Chevrolet officially started production of COE trux
in 1939 but that was, by no means, the first COE. From 1918 - 1923,
Samson division of General Motors made COE trux using Chevrolet "F" series
engines of the respective year. Many body makers would offer COE
conversions for Chev chassis. Most notable was Montpelier of Ohio
that were offered in the Silver Book..
(Montpelier COE from Silver book above and brochure below.)
The Silver Book advertisement for Fruehauf depicts a Montpelier COE
sleeper cab for their ad.
Above are pictures of 1937 Montpelier/Chevrolets. Note the change
to GMs Martin-Parry cabs in 1938 pictured below. I recently
received more information about Montpelier production and proto types built
in 37 & 38,
emailed from James H. Schwartz.
P.S. Its my understanding, that my father Harry
A Schwartz and the Montpelier Manufacturing Company of Montpelier, Ohio
designed the first COE forward control for Dodge in 1936 or 1937. During
WW2 He (Montpelier)
and several other companies built the "Deuce and half" cargo bodies
for GMC - Studebaker and REO. The company (Montpelier) received the coveted
Army & Navy E award for their effort. Post war they were a leader in
the
forward control (COE) truck body industry including consulting engineering
for GMC, Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. The Company was sold to White Motor
in 1959.
A R Cosgrove was a force to be reckoned with
because I believe, He worked for Chevrolet Commercial Truck Department:
Chevrolet was caught "flat footed" in 1937. (Dodge, Studebaker, Ford, IH
and others offered COEs in 37.) Montpelier with Chevrolet's
cooperation developed the proto type.
The understanding was, The "Big Three"
could have the COE as we know it today and the small body builders could
have a "niche" in the forward control and Milk bodies and Chevrolet would
build the chassis.
During the depression years "Montpelier" did not have
manufacturing capacity to compete directly with the "Big three" and others.
The arrangement held pretty much held until
the late fifties when Chevrolet started promoting "Step-van" [Union Body]
My Father, as I remember, shrugged it off but was not a "happy camper"
The handwriting was on the wall.
Montpelier developed a small "PDQ" Econo-Van
which White Motor Company acquired in 1959 including "Montpelier,
Fine Motor Vehicle Bodies."
The "PDQ" and other Montpelier
bodies were successfully marketed by White until the fire on July 1965.
My Father was heard to say "My life's work as gone up in smoke" He died
in 1982 with out any comment on pre 39 COE's.
Jim S
My thanx to James H. Schwartz for the above information
and the following Brochures;
In the view of cab interior below, note the Chevrolet Bowtie emblem
on floor.
Note the 108" WB chassis. Could you imagine the room you'd have
on a 201" chassis?
Above is price and accessory list.
Below is order blank. Note that Montpelier is provided with a
Chevrolet Cab and Chassis to convert.
Below is a magazine ad for Montpellier.
1939 was first year that Chevrolet produced their own COE. There was obviously some Montpelier influence.
Art Deco COE's came in 3 wheelbases but only offered a cab. I
admire the person who made the Art Deco COE-Panel truck below as GM could
have produced this body style but didn't.
Above is Advance Design 1950 COE with semi trailer and 1955 COE
stake.
Below is 1957 Task Force LCF (Low Cab Forward). They were only
available with V-8 engine.
though GM changed the name, note that both stake trux are model #5409.
Today the COE (Forward Control) offered by GM is an Isuzu.
In Norway, Chevrolet did offer a variety of COE models for trux and busses. The cab appears to be borrowed from GMC and it was available with Gasoline Chevrolet engine or Hercules Diesel engine. In the USA, Mack trux adopted the bulldog as their mascot. The Norwegian Chevrolets also used that icon on their COE models.
Click here for link to another COE site. <http://www.favorites.com/~jolly/COETrucks.html>.
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