Yesterday was Memorial Day, the vacation the place we pay respects to the women and men who perished whereas serving the US Armed Forces. Our Decide of the Day is a automobile that was utilized by these selfless of us: a 1942 Ford ½-ton utility. It’s on the market on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Hobart, Indiana. (Click on on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)

The primary nationwide observance of a day mourning navy personnel was Ornament Day in 1868, although it initially honored solely Union troopers who died within the Civil Warfare. Mass acceptance started throughout World Warfare I as the vacation advanced right into a day of remembrance for all members of the navy. After World Warfare II, it turned often called Memorial Day, with Congress making it official in 1967.

On the subject of the crossroads of armed forces and automotive historical past, February 10, 1942, marked when automotive manufacturing ceased operations. From that time, automakers continued to construct vehicles and vans for the federal government whereas increasing their output with navy {hardware}, although they’d been dealing with navy contracts earlier than our entry within the battle.

For individuals who already owned vehicles, sources for operation and maintenance can be severely restricted, if not rationed. Even the pace restrict was lowered to avoid wasting gas and lengthen the lifetime of rubber. As well as, chromium was thought of a strategic materials within the time between the Pearl Harbor assault and February 10, so many cars constructed throughout that point featured painted trim as an alternative of chrome and chrome steel.

Autos like this Ford ½-ton truck have been nonetheless being produced after that February landmark, in fact. Ford’s light-duty vans have been all-new for 1942, shedding the automotive styling that had beforehand been shared. Energy decisions included a 4, six, or two V8s. This explicit 1942 Ford ½-ton utility conversion was utilized by the Rossford (Ohio) Military Depot, which performed a job as a distribution middle for navy automobiles through the battle and, afterwards, was used for software distribution and storage till it was decommissioned in 1963.

This truck has solely seen 35,446 miles value of pavement in its lifetime, and it’s begging for extra from a caring enthusiast-slash-patriot. The truth is, consider your self extra as a caretaker of American automotive and navy historical past — for $28,500, we’ll salute you, plus you’ll by no means must take care of ration stickers.

To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Decide of the Day.