Time to stump the experts: Identify this truck!

[Carl Spangler]

OK guys, I came across this truck in a ditch off of a trail on Orcas Is Wa. My WAG is that it fell into this ditch back in the 40's. The remnants of the frame rails are below the cab.

Any idea what the heck it is???

[special-K]

'40 Ford p/u

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by special-K

'40 Ford p/u

Thanks!

[special-K]

that's just my wild guess. The cab was used through WWII till the F1s came out. That's my guess based on all the meat over top of the window. The Fords always looked more massive above the windshield and back window. But now I look at the beltline bead and see it is different. The '38s have a double bead, but even those curve more than the one pictured. Who knows? I just got things started. Let's see what others think

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by special-K

that's just my wild guess. The cab was used through WWII till the F1s came out. That's my guess based on all the meat over top of the window. The Fords always looked more massive above the windshield and back window. But now I look at the beltline bead and see it is different. The '38s have a double bead, but even those curve more than the one pictured. Who knows? I just got things started. Let's see what others think

Thanks for the additional input. I can see the curved 'skirt' on that pic well.

The ditch-truck looks to have a straight skirt. Fun stuff!!

[ls1nova71]

Looks like a '37-38-ish Chevy to me. Fords are seamed above the rear window and not below it, which you can clearly see the seam has come apart on this truck below the window. I think the top is pushed in and makes it appear to have more metal above the window like a Ford.

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Looks like a '37-38-ish Chevy to me. Fords are seamed above the rear window and not below it, which you can clearly see the seam has come apart on this truck below the window. I think the top is pushed in and makes it appear to have more metal above the window like a Ford.

Wow, I think that looks like a VERY good match.

Way cool to all the help ID'ing this truck.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

Looks like a '37-38-ish Chevy to me. Fords are seamed above the rear window and not below it, which you can clearly see the seam has come apart on this truck below the window. I think the top is pushed in and makes it appear to have more metal above the window like a Ford.

I think you're right. Now I see it's pushed in and can also see the lower part of the cab still there (with the lower bead that GMs had. I had wondered about the upper seam that Fords have, but couldn't tell if it was there or not. If it was a Ford they would have also burned it

[mongocanfly]

""Naw,, I don't want to sell it,,, gonna fix her up some day""!!!!!

[sawman]

47 studebaker

[michael bustamante]

i was thinking stude as well but that chevy is a pretty good match

[sawman]

I am almost positive, its a studabaker,also that little bracket you see was the turn signal base there would be a red metal arm that you pulled the rod inside arm would drop to which way you were turning,its in the same spot as on my studabaker,back of the cab looks just like it,always lol when I see the turn signals they had back then.little history old general stores used the same set up for buses when a passemnger was to be pick up red arm would be put up,like a mail box lol

[mr48chev]

Those semaphore turn signals were common on a lot of 30's and 40's trucks. My grandfather had one on his 48 Chev 1 ton flatbed. You pulled a cable that ran inside the top along over the door and pulling it part way signaled a left turn and pulling it all the way to the stop for a right turn.

I'd imagine that when that truck died years ago they stripped off usable parts and shoved the remains off in the ravine to get rid of it because the cost of hauling it off the island was more than any scrap value for the truck.

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Those semaphore turn signals were common on a lot of 30's and 40's trucks. My grandfather had one on his 48 Chev 1 ton flatbed. You pulled a cable that ran inside the top along over the door and pulling it part way signaled a left turn and pulling it all the way to the stop for a right turn.

I'd imagine that when that truck died years ago they stripped off usable parts and shoved the remains off in the ravine to get rid of it because the cost of hauling it off the island was more than any scrap value for the truck.

Very interesting indeed. I found a couple pics of 47 Stude's and have to say this ditch-truck cab looks a bit different.

The truck was about 1 mile up a very steep "fire-road" on Turtleback Mtn. My initial assumption was that the truck got up there under its own power. But, that's just a guess.

[b.sharp]

Most definitely a 37 or 38 chevy/GMC cab. I have a couple and they are the only cabs I have seen with the double belt line and rear window in this configuration.

[paulspickupparts]

36-38 Chevy or GMC . The way it fell apart I would say a 36 as that year still used an inner wooden frame structure. 37 and 38 switched to metal. Also you can tell by the dash that is the 36-38 vintage. Holes for the potmetal rear window frame are also an incicator. Double beltline as in the complete cab pictured.