1944 Hauler... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jrdecat · 11-14-2010, 12:27 PM

So the story goes that in 1944 my great-grandfather needed a grain truck for the family farm. He wrote a letter to his congressman and somehow was able to buy this truck brand new...I guess they were hard to get at that time (sarcasm implied). My grandfather would take my grandmother to his baseball games in it because it was new and he like to show it off. They used it until they got a 63 (I think) with a dump bed. The ol' 44 was parked in the barn with the grain bins where it has sat until a couple of years ago when the old grain barn was torn down. My dad pulled it out into the pasture where it has sat since then. My grandmother is pretty mad that he hasn't put it back in a protected area yet. She wants the truck restored to it's former glory so that she can see it driven in the yearly local parade. I've never restored a vehicle before so I don't know the first place to start. My grandmother probably won't want to spend more than about $10k on it, but who knows. It can be used as a tax write off because it would be a "farm expense" so we could do it up right! Throw out some ideas, suggestions, or just general comments. Also, if anyone knows of a place to get resto work like this done near Amarillo, TX let me know! Thank you all!

The pics were taken with a cell phone so please excuse the quality.

http://s416.photobucket.com/albums/p...at/44%20Truck/

raycow · 11-14-2010, 12:59 PM

That truck is way too nice to be sitting out in the weather. Isn't there some way you can get it under cover?

Ray

Restrorob · 11-14-2010, 01:27 PM

I agree with Ray, Your grandmother needs to get a whip out on your dad and get it back under cover !

Super NICE condition for sure !!!

Good Luck with the restore.....

BTW, Welcome to the board.

63 & 64 Bowties · 11-14-2010, 09:14 PM

OMG that is a beauty for sure.
Thanks for sharing the story. And, welcome to the forum.

jrdecat · 11-15-2010, 03:47 PM

Thanks for the positive feedback and the warm welcome. My goal is to have this old truck protected by the end of this week. Not that we would ever sell this piece of family history...but what might something like this be worth. I know there are not a lot of good pics to really give an accurate estimate, but just ballpark it. I was looking at it again yesterday and the seat doesn't have a single rip in it. The back glass has fallen out, but it is still intact. The only glass that is bad is the driver's side. As you can see from the pics, the lights are still even there. The more I look at it, the more potential I see. I can't get over the "turn signal" thing that is sticking out on the driver's side. I doubt there is a single thing on that truck that isn't original...

**WIDESIDE72** · 05-25-2012, 12:30 AM

What ever became of the old '44???

11-14-2010, 12:27 PM	#1
jrdecat Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 120	1944 Hauler... So the story goes that in 1944 my great-grandfather needed a grain truck for the family farm. He wrote a letter to his congressman and somehow was able to buy this truck brand new...I guess they were hard to get at that time (sarcasm implied). My grandfather would take my grandmother to his baseball games in it because it was new and he like to show it off. They used it until they got a 63 (I think) with a dump bed. The ol' 44 was parked in the barn with the grain bins where it has sat until a couple of years ago when the old grain barn was torn down. My dad pulled it out into the pasture where it has sat since then. My grandmother is pretty mad that he hasn't put it back in a protected area yet. She wants the truck restored to it's former glory so that she can see it driven in the yearly local parade. I've never restored a vehicle before so I don't know the first place to start. My grandmother probably won't want to spend more than about $10k on it, but who knows. It can be used as a tax write off because it would be a "farm expense" so we could do it up right! Throw out some ideas, suggestions, or just general comments. Also, if anyone knows of a place to get resto work like this done near Amarillo, TX let me know! Thank you all! The pics were taken with a cell phone so please excuse the quality. http://s416.photobucket.com/albums/p...at/44%20Truck/

11-14-2010, 12:59 PM	#2
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: 1944 Hauler... That truck is way too nice to be sitting out in the weather. Isn't there some way you can get it under cover? Ray __________________ Live more responsibly. Eat lower on the food chain. Eat vegetarians.

11-14-2010, 01:27 PM	#3
Restrorob The One And Only !!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hole in the woods Florida Posts: 4,567	Re: 1944 Hauler... I agree with Ray, Your grandmother needs to get a whip out on your dad and get it back under cover ! Super NICE condition for sure !!! Good Luck with the restore..... BTW, Welcome to the board. __________________ 93 Jeep XJ 88 Buick La Sabra Toys; 88 TA-GTA in the works.... 97 GMC Ext. Cab 502 Crate 5 Spd......Sucks Gas But Haulz Azz ! The primary function of an Engineer is to make it difficult for the Fabricator and impossible for the Mechanic. *"Why go out preserved when you can go out beat up, worn out, sliding in sideways screaming, Holy Sh!t What A Ride" !!!* Last edited by Restrorob; 11-14-2010 at 01:28 PM.

11-14-2010, 09:14 PM	#4
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: 1944 Hauler... OMG that is a beauty for sure. Thanks for sharing the story. And, welcome to the forum. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

11-15-2010, 03:47 PM	#5
jrdecat Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 120	Re: 1944 Hauler... Thanks for the positive feedback and the warm welcome. My goal is to have this old truck protected by the end of this week. Not that we would ever sell this piece of family history...but what might something like this be worth. I know there are not a lot of good pics to really give an accurate estimate, but just ballpark it. I was looking at it again yesterday and the seat doesn't have a single rip in it. The back glass has fallen out, but it is still intact. The only glass that is bad is the driver's side. As you can see from the pics, the lights are still even there. The more I look at it, the more potential I see. I can't get over the "turn signal" thing that is sticking out on the driver's side. I doubt there is a single thing on that truck that isn't original...

05-25-2012, 12:30 AM	#6
WIDESIDE72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 7,494	Re: 1944 Hauler... What ever became of the old '44???



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