It isn’t fast and it isn’t show-ready, but this barn-found ’46 Chevy from West Jordan, Utah has an undeniable appeal as the sort of vehicle that takes you back to a different time. With its tapered hood, curvy exterior, and rough-and-tumble demeanor–this old workhorse has all the patina-clad character you could ask for from a panel truck.
The above video offers up an in-depth look at the vehicle: immediately noticeable is the old-fashioned, stenciled lettering on the sides and back door. Meanwhile, the eBay auction page gives us a little more background as to the history of the vehicle drawn from documentation and personal stories.
Apparently, it was originally a two-tone vehicle with a green body and black fenders. A.J. French purchased the vehicle in 1947 (the title for which still exists today) and turned it into his shop truck, painting over the green shade with a maroon red and adding the details of his business on the body.
After the business closed up sometime in the 60s, the truck was moved to a garage near French’s residence and left to sit for twenty years before being sold and shipped down to Utah. From there, the eBay seller claims a friend of his bought the truck, which was immediately sold to the current seller. After so much neglect, the Chevy was given lots of maintenance, including new oil–which hadn’t been changed in decades–new pushrods, a new condenser, and new set of spark plugs for its straight-6 216 motor.
Other than that, it seems this brash Bowtie has kept everything else intact, from its patina to its interior. This no doubt had a hand in the bidding war that ended on the 8th of this month, with a final gavel of $18,834.00. Whoever this new owner is, he’s one lucky son-of-a-gun.