Barn Find Chevrolet Lionel Dealer Truck Hits the Auction Block

WOW!!!  I missed the first thread on this so didn't know anything about it.  That is one neat ride!!

Thanks Derek for posting...

Alan

I would love nothing more than to own this truck and put a small layout in the back. Would be awesome for train and car shows.

Awesome, combines my favorite 2 hobbies!

And the race to model this for a layout begins....now!

Some manufacturer should make it. It would be a wonderful model on the layout.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevro...mp;pt=US_Cars_Trucks

If anyone could build this model it would be Lee Willis.

That is awesome!  1946 Chevy panel delivery truck and train related.  How cool is that?

Art

Really neat!

Peter

My two hobbies, too.  Outta-the-barn, but six years too new.  Hope somebody

grabs it and does a mechanical restoration, but no repaint!!

This would be a great truck for Lionel to acquire. It's a very collectible truck and if purchased by a collector who does not appreciate trains, a restoration may put this truck back to stock showroom condition but without the lettering. This truck would also look great parked outside a Seattle train store. While I do not need another muscle or vintage collector car, (already have five); I just hope that the buyer appreciates the historical value not only as a truck but as part of model train history.

Only thing I would do is wash, hit it with a clear coat maybe redo chrome.

The other thread.  Cool Train Shop Truck Found.

IMHO, Lionel should buy this and, given the NASCAR connection, put it out as a restoration project for the numerous mechanics, enthusiasts, etc that follow NASCAR and are in Lionel's neck of the woods.  They could pay them with expansion packs or sets.

Does anyone have some history on French's Train House in Seattle? Like when was it in business.

Ken

Here's an interesting mention of French's Lionel Train House and a locomotive rescue.

Ken:  Good question.  Given the age of that truck I thought for sure French’s would be listed in Lionel Service Station listings published during the early post-war years and the 1950’s.  However, they were not listed in any Lionel Service Station listing I have from 1946 through 1957, despite as many as 4 service stations listed for the Seattle-Tacoma area during some of those years.  The earliest I could find them listed was in the Service Station listing in the back of the 1960 Lionel Accessory Catalog.  I’ll admit I don’t have a complete collection.  I do have the listings for 1952 through 1957 but am missing the listings for 1958 and 1959 so they could have been a service station as early as 1958.  That truck was 12 years old by then. 

I did find French’s listed each year from 1960 through 1965 which is the latest post-war listing I have.  Chances are they were in business as a train store prior to 1958 but not an official Lionel Service Station.  Borrowing a term from the late Glen Uhl, maybe they were an “Un-Authorized Lionel Service Station” during the years they weren’t listed!

Does anyone have Lionel service station listings for 1958, 1959 and post-1965 to determine when they may have begun and ended being an authorized Lionel service station?

Maybe someone at Eastside Trains in Kirkland, WA knows something about their history?

Anyway that truck is certainly an interesting example of Toy Train Marketing History!

Bill

Well, you could pick up an old panel truck anytime, and have a sign painter paint anything you wanted on it, including replicating the French's truck. Which is all French's did. That truck wasn't produced at the Lionel factory, after all, so who's to know!   

I already have a 68' Pontiac in the garage. My wife might hurt me if I start another project. 

As to Madison Hardware. Lionel actually doesn't own the rights to the name, Dick Kughn does. In fact, I just got a call from Dick today about Madison Hardware, but that's a different story for a different time. 

From the ebay listing:

• -Comes with original 1950’s Lionel Train catalog stamped with French’s logo on the cover.

US $8,600.00

Jun-02-14 10:03:45 PDT

Those are called "Art Deco" Chevrolet trucks. I've got a 1945 1.5 ton Chevy flatbed out in the shop under slow restoration.  Planning on doing it in US Navy livery, but that there gets a man thinking . . .

Thats the stuff dreams are made of, schweetheart.

Maybe someone at Eastside Trains in Kirkland, WA knows something about their history?

 

Eastside Trains owner Steve Suskin certainly would know some of the history of French's Train Shop, but the most knowledgeable expert in this area is probably Pacific NW TCA President Rick Dunn. (I wouldn't be surprised if Rick is bidding on this truck.)

French's Train Shop in the Burien area of Seattle was THE place to go here for Lionel during the 1950's and 60's. Even though I grew up about 70 miles away, I never got to visit it. I have, however, purchased a few postwar items from local collectors that they originally bought from "Frenchy". 

Here's a video of the truck running. Don

I spent many hours at French's train shop.  Our TCA meetings were held at his shop on occasion and he would always bring out Lionel items he had hidden away for years.  I remember car pooling with Allison Cox and Dan Olson (American Flyer fame) to the meetings.  I am lucky that I had the opportunity to know him and spend some time with old French.  he was a great lover of Lionel trains and the hobby.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Durham Classics made a beautiful model of a 1941 Chevy Panel truck in 1/43rd scale.

Dan

Bidding currently at 10 grand plus you will need approx another 5 to 10 grand to make it road worthy is a pretty good chunk of change.

Great thread thanks for posting.

Mike CT