Need information about this 1941 GMC

My question about wheel base has to do with the van body as shown in the old photos and indicated as a K18 Radio Truck. I guess, what I am wondering is if the production numbers previously given are just for the K18 and that was the only use of that body. If there were actually more of these Hicks bodies used for other applications, there might be a few more available to collect. I really like the looks of those trucks and in the 4x2 configuration (AFX as opposed to the AFKX) it would make a great parade truck.

Let us know when the restoration thread starts so I can subscribe.

Sorry I didn't understand you, now I think I do. The numbers given are prolly for the military's vans. The Hick's company made school bus body's and van body's so it is possible you might find one like this out there, or use a bus body and mod it to look like this one. Then there is the "Jeeper's Creepers" COE and it had some kinda box body on it. You might look into them a bit more to find something at least close....

Is there anything in Crimson's book?

I found these on another page there is a guy with the S/N K-18 building it. you might try getting a hold of him and find out if he knows anything this would also be a good place to talk to guys that know there COE trucks.


Here is a link to the site so you can try to contact them and the owner of this one. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=219018&page=225

Thanks, I notice as well that there are different Grills. I suspect that has to do with Vehicle capacity. Ton and a half versus 2 ton or larger??? So much to learn.

It looks to me like someone used one of the old GMC COE K18's to make his custom car hauler. In all of my looking so far the K18 is the only style of body that I would call a "High Boy" as it rises far above the windshield. And all the civilian versions of this vintage GMC COE truck that I can find photos of do not rise as far above the windshield. As well, the doors follow the widening of the cab from the hood to the body rather than the body extending out from behind the doors. I have not been able to find this widening of the cab to meet the body width anywhere else. It would appear the truck model number is CF351 and K18 is the radio van application With the GM code AFX indicating it is a single axle drive (2x4) Cab Over Engine. I am back to wondering if there were other military applications for this "tall boy" body. I have seen mentioned several times the possibility of these being used for small arms repair trucks etc. There is something really intriguing about this particular body. I am surprised there were not more of them produced. Perhaps it had to do with making lots of the same things quickly so as to overwhelm the axis powers with numbers. (accidently posted the photo of the ccw I found a while back and I can't figure out how to delete it.)

Same as oldfart - the grille is the dead giveaway.
The lower grille - almost all you can find are Vertical intakes - as well as the uppers section.
Then you can find where just the upper section goes horizontal - then vice versa on others.

Just for curiosity sake I know I have gotten to at least 3 ends of web pages searches just looking to find at least ONE picture of the identical grille - no luck - Jeepers Creepers is about the closest I have gotten as well.

I do remember some later Hick's coach bodies that had some identical build characteristics - but nothing identical as well.

Some of the early Dodge largers COE's had horizontal grille's but nothing that matches this either.

Closest pics I have found I have emailed them to annoy PB with.

Wow! So what we have here is a K18 Small Arms Repair Van. That should indicate there were other applications for the K18 beyond the radio van. And someone (two people actually) has indicated that total K18 production (only produced over 2 years) was on the order of 400 vehicles. It would seem that any GMC with that van body is one of very few.

I have found a couple of sources that indicate the 1 1/2 Ton GMC COE to be a G620. Under that G number there are two variants listed. One is simply a 1 1/2 Ton Truck and the other is the K18.

I think the drip rail over the windshield really adds to the look of the vehicle.

May the weather gods blow dry wind and sunshine your way (what kind of truck is in the background of one of your photos, could it be another treasure?)

Given the small production run, I bet the brush guards were fabricated mostly by hand with a few hardwood jigs and a band iron bender and either riveted or gas welded. With a supply of the same dimension stock and some careful measurements it should be reproduceable.

PB I think you have your work cut out for you on this build as in anything. So treat it as it should be, and by God keeps us posted we are really interested in this.

REAL late to the game here, and haven't even had the time to catch it all up:

- But that item is a FIND. What a Beaut!

And welcome stinsonb17, from up here in the grand old Commonwealth of Virginia.

papabear said:

I will Sir, but she will have to wait her turn.
The immediate priority is to recover her, blast her and get some primer/paint on her to stabilize her.

When I actually went to see this truck she just screamed "save me"!!! And so we shall.

Click to expand...

http://books.google.com/books/about/Maintenance_Manual_GMC_1_1_2_ton_4x2_Mod.html?id=MVobtwAACAAJ

[h=1]Maintenance Manual, GMC 1 1/2-ton 4x2, Model CF-351[/h]
Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company. General Motors Truck & Coach Division
1942 - GMC truck

Google has everything,...

papabear said:

That's prolly what we'll have to do...plus it looks weird as all get out!!!

Click to expand...

Yes, that might be the biggest reason you have to put one on the truck - it's definitely the focal point of the whole thing.

By the way Papabear, I'd be up for a road trip if you have some timeline, If for nothing but a cameraman, Just let me know,...