Panel Trux!









    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.
 
 

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