I’ve been making quite a few runs to Home Depot lately, as it’s closer than my preferred local Jerry’s. And I’ve been seeing this ’35 Chevy pickup in the far end of the parking lot where the employees park. And it’s in a different spot every time I see it. So the other day I pulled over to take a quick look. I was curious most of all to find out how original the interior was, and whether it was still sitting on its original chassis.
Quite original indeed! I love the idea of someone driving an 80 year old car to work every day, in mostly original condition. It put a big smile on my face.
And yes, the front end, which I checked out, was also very much original, rusty leaf springs, solid axle and all.
Which leaves only the question of its power train. Could it be…?
Now I’m kicking myself for not getting on down on the pavement to check. I will next time. If it’s a Chevy small block, I’ll not bother to report back.
Aren’t the original pedals supposed to be coming up through the floor? These are hanging down from under the dash. My guess is it has an updated power train.
Yes, those are indeed suspended pedals. At least all the work to re-engineer a clutch pedal eliminates half of the dreaded “350/350” combination. Maybe someone went with a more modern Chevy 6 instead. We can hope.
Being no expert in Chevrolets of this vintage, I have to wonder if modern wheels would fit the original hubs on these.
JP, I have to ask, what would be so wrong about a 350/350 combo in something like this? It is a Chevrolet after all. Yes, I know we are all sick of seeing a SBC stuffed in everything, but there is a reason for it. They are great engines overall, relatively reliable, while parts are easy to find and cheap. And don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to start something, I am just curious on your thoughts.
For me, if it’s not my car, then do as you please. Sure a SBC is boring but I know why people use them, and who I am to judge when someone has put their blood, sweat and hard earned money into a project. I admit, I love seeing interesting or unusual engines in projects, but at the same time, I always respect someone else’s car even if their taste doesn’t coincide with mine.
I’d think based on the wheel and the pedal setup this truck has been updated somewhat, and obviously doesn’t have a TH350 trans. My guess is it was sitting in for a long time before it was brought back to life. And quite honestly if it was a SBC that help put it back on the road, then great. You could pick-up a smog era 350 for next to nothing, and it would be peppy in a truck like this. But if it’s got a Chevy six or something else in it, that’s great too. At least it’s being driven and enjoyed.
You are quite correct that it is easy to sit at a keyboard and make unkind comments about a car that someone loves. I have been guilty of this on the past but was not trying to do so here. This truck is not the typical by-the-numbers hot rod and I think it is cool that it is being driven regularly.
As I was typing my comment I wondered what I would do with it if it were my truck. Those early Chevy sixes were not the most durable things in the world and with the truck in this overall condition I would expect that the engine might not be ready for modern use. That he used a manual transmission shows a willingness to depart from the 350/350 mindset (something I have trouble with because I think that too often it displays a lack of respect for the original vehicle). A newer Chevy 6 would be a nice choice and a Chevy V8 could be plenty satisfying in front of that stick shift. If it were me, I would lean towards a 283, which would give good performance while being a little moew “classic Chevy”.
Thanks for the reply JP, I appreciate hearing your line of thinking. The only reason I wanted to discuss the “dreaded SBC swap” is because I know many who have done these swaps. Over the years I came across lots of old school blue collar guys that would do these sort of swaps on all kinds of old cars. They didn’t care about originality or numbers matching, they just wanted to build a fun car to drive. These guys had lots of skills and pride in their craftsmanship, but didn’t always have a lot of money or resources. They’d use what they had available to them, and make it work.
So when building an old derelict car, if they have an old 350 or even a 305 sitting in their shop, why not use it? At least it gets the car back on the road. Sure it’d be nice to use an old 303 Olds or something more unusual, but building old odd ball engines is expensive and difficult in comparison.
I can think of two local examples I know. One guy is in his 70s and he built a 1938 Plymouth. He is retired doesn’t have a lot of money, but it’s his pride and joy. Guess what powers it? A mildly built 267 SBC! Not exactly a great engine, but perfect for this old guy to go out and cruise in a car he build. Another guy has a 1940 Packard sedan. The old car looks pretty original from the outside, but the original engine long since gave up the ghost. He revived it with a a Chevy 305 he had sitting around and swapped that in place. Sure, the Packard guys are sticking up their noses, and even I admit I’d love to see the original engine run again. But he doesn’t have a lot of money, and this little 305 runs great and is reliable. So, who cares, what’s under the hood, these guys are out their enjoying these cars.
I guess that’s why I hesitate to criticize anyone’s choice on a car build/engine choice even if it’s not the way I’d do it. As long as their being driven and enjoyed, it puts a smile on my face.
There’s some patina. I’d be tempted to take the front fenders off and stomp the dents out of them.
83 years old an a daily driver? Pass. I’m aware that my ’69 Buick is a death trap compared to modern cars, but it at least has decent belts, dual circuit brakes and
a collapsible steering column.
At a car show I saw a 50’s Ford ute driven in. Driver was wearing a helmet, closer inspection revealed a pair of lap belts. At least he made some concessions to
safety.
Kudos to this Home Depot employee for daily driving this relic. I’m impressed. If memory serves, those retrofitted pedals look like the ones from 60’s Chevy/GMC pickups.
Yes it’s a total deathtrap, no argument there. But then so are the motorcycle and scooter I often ride. Everyone picks a level of risk they are comfortable with and saddles up accordingly.
Sure, but no less safe than a motorcycle I would think. Or a bicycle.
My favorite cousin recently died in the night in his bed. There are risks in life.
Yes, but isn’t it great that we live in an age where you could easily retrofit this beast with decent belts, dual circuit brakes and a collapsible steering column?
All is takes is a Google search, a few clicks and a major credit card… 🙂
At my first job out of college a fellow engineer occasionally commuted in his Model A pickup, instead of his usual A100 van. And it was a fairly long Bay Area freeway commute. That came to mind when I saw this post …. but then I realized that the Model A was less than 50 years old at the time.
I remember an older woman who drove a late A roadster to the shops once a week. It was a jaw-dropper to see, but ‘only’ a 40 year old car at the time. There were still quite a few of them in daily use, if you knew where to look.
That reminds me of when I realized the car referenced in the song “Surf City” (“I got a ’34 wagon and I call it a woody”) was “only” a 29 year old car at the time the song was released in 1963.
*Some lyrics sites claim the line is “’30 Ford wagon”, but I always heard “’34 wagon.”
Seconded on the 34 wagon. You know why? There’s this screenshot snagged off of You Tube
Oooh, Dman, Old Pete, now there’s a CC QUOTD, surely? What’s the oldest daily driver you can recall seeing regularly? One you can name with certainty?
For me, it was 1940’s Chev delivery delivery tray truck from our local fruit and veg shop (they delivered!), so crikey, only 30-odd years old in early/mid ’70’s, though ofcourse 70 years old now.
Some people here may well have clear memories of vehicles now 100 years old as part of their (once) daily scenery
Not a daily driver story but close. Sold a restored 28 Ford Model A pickup located in New Jersey for a friend a few years back. When making the arrangements for the new owner to come fetch it from New Hampshire, I asked when he was coming down with the a trailer or flatbed. His response was “Hell no, I’m driving it back !” He appeared the next day in his 32 Ford pickup with his wife, and called later in the week to report an uneventful trip home. 200 plus miles in a truck with mechanical brakes, no seat belts, tires almost as skinny as those mounted on a bicycle and a very low power 4 cylinder engine. Oh boy!
A few years ago I was waiting in line for a movie and a guy pulled up to the curb in a nice Model A sedan, and I chatted with him briefly. It had a few upgrades, slightly wider 16” wires (painted, quite appropriate looking) and matching tires, maybe hydraulic brakes, but totally stock looking to the untrained eye. He told me he drove it regularly and would “drive it across the country, no problem.” Of course, back in the day these were all daily drivers, and even now there’s less to go wrong than on a 30 year old car with electronic carburetor or digital dash.
A few years ago, some guy drove his Model A for a year, it was on this site, http://www.365daysofa.com/, which, unfortunately, doesn’t appear to be working anymore. I found it very interesting.
Tom, I clicked your link, and the “365 days of A” site is still working. I had followed it several yrs ago when Jonathan Klinger was driving his A.
Great site, great info —
An inspiration to us all !!
We covered that here: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/1930-ford-model-a-daily-driver-for-one-year-anyway/
Love the wide stance and deep dish wheels.
Sure is neat looking, thank you for sharing this great find.
I hope it has a later full pressure Blue Flame not a SBC nice old pickup.
Gotta love the single, hanging windshield wiper!
“I love the idea of someone driving an 80 year old car to work every day, in mostly original condition.”
Well, there’s a thin line between original classic and safety hazard.
I don’t care what its running. I like it; wheels and all.
I helped my uncle get a ’29 Chevy pickup on the road back in 1970. What a crude beast to drive. Granted, automotive engineering was progressing quickly in the 1930’s, but the ’35 still had mechanical brakes. At least the transmission was synchronized on the two top gears by then. The six didnt get a significant upgrade until ’37, but still had splash lubricated babbit rod bearings.
A ’54-’62 engine would be a nice semi-original looking upgrade, but not easy to find one today. Hydraulic brakes from a ’36 or later would probably bolt on, but good luck finding all the parts. Transplanting modern more available stuff involves major structural changes. No easy solution to making an original looking daily driver.
This would be different:
http://www.wardsauto.com/news-analysis/general-motors-vortec-42l-dohc-i-6
That is not a 35 , it is a36 , rounded cab, nor visor and horizontal louvers on hood sides
This is a 35. I Have two of them