Old 1950 "AIR FORCE" Truck (build)

[Hardly Davidson]

I'm not as good a writer as a picture taker. Hopefully I can cram enough photos on here to tell the whole story. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Or is that ten-thousand words? Anyways, I was in Kansas visiting my brother-in-law about 4 years ago, when he told me about this old Chevy that was for sale. I wasn’t really lookin’ for a project as I had enough of them already.

Jus’ for kicks and somethin’ to do we took a drive out to Alta Vista, Kansas where this ole’ boy Ken Kemp had the truck parked. I looked her over real good and was hesitant at first. It looked like a heap of money was needed to git things runnin’. That would be a hard one financially, especially getting’ approval from the boss for necessary funds.

The wife was in good spirits that day. Lo and behold a week later I had the pickup in a trailer headed to Arizona. That’s where we live.

Tearing things apart I noticed Air Force markings everywhere. There was a tag in the glove box and one on the dash with Air Force lingo. Air Force signage was under the rust and primer. McConnell Air Force Base was stenciled under the tailgate. There were propeller emblems on front and back. That got me to thinkin’. “This must be an old U.S.A.F. truck!”

From that moment on I started researchin’ things. I talked to former owner Ken Kemp. I chatted with former military personnel stationed at McConnell. I dialed up the base historian and talked to him. I even talked to the guy owning the truck back in the ‘70’s. William “Dub” Wharry is the one giving me the most information. I did a whole heap of talkin’ to folks throughout the country.

I decided after all this conversation that I'd leave the truck in ‘as found’ condition except for drivetrain. Knowing them former owners said it needed more horsepower I was inclined to add just that. That 215 6-cylinder motor just didn’t cut the mustard. Things under the hood were upgraded a tad.

I’ll let the rest of my talkin’ be via these here photos. You can read more about the truck at the end of this presentation. It tells the tale quite simply in so many words. For those of you thinkin’ I should have kept it all original in the engine and transmission department, the thought did cross my mind. I kept all that 6-banger stuff jus’ in case the crazy notion ever came to pop it back in.

So here it be: My 1950 Chevrolet 3100 series former United States Air Force "FOLLOW ME" pickup truck. When I see that photo of it with hood up, I can't help but think it's salutin' all them former military drivers.

“Oh the stories this thing could tell!”