I bought it a few years ago at an estate sale a few miles north of where I live in Bozeman Montana. I suspect it had been setting outside here in our relatively dry climate for at least 50 years or perhaps even more. It was parked there for some unknown reason and someone later removed both of the rear axles for another car. If you are into Chevrolets of this vintage, you most likely already know that many of them had weak rear axle shafts. This vehicle is the later 1932 style that had a slanted rather than a vertical windshield and had 2 rather than 3 door hinges on each door as the earlier pickups did.
I believe Chevrolet made that change part way through the 1932 production year. This vehicle has the painted headlamps so it was the standard version. There was also a deluxe version that had a chrome plated radiator shell and chrome plated headlamps. This vehicle could be authentically restored as a deluxe version with a chrome plated radiator shell and chrome plated headlamps.
This truck will need a complete restoration. I believe the missing hood will be the same as the hood from a 1931 Chevrolet passenger car. The same will be true of the missing headlamp bezels, reflectors and lenses. The left hand tail gate latch is missing so one will have to make one using the right hand tail gate latch as a pattern. I believe a window regulator and an inside door handle are also missing and they too should be the same as the 1931 passenger car's parts.
Typically, the 1932 Chevrolet commercial vehicles used much of the sheet metal that was used on the 1931 passenger cars. Likewise, the 1933 Chevrolet commercial vehicles used some of the sheet metal parts that were used on the 1932 passenger cars.
I do not know how long Chevrolet continued this program but I suspect it was for at least another year or perhaps even longer. Since these photos were taken, I located a very nice looking correct radiator and painted commercial radiator shell which will be correct for this vehicle. I have also acquired a few more 18 wire wheels which match the front wheels and I believe are correct for this truck. I have not yet located a hood for this truck but a 1931 passenger car hood should be correct.
The engine appears to be the original one and it appears to never have been frozen or broken at all. Of course it is stuck and will not turn over. Some of the dash controls and gauges are missing or damaged. I have both of the long curved sheet metal panels that attach to the rear corners of the cab and extend all the way back above both sides of the box. They are shown in some of the photos and were removed for safe transport before some of the other photos were taken.
A few of the sheet metal panels have some small rust holes or blisters in the bottom of them but they are definitely repairable and worth saving. All of the wood in the cab and box will need to be replaced but it is good enough for patterns. This is a serious project but it can produce a very rare and interesting vintage Chevrolet for your collection and future enjoyment. The item "1932 Chevrolet Canopy Express Pickup Truck 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931" is in sale since Monday, March 02, 2015. This item is in the category "eBay Motors\Parts & Accessories\Vintage Car & Truck Parts\Other Parts".The seller is "toysanyone" and is located in Bozeman, Montana. This item can't be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.