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.