A Beloved Canopy Express: 1949 Chevy Canopy Express

Before my children became adults, my wife and I would take them to Wildwood, N.J., aka “Doo-Wop City” due to its mid-century motel names such as Bel Aire (Chevrolet) and Park Lane (Mercury). Ironically posed against those modern hotels’ kidney-shaped pools, zigzag balconies and jutted roof angles were old hucksters that would park nearby to sell fruit from under the shade of their covered pickup boxes.

Some of these 10- to 15-year-old trucks reminded me of the earlier huckster trucks, such as the featured 1949 Chevrolet canopy express truck owned by Patsy and Ivan Kachanoski from Fairmont Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada.

From horse-drawn to motorized

Farmers started peddling their wares before the Civil War using horse-drawn wagons. Some rode door to door in cities selling their fruits and vegetables. Their horse-drawn wagons were, of course, eventually replaced with motorized trucks. The farmers had their routes and knew customers’ needs. Their trucks often had bells or whistles to announce their arrival, and scales hanging from the roof to weigh produce. The farmers required a covered roof to protect their goods and needed open sides to display their provisions. Peddling fruits and vegetables continued until the 1950s, when supermarkets became the preferred choice of produce shopping.

Chevrolet’s first trucks came out for 1918 with four-cylinder engines and included the Model T with a one-ton chassis and an open cab. For these and other trucks, outside firms made bodies, such as wooden flatbeds or beds covered by eight-post curtain tops. In 1929, Chevrolet began offering a six-cylinder that was rated at 46 hp. Again, the “Bow-Tie” brand provided the chassis and open cab. Other companies built enclosed cabs, pickup beds and additional body types.

Martin-Parry was one of those firms that made specialized commercial bodies for trucks, including for Chevrolet. In 1930, Chevrolet bought the company and renamed it Chevrolet Body Division of General Motors, allowing it to produce in-house body options for customers. In 1931, Chevy debuted a canopy express truck with open body sides and optional curtains or screens. This body type stayed in production until the second-generation 1955 Chevrolet Task Force series of trucks.

Chevrolet’s new-for-1947 “Advance-Design” trucks were the first commercial vehicles to be completely redesigned after World War II. They were wider and lower with hood and roof crowns noticeably lower than the 1946 models. The 1947 Chevrolet trucks had horizontal grilles made up of five bars, and headlamps were now in the fenders. All four fenders had the “fat fender” look of the 1940s. To add comfort, the body sides hung over the frame rails, allowing three passengers to comfortably sit across the seat. The windshield was fixed with cowl-mounted wipers, and there were concealed door hinges and an alligator hood. These Advance-Design trucks had a fresh, new “plump” body style that General Motors designer Chuck Jordan referred to as “round and juicy.”

‘Her’ canopy express truck

Ivan says their ’49 Chevrolet canopy express is Patsy’s baby.

“We affectionately call the huckster ‘Miss Huck,’” Patsy says.

“What is so special about a canopy express truck is its wings! OK, they are just canopies that extend out to keep the sun and rain off the produce, but still look cool. Don’t tell Miss Huck she doesn’t have wings. It would break her heart!” she jokes.

Before becoming titled to Patsy and Ivan, the canopy express truck was discovered on eBay by Gary Wagley of Cottonwood, Ariz. 

According to Patsy, “It was represented as having a small amount of rust in the bed and tailgate. The truck was shipped from West Virginia to Arizona. Gary figured it arrived 200 pounds lighter than when it left. The brake return springs were so badly rusted that they broke in transit and locked up the wheels. They had to drag it off the flatbed, which was covered in rust dust. Gary knew he was in for a project. He bought two other panel trucks for body parts and began the frame-off restoration. The project took Gary and a friend nine months, full time, to complete the restoration in 2006.”

Ivan and Patsy bought the canopy from Gary at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson event in Phoenix.

“The little Forester Green Huckster was located in a side tent at the auction and was available for immediate sale,” Patsy says. “We were told that the truck arrived too late for the main auction. We were delighted to be checking directly with the owner. A second buyer came to buy Huck as I slid the ‘sold’ sign under Huck’s windshield wipers.”

Folks think Miss Huck is a Suburban that has been modified. Patsy bluntly explains, “She is not. She is an original factory truck. The cab is separated from the bed by a panel with a rear window. The huckster has its original engine, fresh-air heater and brass radiator. Its 216-cid Thriftmaster engine has six cylinders and puts out 90 hp. The air filter is an oil bath. There is a floor starter, which is always entertaining to start with only two feet. The huckster has a three-on-the-tree standard transmission. The truck’s top speed is between 40-45 mph.

“The truck has six boxes on each side of the truck box that pyramid up to display the produce. Huck shows with her own wine label with her picture, as well as fresh flowers and fruit.

“To watch Huck spin her magic spell is awesome. Huck draws people like a magnet.”

Even Dennis Gage, host of “My Classic Car,” was smitten with Miss Huck and made her a television star. Since then, Patsy and Ivan have continued to let her shine with in-person appearances at car shows. 

If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.

Want a taste of Old Cars magazine first? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and get a FREE complimentary digital issue download of our print magazine.

Old Cars Weekly