The restoration was still a learning process, despite being the best in class.
Striking Efforts
“Be prepared to wait. Also, don't think you have enough notes or pictures.” These were the lessons Robert Evenski learned during the process of rebuilding his 1938 Ford One-Ton Express truck. His efforts eventually paid off, with the striking truck earning a Best in Class for Antique Trucks at Hemmings Motor New Concours d'Elegance in 2019.
Photos courtesy of Hagerty.
Older Choices
Hailing from Collinsville, Connecticut, Evenski was looking for a retirement project when he settled on his 'One-Tonner' venture. He first considered a European sports car and then a tractor, but after some reflection, Evenski questioned, “What am I going to do with a tractor?” Narrowing down his choices, he decided on a pickup truck, with the caveat that it was older than him.
Absent Surprise
A few months later, Evenski found a truck that matched his criteria for age, condition, and price. More than just satisfying the checklist, this old Ford had a surprise in store. In 1938, the Motor Company reissued its one-ton pickup truck, which had been absent from the lineup since the 1917 to 1928 production run of the Model TT.
Scaled Year
The 1938 One-Ton Express truck featured a redesigned cab, a new front end, and the first front-opening truck hood in the industry. Promoted as the 'One-Tonner,' it was billed as the truck that farmers wanted, with “greater economy in the one-ton-load range.” It was designated Model 81Y, essentially a scaled-down version of the same year, one and a half-ton truck or Model 81T.
Familiar Version
'Express' referred to the truck's box style. The One-Tonner sat on a standardized 122-inch long frame and was available in three different configurations. It was offered as a pared-down chassis and cab-only version, as a 'stake body,' better known now as a stake bed, and as the more familiar Express, which included a steel box with a tailgate.
Upgraded Package
At the time, Evenski was unaware that he had stumbled on a rather unique version of the One-Ton Express. In 1938, Ford produced 4,671 upgraded 'demonstrators' to introduce their new truck. These special rigs were fitted with the Deluxe Equipment Package, which featured an upgraded interior, along with chrome plating on the grille, windshield frame, wipers, and rearview mirror.
Residency Discovery
Most notably, the showcase trucks received a two-tone paint option, with the fenders and wheels finished in Demonstrator Yellow, along with matching pinstripes. During the restoration process, Evenski discovered that the truck's first owner was Henry Weiner who used it in his grocery store business, ferrying produce and livestock from St. Joe, Missouri to Odell, Nebraska.
Information Archive
With the truck finished and the recipient of numerous awards, it seems that Evenski's thoughts have turned back to possibly restoring a sports car. The 1938 Demonstrator Yellow Express is up for sale. For those seeking more information, it has its own website. Interested parties can also view an archive of the truck's progress on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum, under his user name revenski.
>>Join the conversation about this 1938 Tonner right here in the forum.
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