VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Commercial Vehicles Rare '47 - '48 450 Series GMC COE ?

The conversion on my truck was done years before I purchased my COE. The '51 has a 1957 235 with a stock downdraft manifold and a Rochester Model B carburetor. The floor board was cut out so that the carb. could poke through. A special adaptor was made to sit on top of the carburetor air horn, and a draft tube goes from the adaptor to a firewall mounted air cleaner that is mounted on the passenger side firewall under the hood. The line for the hydrovac also connects to this adaptor. The whole system works great, and the truck has lots of power and the gas mileage doubled. The best part is that ya can adjust the carb. while you are driving the truck! Ya! :cool2: :eek:

My '50 GMC 600 series COE had a home made manifold with a downdraft F*rd 2bbl. when I first bought it. But with the Heavy Duty GMC COE's the Carb.is mounted on the pass. side of the engine, thus they had raised the floor board to clear the carb. I have since found a orig. used manifold & found a Nos Zenith side draft carb. to put it back original.

I see the seller has now learned he has a "RARE" truck, thanks to you guys.

You speak the truth, I have learned to set certain "standards" on condition and etc, including the model I really want to have.

It takes more time and effort but you get what you really wanted at the end of the restoration.

The only problem is forcing yourself to stick to your standards when looking at something close, and the temptations set in.....

Actually fellas, the guy does have a Rare Truck, regardless of the condition. To some of us Big truck restorers this truck is a good buy even at the, Buy It Now price. Being a member of the ATHS (American Truck Historical Society)we can usually find a Club member close enough to check these trucks out, & even lend a helping hand in transporting a Truck. 450 series GMC COE's are scarce,especially '47 & '48 models, & especially if that tandem set up is factory, or is one of those outside jobber conversions ,like the setup on my '54 Chevy COE. If I didn't already have the ones I have I'd buy it myself. To me the fun of it is restoring it back to original. To someone wanting to modernize one, it probably wouldn't be worth the hassle & being a 450 or 470 wouldn't make a difference. The 350 series GMC COE's are the most common.

'lil johnny, I had a gentleman call me last night that is in negotiations, with the guy on that '47-'48 COE. He told me that the seller had emailed him more pic.'s of the truck, & he said it didn't look too bad. Alot of surface rust, but not much rust through.

Lenon laws effect new vehicles more than used but even used vehicles ("as is") have to have some items that work by law unless you acknowledge before hand that you accept it in a non-working condition. Basic things like brakes, steering, safety items, etc. The catch is of course you would have to file in their town in small claims or civil court and it would be a hassel and a half to get your money back in time and travel, etc.

In most of the states that I have dealt in the odometer disclosure (federal mandated) and lemon laws exempt vehicles 25 years old and older.

it basically it ends up as "WYSIWYG"

Yep, When you buy a vehicle as a vehicle, you best find out who really ownes it...that is the person to whom it's title names in the owner's line, no title, no vehicle, without a I.D. number visible on the vehicle that matches the I.D. number on the title, no vehicle..what you have is a pile of well used parts, usually called Junk. Some useable, many that are not..... "A very easy restoration project!"

In Florida you can demand the name of who owned the used car before you buy it. I have had some calls on cars I traded and I have made calls before buying. The used car saleman pretends to never to have heard of this, until you let them know that you know your rights, strange.....

The state has a web site also that lets you research the history of the car. Cool.

Does the VCCA have any provisions for checking out cars/trucks for members in other parts of the country? Some clubs try to do this for their members.

Does he give you the $5 when you remove it for him? How about some gas money?

Joking, this is a really big project, looks like almost everything would need to be replaced......it would take too many years for me.

Sad, really sad sight...

Yeah fellas, Coe trucks are Rare, but the '47-'54 Chevy 2 Tons & GMC 350 series 2 Tons are a little more commonly found than that '48 GMC 450 that we started this post about. This '49 Chevy has alot more rust than I usually find around here. I bought a couple of ex. Southern Railway Chevy COE's that had been sitting since 1961, & they don't look near as bad as this one. It does have some desirable goodies on it though. That stainless window trim (if good) brings pretty good money. Spanky

Hey Gator, That '49 is a parts truck at best. I've never seen a fender or grille that rotten. Can you imagine what the interior must look like(floor boards, cab corners, bottoms of doors, etc.). It wouldn't be practical to even think about restoring this truck. Looks good just being a Landmark. It's a shame to even disturb it, I'd take that stainless trim off of it, and leave it alone. Spanky

Spanky,
For $5.50 you could be the winner of this truck, strip off all of the parts and melt down the rest. Or strip off all of the bad stuff and take the rest home. Motor and tranny, etc could be useful also, maybe....

I like the way the bumper bolts still shine with all of that rotten metal around them.

This is a good example of the pieces being worth more than the whole.

You're right this truck makes the '48 look cherry and the '48 didn't sell (only $610 offered) so you can still get it.