Prior to 1926, it was up to the new truck buyer to
contract with a body maker to properly equip their new Chevrolet commercial
chassis with a body.
In 1926, Chevrolet offered a closed cab on their
series X one ton trux. In 1927 LM series they offered a panel truck
body on the one ton chassis. Ironically, in this ad, they picture
a half ton (AA Series) panel from an unknown Manufacturer.
I have no idea who built this body. The ad does list the one ton
panel at $755. I don't know how many were produced.
Above are what the 27 one ton bodies look like. Note how the
cowl smoothly flows to the body.
It was not offered in the LO or LP of 1928.
I believe the panel was again offered in 1929 & 30 only on the larger
truck chassis making it the first Chevrolet to come with bucket seats,
4 speed transmission on the floor and a vinyl roof as standard equipment!!
In 1931, GM purchased the Martin-Parry body
company in Indianapolis and commenced making panel truck bodies for
half ton as well as ton & half chassis. Prior to 1931,
large utility (aka: One Ton) cabs and the afore mentioned panels were the
only bodies supplied by Chevrolet for trucks. (Sedan Deliveries and
Coupe & Roadster Pickups are passenger cars made by Fisher).
There were no half ton bodies prior to 1931.
There is a large selection of Pickups, Canopy Expresses, Stake
trux and Panels displayed in the above color ad for 1932.
Half ton and passenger cars used the same chassis prior to 1933 and
only differed in gas tank location. After 1932, different chassis
and bodies were used for trux except for the 1933 & 34 Sedan Delivery
which were offered on half ton chassis and Standard passenger car chassis.
Though the 32 style radiator shell was used on the 33 trux shown in the
ad below, The body was different than the Fisher bodies.
Year
Job # Wheelbase
Series Capacity
Price Weight
Production
1927
?
124"
LM 1
Ton
$755 2930
??
28
Not Available
LO & LP
(None)
29
?
131"
LQ
Ton&half
? ?
?
30
?
131"
LR & LS Ton&half
? ?
?
31
110
109"
AE
Half ton
31
113
131
LT, MA, & MB Ton&half
32
301
109
BB
Half ton
32 Dlx 303
109
BB
Half ton
32
311
131
NA & NB Ton & half
33
714
109
CB
Half ton $530,545
2750,2775
2578
33
893
131
OA & OB Ton & half
34
620
112
DB
Half ton 575, 595
2935, 2960
5786
35
. .
. .
EB
. .
560, 580 2920, 3035
5694
36
. .
. .
FB
. .
565
2895
15647
34
621
131
PA & PB Ton &
half 750
4050
2638
35
. .
. .
QA & QB
. .
750
4065
1949
36
. .
. .
RA & RB
. .
765
4065
2426
1937 869
112
GC
Half ton
575 3030
16742
37
?
122
GD
3/4 ton
?
37
?
122
GE
One Ton
?
37
871
131
SA & SB Ton & half
765 4055
2107
38 703
112
HC
Half ton
684 3015
7952
38 701
122
HD & HE 3/4 & 1 Ton
792 & 833 3280 & 3445 1950 & 688
38
705
131
TA & TB Ton & Half
862 4035
674
39 933
113.5
JC
Half ton 658
3030
12435
39 935
123.75 JD &
JE 3/4 & 1 Ton
767 & ? 3275 & 3460 2701
& ?
39
651
133
VA & VB Ton & half
837 4000
933
40 933
113.5
KC
Half ton 658
3050
15567
40 935
123
KD & KE 3/4 & 1 Ton
766 & ? 3325 & ?
3720 & 241
40 651
133
KF
Long 1 ton 813
3700
591
40 651
133
WA
Ton & half 867
3985
1476
40
?
113.5
KP
Half Ton
?
? (Dubl-Duti)
41 009
115
AK
Half Ton 686
3090
17694
41 015
125.25 AL & AM
3/4 & 1 Ton 795 & ? 3325 & ?
3565 & 310
41 021
134.5
AN
Long 1 Ton 848
3700
2430
41 021
134.5
YR
Ton & Half 871
4055
893
41 ?
115
AJ
Half Ton ?
? (Dubl-Duti)
42 009
115
BK
Half ton 748
3090
4781
42 015
125.25 BL & BM
3/4 & 1 Ton 860 & ? 3355 &
? 1013 & 78
42 021
134.5
BN Long
1 Ton 915
3770
506
42 021
134.5
MR Ton &
half 943
4055
722
42
?
115
BJ
Half ton
?
? (Dubl-Duti)
43-45 021
134.5
MR Ton &
half
112
Above is Civilian production.
The serial numbers for 1943 - 45 read a 1942 made in the 13th - 36th Month
of 1942. The price usually included a good trade in and significant
amount of Ca$h under the table. You also had to have a waiver to
purchase a new vehicle. In 1925 the Medium duty trux
were Series M. In the second half of 1931 the Medium duty trux were
series M. Now again in 1942, the Medium duty trux are series M.
There are 2 series on 1946
Chev trux. I'm not sure if the second one is Art Deco or Advance
Design but I'll present what I know at this time.
Production
1946 009
115
CK Half
ton
2583
Second series
DP
. .
18614
No first series 3/4 or One ton models built
46 (2nd) 015
125.25 DR
3/4 ton
4002 & 86
46 (2nd) 021
134.5 DS
One Ton
2629
46 (first) 021
134.5 OR
Ton & half
63
46 (2nd) 021
134.5 PJ
. .
1098
47
116 EP
Half ton
18408
47
125.25 ER
3/4 ton
2446 & 115
47
137 ES
1 ton
3896
47
137 QJ
Ton & half
644
48
116 FP
Half ton
22902
48
125.25 FR
3/4 ton
4230
48
137 ES
One Ton
6641
48
137 RJ
Ton & half
None built
In 1948 the 1 1/2 ton were apparently discontinued
in favor of the 1 ton which now had full floating rear axles.
I have no production figures for 1949 or newer trux. Sorry!!
. 
Above is half and Ton & half 1936 Chevy Panels.
Below is a selection of 37 Chevy panels.
. 
. 
If you lived in Europe, Your 37 Chev half ton panel looked a bit different:
The rear was more reminiscent of a 36. Note how different the body
belt is?
In Australia, your 37 Chev panel was different again: (I
could only find a photo of an Olds which uses same body as GMC, Chev and
Maple Leaf.) It was made by Holden. Look at how the body belt
divides at the cowl.
Other body makers offered Panel trux on 37
Chevrolet chassis. Proctor Keefe offered a Deluxe Panel on the 157"
WB dual rear wheel chassis as pictured in the ad below.
Unfortunately, a Composite body in the 30s meant sheet metal over wood
as evident in a remaining specimen of their 131" WB, single rear wheels,
Post Office Panel. The rear view reveals it's structure.
This Proctor Keefe is for sale. Email me at < c1937@znet
.com >
About mid year 1937, Chevrolet introduced their
3/4 and one ton chassis. They offered a chassis, Stake, PU and panel.
I can find no listings for the panel but they always mention it.
The one I have is a little too far gone for restoration but is an example
of a rare vehicle of which few exist. This panel is unusual
in that the rear springs are mounted under the frame like a half ton rather
than to the outside of the frame like most 3/4 - ton & half trux.
Below is a beautifully restored panel I saw at the Phoenix ATHS
show.
1938
(Below) Half ton Panel and Canopy Express. To the right
is 3/4 ton panel.
(Above) is the One Ton panel which uses the same body as the 3/4 ton
with larger springs and heavier brakes.
(Below) is the Ton & half panel which is larger than the one ton.
Note the outside fuel filler on the 38 that is absent on the 37 ton &
half panel as it filled inside.
1939 panel trux came in the same 4 sizes as 1938.
1940 used the same bodies as the 39 above. The most distinguishing feature
would be the fender lights necessitated by the adoption of sealed beam
headlights. A long wheelbase one ton panel was available using the
ton & half body with the smaller axles. Also
new for 1940 was the "Dubl-Duti Package Delivery" . It used a half
ton chassis with a COE manifold.
Despite their similar appearance, the 1940
was a transitional year featuring Hypoid drive in all trux but last year
for torque tube in Ton & half trux. Low gear in the 3 speed was
now helical.
1941
Sedan Delivery
Half ton Panel
3/4 ton panel (Do you
like the paint job? Click here to look at paint.)
One ton Long wheelbase Panel
(The ton & half single and dually used same body as the One
ton but with a stouter chassis.)
Half ton Dubl Duti Parcel Delivery. (aka: Milk Truck)
Cab Over Engine Semi trailer.
By 1941, you could get a panel in many sizes. Sedan Delivery,
half ton, 3/4 ton, One ton, One ton long wheelbase, ton & half, and
Dubl-Duti parcel delivery. Large cargo that needed to be enclosed
needed a semi van. And pictured here is a 41 Chev COE Panel
that GM didn't make. But they could have!!
1941 - 46 represented the "Art Deco" era for GM trux. Please click here for the Art Deco web site for further detail. 1947 - 55 were called "Advanced Design". The ton & half and 3/4 ton were dropped so panels were available in Half and One Ton Long wheelbase chassis. First picture below is 1947 and last picture shows both sizes of 1955 first series.
1947 above. Below 1955 first series.
1955 second series through 1959 were considered the "Task Force" trux.
This also marked the availability of the overhead valve V-8 engine
in trux. GMC offered Pontiac engines in it's smaller trux and continued
to do so with the introduction of the V-8.
The 57 Chevy trux were available with the 235 (Thrift master) and 261
(Job master) sixes and 265 (Trade master), 283 (Task Master) and
(Load master) 322 (nailhead Buick engine) in their trux.
1958 marked the introduction of the notorious 348 Chevy truck engine that
later grew to 409 and inspired the Beach boys song.
The above 1960 Panel had torsion bar front suspension replaced by double
A arm coil in 63.
The 1969 below was the last panel body style GM made, being supplanted
by the Van around 1972.
Vanity time!!
Below represents 3 sizes and 3 eras of GM panels.
In the foreground is a white Advance design long wheelbase one ton.
In 3 tone blue is an Art Deco 1940 GMC half ton. My ambulance in
the rear represents pre Art Deco styling for the ton & half panel.
Photo taken at Paso Robles 2000. Unfortunately I couldn't include
the Task Force panel on a trailer about 6 trux behind me.
I have
seen several long Panels converted into School Busses in many years. Click
photo to view Busses. Click this line
to view Suburban Carryalls. Click here to view Ambulance.
Back to Trux
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Link to Panel trucks web site.
< http://www.paneltruck.com/ >.
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