1950 Chevy with 437 Original Miles

[Bill Pritchard]

My wife got an email from a friend today. The email showed this 1950 Chevy with 437 original miles, and the story behind it. I don't know if this is current or one of those emails thats been going around for a year or more, but if it is, it's the first time I've ever heard of it. Supposedly the car spent all of its life in or around Modesto CA until 2 years ago, so perhaps someone around that area can attest to the factuality (or lack of it) of this story. Here's the story and the pictures....


1950 Chevrolet Club Coupe.
437 original, actual miles!

Now here is a car with a story…

Purchased new by Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Trueblood of Modesto . Shortly after
purchasing this car, Mr. Trueblood took a day off to go fishing. While
waiting for the “big one” to bite he witnessed a woman fall out of her boat.
Mr. Trueblood jumped in to help only to fall victim of a fatal heart attack.
Mrs. Trueblood returned the car home and placed it in the garage for the
next 12 years. The odometer reading at that time (1962) was 413 miles.

Mrs. Trueblood lived next door to a used car lot owned by Mr. William E.
Wilson (now 81 years old). Mr. Wilson spoke with her frequently and often
told her he would like to buy the car for himself to keep. In 1962 the time
had come. Mrs. Trueblood told Mr. Wilson she needed a car for her bookkeeper
who didn’t really care for the ol’ Chevy and would prefer a Rambler. No
problem. Mr. Wilson went down to the local Rambler dealer and bought a
brand new one for $1,650.00 ($100.00 over cost) and made the swap.

He then took the car home and parked it with 433 actual miles. And there it
sat for the next 45 years, occasionally being started and moved in and out
of the garage. In 2007 Mr. Wilson decided to sell the car and started
spreading the word around Modesto that the ol’ Chevy with 433 miles on it
was for sale. Many had heard about the car, but hardly anyone had ever laid
eyes on it. In fact, according to Mr. Wilson he believes he only showed the
car to about 5 people in 45 years. Word spread quickly about the car and
soon a buyer arrived ready and willing to pay the $60,000.00 asking price.
When Mr. Wilson told me the story of this car he complained heavily of the
“capital gains” tax he was required to pay and wished he had never sold it.
As of this writing, Mr. Wilson is still alive and well in Modesto and can
verify the miles and originality of this car. Simply put, this is a true
100% factory original survivor (that includes the air in the tires).

This ol’ Chevy now has 437 original miles and is most likely the world’s
lowest mileage 1950 Chevy.

[gb70]

I lived in Tracy, Ca, just a few miles from the Modesto area. I left there in 2004 but had not heard of this. Great story, and a real time capsule. Thanks for sharing.

[TDW]

[ QUOTE ]
I lived in Tracy, Ca, just a few miles from the Modesto area. I left there in 2004 but had not heard of this. Great story, and a real time capsule. Thanks for sharing.

[/ QUOTE ]

I lived in Patterson,a few miles West of Modesto, for a while. Worked for J.E.M. electric.

I am surprised there isn't any rust on the exhaust manifold. Sure is a clean car.

[m22mike]

I love old survivors like that It is like trip back in time.
I believe the seat covers are after market day 2 stuff ??? Very common to do that to a new car back then.
Grady, did you notice the seats ?

Mike

[CC Rider]

What a great find! Thanks for finding this.

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
I love old survivors like that It is like trip back in time.
I believe the seat covers are after market day 2 stuff ??? Very common to do that to a new car back then.
Grady, did you notice the seats ?

Mike

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, everyone put covers over the seats of their "New" cars back then. My Dad even put a cover on the seat of the '69 Nova and I didn't take it off 'til after he passed away. And that wedge shaped seat cushion was pretty common too.

I received this same e-mail and immediately thought it might be Modesto, IL, ... a little town about 15 miles East of me. Then I saw the CA plate.

What a cool old time capsule!

[P.J.]

Ya seat covers back then Great.I was in a scrap yard about 20 years ago and found a 70 red chevelle that had just arrived.
I went over to see the car to see what parts I could use.
i was immediately disappointed because it was a plain Jane Canadian car.
Then I had another good look at the interior and pulled the old seat cover off of the front seat,only to discover that under neath that cover was a bench seat interior(pearl)
covered in plastic.The white interior was brand new front and back seats. the plastic covers had never been sat on
I took all the seats and door panels as the door panels also had plastic covers on them.
Lucky find
PJ

[x Baldwin Motion]

very cool

[MJD]

Bill -- I too seen the very same '50 Chevy from an e-mail friend. Quite the story, and it sure does look authentic doesn't it ?
Get a look at that dash, interior, the whole car, wow-wow !
They were great then, and great now !!



When people took a lot of pride in them, and built them pretty solid. And, 50 mph down the highway seemed a darn good speed, huh ? LOL



Thanks for posting this .........


MJD

[quick-bowtie]

Pictures were definately taken at the Dealer "Chev Connection" in Portland. I dont see it on there website but I wouldnt be surprised to see it end up at Barrett being a one off special proto-type LS6/Nickey Yenko 1950 Chevy with excellent "documentation".