for sale 1950 Chevrolet Coupe Utility (AKA "Ute") *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

*SOLD* This is a fun little hauler that you just don't see every day. No, it's not some home-built custom job, but rather an Australian-built 1950 Chevrolet Coupe Utility, and yes, that's how it came from the factory. Apparently Australian farmers like to be able to work during the week and drive their pickups to church on Sunday, so these early El Caminos became a staple on Australian roads. Most automakers built some version of this car/truck, although not in vast numbers; only about 2300 1950 Chevrolet Utes were built. This one has registration papers from Victoria Provence as recently as 2006, so it came to the US sometime after that, landing in California and then coming east about four years ago. Obviously, all that desert was kind to the sheetmetal, and it was repainted in California sometime around 2010. The color isn't exciting, but this was apparently the only choice available for the Ute, so there it is. The tonneau was factory-installed, not an add-on, and the wood floor in the bed is likewise correct although likely nicer than new. The interior is a mirror image of American Chevys, with a brown vinyl seat cover, standard gauges over on the right, and simple door panels. Yes, it takes a little familiarization to handle shifting with your left hand on the right side of the car, but to be honest, the hardest thing to get used to is looking to the left to find the rear-view mirror--I never broke that particular habit. Mechanically it is identical to US 1950 Chevrolets, including the Stovebolt Six under the hood. It's rebuilt, runs great, and reasonably well detailed. No modifications save for conversion to 12 volts, but they used a generator so it's all but invisible. Sadly, the radio doesn't work, likely because of that conversion. The transmission is the same and uses a clever linkage to shift gears and actuate the clutch, and steering, suspension, and brakes feel exactly the same as the '52 Chevy Bel Air I had sitting next to it. Blackwall radials on steelies look right for the hard-working little Ute. I promise you'll have the only one at any show, and it really is fun to drive and show, especially when people see you sitting on the "wrong" side of the car. Comes with clean Ohio title, no issues with registration in any state. Asking a very reasonable $24,900 and it's ready to enjoy. Thanks for looking!

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Edited April 18, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

Wow ! another interesting find for Matt and Melanie

 

... and left-hand shifting is no biggie - most early Brass-Era cars, typical British vehicles, and others simply require a bit of seat-time and become second nature.

What is more interesting is trying to pass a big truck on a 2-lane country road because you are "out-there" before you can see around

[Matt Harwood]

Actually, the most amusing thing is driving this with my 10-year-old son. Everyone at red lights does a double-take when the see a little kid over there where the driver should be. This thing is more fun to drive than it should be just because of the oddity factor. It also works rather well as a truck--the bed is as big as the bed on a full-sized pickup. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile. Isn't that what an old car is supposed to do?

 

 

Edited January 10, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[1939_Buick]

Looks good 😊

US$24,900 = Au$34,600.  Would sell for that in Australia.  Are very popular. More than a car of the same model-condition

The US vs Au $ rate of exchange has varied a lot. This effects the flow of cars between the 2 countries.

The NT plates are an interesting add on

 

Edit

A real working ute.  They are not meant to be clean & shiny  (from my collection of ute photo's)

Edited January 10, 2019 by 1939_Buick (see edit history)

[CarNucopia]

That is super cool. You've had a ton of great stuff in the past, but this makes me want to reach for my checkbook!  I'm curious, is this car on consignment, or sold by you as a dealer? The reason I ask is here in the Illinois, the sales tax on a car from a dealer can be significantly more than from a private party.

 

And for anyone worried about the RHD, I have a JDM car I drive all the time. It's an easy transition, except for the turn signals, which is on the opposite side.  I can't count the number of times I've signaled a right-hand turn by switching on the windshield wipers.  

[Marty Roth]

6 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

Actually, the most amusing thing is driving this with my 10-year-old son. Everyone at red lights does a double-take when the see a little kid over there where the driver should be. This thing is more fun to drive than it should be just because of the oddity factor. It also works rather well as a truck--the bed is as big as the bed on a full-sized pickup. Every time I look at it, it makes me smile. Isn't that what an old car is supposed to do?

 

 

 

My Dalmatian would sit in the left seat , and to compound the confusion of other drivers, I had a child-type toy steering wheel which hung from the dash of the 1948 MG-TC or the ''56 TR-2, so it almost looked like she was driving. 

 

On another occasion while on a Thanksgiving "Fowl Rallye" of the MG Car Club North Jersey Centre, my navigator Jon (sitting on the left) was approached by a police officer. I handed Jon my license and registration which he handed to the officer who then proceeded to walk around the car looking for any possible mechanical infraction. I kept my foot on the brake pedal because the brake light worked, but the single tail light had gone out that evening enroute to the event. The officer had previously done this kind of thing primarily to mess up our Rallye Time, in my opinion. Finding no reason to ticket me (Jon), he let us go, so after he drove away, we also pulled from the curb, remarking that he hadn't noticed that to person he talked with was not behind the steering wheel.  We still managed to place Second that night despite the delay.

[Matt Harwood]

SOLD! Thank you!