I am not sure why I like them so much. I did work on a farm in Oregon for a summer when I was 20 years old, and really liked the work, and especially driving the ’47 Chevy two ton stakebed, though the times we had to fill it with manure were not so much fun.
Anyway, this 1941 Chevy farm truck is for sale here on craigslist and is located in Englishtown, New Jersey. Let me be cranky for just a moment here about weirdly bad Craigslist ads, of which this is a good example. The seller provides exactly one photo, and the only description of the truck he is trying to sell is the following: “Recently pulled out of long time storage. Starts runs and drives. Came from a farm in Stockton NJ.” The seller goes on to say that the truck “will be shown” at the Englishtown Spring swap meet (that took place back in April – and quite evidently, the truck did not sell there). At the $9,500 asking price, you’d think the seller would spend some time on his ad.
While I think the asking price is just a bit on the high side, I feel that way that about almost every classic car and truck I see for sale these days. Perhaps I have not adjusted my thinking to current price levels, and probably I never will. But this is a cool old truck with undeniably great charm. Stockton, New Jersey, where it comes from, is a beautiful old Delaware River town, and when I look at this truck, I feel like I can be transported to a different place and time. I love the dents in the fenders and the Maple Leaf Farm sign painted on the doors. It’s a little too far away, and a little too expensive for me to chase, but this truck is so evocative for me, and even with the minimalist ad here, it’s tempting me, nonetheless.
I wrote about another one of these trucks, a 1941 pick up from the West Coast back in February. I think I would rather have this New Jersey one instead.
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Comments
I love these trucks…….the only weakness is the lack of an oil pump. I would save the orignal engine and replace it with a good later model 235. Chevrolet/GMC over head valve engines were of advanced design and were more powerful. The Dodge flathead was probably a bit more robust but the Fisher bodies were always better. I took a drive around through New Meadows back to Mcall, Cascade Payette (Idaho) and home last weekend. We must have seen a hundred old farm trucks laying around. The Pickups always have more value but as the larger trucks increase in value, they will come on the market moderating prices. This little pickup is the best.
Hi Dave. Actually the 216 ‘babbit-pounders’ had an oil pump. The con rod big and small ends were splash. Don’t sell that old Stovebolt short; it was one TOUGH motor. It sometimes gets a little discouraging to see your oil pressure holding steady at 12 psi when you’re cruising down the highway but they’ll do it for a long time. A lot of local farmers had 1 1/2 and 2 ton grain trucks with 216s and they ran the bag out of them. They always came back for more.
Low oil pressure was always the bane of Chevrolet engines. 35 lbs vs 70 in Chrysler engines. If the engine had any bearing wear or worn crank 12 psi was common. . My dad made a good living in the early 50’s replacing 216’s with 270’s and 235’s in farm trucks used around The Paloose grain farms.
You’re right right there; GM ran low oil pressure right across the board even with full pressure systems. Spec was ‘Noticeable oil pressure at idle and (minimum) 35 psi at cruising speed. The old 216 was a low pressure system (0-30). My ’49 will develop around 18-20 (cold) and a steady 12 at 55 mph. But it’s done it for 42K miles. I know a few guys who upgraded to 235 engines and they were happy with them, but those who kept the old ones are happy with them too. In my days in the service department, I saw the odd rod get pounded out but no catastrophic failures. I give that award to International; I had a customer tow in one of those where the rod came out of the piston–pushed out both sides of the block and when the rattling stopped the rod was laying on the road…
What gets me about this is the flipper driving the price up – or trying to. I doubt the paid more than $2,500. for it if he didn’t get it for nothing.
Hi Matt, BINGO! I’m not going to say anything good or bad. I guess it’s like any antique, and rules from years ago don’t apply. When some people see certain antiques, they don’t necessarily think of the different makes, just what an antique truck should look like and this truck is exactly what some people think of when they want an antique truck, and why not cash in on that? I’m not saying it’s something I’d do, but there it is. Clearly, I’d be very surprised if they get even half that, but you never know. I’m currently staying in upstate NY with friends and people really piss the money away out here.( $200 pair of shoes is normal) They have enough money to do what they want, whatever the cost, and if they want an antique truck, guess what? They’re gonna get it. Never get that in Wis. but here, maybe? The biggest problem, is it ruins it for the rest of us, as we remember paying $200 for these, and could never justify 2 grand, much less 10. Somebody will buy this, and spend another 20g’s turning it into a resto-mod, and I guess that’s ok.
I’m completely hopeless when it comes to trucks. Give me a shop and a boneyard full of derelicts and I’d think I died and went to Heaven. This truck needs a driver restoration. Keep the Stovebolt or drop in a 235. Fix it and drive it.
Those Chevy 6s wore out quickly, but after they were worn out, they lasted forever. :-) Terry J
I don’t recall seeing a ’41 Chevy pickup before but I do recall seeing the grille design before—on a ’39 Ford. The lights and hood are different, but nice grille on this Chevy anyway, even if it does remind me of a Ford.
I had to look back at the picture, Dolphin, but your right…an oversized 39 Ford grille.
Being a ford guy I have to blow the horn for the old Flathead 8 that went forever.
I have a 52 Ford pickup and rebuilt the engine in the early 1980s and it still runs smooth and quiet as a daily summer driver. I don’t know the mileage though, because I’m on my third speedometer.
LOVE old trucks. I would take it as a daily driver even here in hot Florida.
I’ve seen this truck for sale for a couple of years now. The seller is just asking waaaaay too much. Which is why it remains for sale. I’d buy it in a heart beat since it’s right around the corner from me.
That being said, I have seen it run and drive. It does both very well.
Yup those old trucks were legion in Eastern Oregon farm country. Hey David, where in Oregon did you work when you were 20? Doing what? I worked in those fields from the time I was shorter than the wheat to leaving home at 18 ( 50s-60s). The old Chevy/GMC trucks had a tough granny gear 4 speed tranny. No synchros to speak of and a lever & rod just below the gear shift knob that you pulled up on to get it into reverse. In those days, when the rods started to knock, Dad just popped in a 235 which were still being built ( through 1962) and were everywhere. Hard to find a good one today however. :-) Terry J
Terry – I was in Glendale, off I-5 north of Grants Pass. It was on an old farm that was trying to be a commune. Corn and vegetables for the most part, a few cows. It lasted for about 15 years, but I was only there for a summer and a half during college. It was the hardest physical work I ever did, but I really enjoyed it, and I was for one of the few who enjoyed driving the old non synchro trucks, so I got to do a fair amount of driving. That was 1970-1 and old trucks were very common and still in regular farm and logging use around there then.
I just love the 41 I learned to drive iPad n a 41md dad had I was 13 then I’ve always wanted to get one most prices are high to me I want to restore it back to its day like dad’s I will find one somewhere [email protected]