In our many years writing the Feature Truck of the Month Series we have never seen a restored truck of the above year and design. We were impressed!
This attractive almost 80 year old truck, originally sold for work duties, is one of the few survivors. It is owned and completely restored by Curtis Robinette in the city of Rocky Ford, Colorado, on the east side of this large state.
For many years he had been looking for an early truck to restore but no luck finding one that really caught his interest. It all happened just 3 miles from his home. It had belonged to Clyde and Judy Fraiser of Swink, Colorado. As Clyde had passed away several years ago, Judy decided to sell “only one” of his two older trucks. To Curtis, the choice was simple. Only the flat bed would be considered. For the specific reason, read the conclusion of this article.
He aired the tires and towed it home before he began the difficult job of disassembling it to the bare frame. (A very big job on a one ton 80 year old work truck) He first wanted to see if he could get it running after sitting for several years. (The engine was its original 216 cubic inch six cylinder)
Curtis was determined to make it run and then drive it to see if other mechanicals needed immediate attention. We are sure, getting this done, was a project for another article!
Curtis would not give up! Finally, success but the tail pipe smoke never stopped.
In fact, the smoother the engine ran the more tail pipe smoke was created. He could have rented it to local cities to help remove summer mosquitos in neighborhoods!
Thus, the engine removal and major disassembly occurred. He soon found why it had been parked. One of the horizontal piston pins had moved sideways creating a groove in the cylinder wall. The more it was driven the more successful it was in mosquito killing!
Thus, a new cylinder sleeve was the only solution. The 4 speed transmission and differential were good. Of course, all of the brake system was rebuilt.
The flat bed now has a new look. All boards are Oak. The original bed strips (between each plank were cleaned of all rust and painted Black! A very attractive extra touch are Oak side boards that Curtis built.
As Colorado can have some very cold winter days, Curtis found and restored a period GM firewall hot water heater. It does well in the small cab and allows him comfort to drive this special truck on most winter days.
The total rebuild time took 3 years of Curtis’ spare time! However, he has a truck to really be proud of and even better: He did most all by himself. Of course, the re-building is never really done! Owners always see something that can make it a little better.
Please read the final of this article and why the restored 1947 Chevy came to be. With all the above being said about Curtis and his 3 year project to make this 1947 very special, there is a part of his life for why it happened!
We learn that most of this effort was done to pay tribute to his deceased father Nard C. Robinette. He loved working on old tractors and was even the vocational auto mechanic instructor in the late 1960’s at the Fremont Correctional Facility in Canyon City, Colorado.
As for this Chevy flatbed, Nard would have loved it! Curtis even had this special decal placed on the right side door. See below.
You can contact Curtis at: curtis.robinette60@yahoo.com