Bought by mistake, this ’46 Chevy pickup is sticking around
“Sold!” Yelled the auctioneer as he pointed directly at me, which I found odd because my paddle wasn’t raised. Matter of fact, I didn’t even have a paddle because I had given it to my mom, Diane, to hold. “Why is he staring at me?” I nervously wondered. I turned in my chair to see if the actual winner was behind me—and instead saw my mom, hand in the air, with a blank expression on her face.
“What did you do? Why did you bid on that?” I whispered through clenched teeth. “The car I came to bid on is the next one.”
And that is the short version of how I came to be the second owner of a 1946 Chevy 3100 ½ ton pickup. A completely original, non-running, one-owner, 44,000-mile mistake of a truck. As the ’68 Mercedes-Benz 280SE that I had come to the auction for in the first place drove onto the stage, I was exiting the hall to write a check and more closely assess the damage my mother had inflicted upon my wallet—and potentially my marriage.
From afar, the truck was attractive. Army green, with its big art deco grille shining in the sun. Upon closer inspection, my enthusiasm began to fade. The block was cracked, the wiring harness was a mess, and the brake lines were no better than window screens. I didn’t want to make my mom any more upset than she already was, so I began looking for the bright side. There was very little rust. The upholstery was in great shape.
Eleven years on, Diane, my mom, has passed away, but Diane the truck soldiers on. I did a full mechanical restoration, but I left her appearance largely untouched. Diane wears her age well, and I can’t imagine her looking more beautiful—scratches, dents, and all.
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Nice trucks are never a mistake.
I recall going on a rescue trip with my dad and Uncle to rescue a geen one just like this from the scrap yard. It was sold and ran well. Not pretty but it did the job!
In 1970 I bought a 46 Chevy pickup with a 55 Chevy 6 replacement engine. It was in Cortez, Colorado and I had to get it back to New England, so I towed it with my 63 Plymouth wagon. And we made it! It was a very good truck and I sold it only because I was a broke student whose Plymouth died miserably a few months after the tow. I miss it to this day. It was perfect, small but sturdy and just beautiful.
Nice truck, love the story.
Looks like a ‘54-early ‘55 bed
I once had a ’46 1 ton pickup. It was a real TRUCK and rode like one. The 1941-46 Chevy pickups were one of the sharpest designs of them all IMHO. I’d still find room in my garage for a nice 1/2 ton.
Great looking truck. Fun family heirloom.
I strangely inherited a 1939 Dodge truck. Someone converted it to propane years ago, I installed radial tires and the old girl is still on the job! Dumps runs, Home Depot runs, taking the dog for a run or just cruising the neighborhood it does it all! Can’t beat the style either.
My neighbor has 1950 Mercury Pickup. Too bad he pulled the flathead a put a 350 in it👎
I wound up with a 1966 Thunderbird in much the same way.
I went to an auction to bid on a 97 Thunderbird,
Was an auction where you had to pay $250 annual membership to get in.
A warm summer day , and I was drinking a 20 Oz Coca-Cola
I had looked at The 66 Thunderbird since I had owned one years ago and it ran but wasn’t in the best of shape , and it was pink .
Or Desert Rose I think was the official name . Very faded , almost a matte color .
During the auction for the 66 , a yellow jacket attracted by the soda kept trying to fly up my nose and I shoo’ed it away .
Second later I hear “SOLD ! , and the auctioneer points take and asks to see my member number .
I tried to explain I didn’t bid on it and he said “lemme see your member number , if you win the bid and don’t buy it you forfeit the entry fee and you’re banned from ever coming back “
So I asked how much the bid was , and he said $850
I was gonna lose the $250 if I didn’t get it so I just kept the car , and drive it for a few years and foolishly sold it .
I thought the faded pink was hideous but everyone else loved it .
Ok Trip, don’t leave us hanging. Why DID she raise her hand? Great story.
Seeing your truck bought back memories of the one that I had 1995 (in Florida), lost my job sold my toys 1 Art Decor, 3 AD’s. The one that I owned was featured in Chevrolet Pickup Color History. It was Gray with black AD fenders like yours. some guy named John bought the vehicle and was shipped up North. When I bought the truck and it had a cracked block, I replaced the 216 with a newer engine out of a Navy Pickup. That engine was a replacement for the Navy pickup and there where NO SERIAL numbers stamped on it. I understand that new replacement engines from Chevrolet did not have serial numbers. But I did shipped the engine with the cracked block with the pickup. Now the speedometer had like a 01602.3. Although the pickup was nicely painted the frame and undercarriage was never cleaned up had a built up of mud and road grease. This old man was just wondering.