In 1937 the world was shaking off the Great Depression. The Art Deco movement was in full swing, with round, organic shapes dominating industrial design. It was time for a new look for Chevrolet trucks. The 1937 Chevrolet truck captured that trend perfectly, a marked departure from just one year earlier. Rather than a V-shaped grille suggestive of the radiator behind it, the new grille was convex, with waterfall slats cascading vertically. The headlights nestled close to the fender and hood, on their way – a few years later – to full integration into the fenders. In years past, trucks looked like passenger cars in the front; but the 1937 Chevy didn’t share its looks with any Chevy car. And it had a heavy truck frame, built especially for the loads a customer might carry. Thanks to the heavy use these trucks experienced, original survivors are not common. Here on eBay, though, is a 1937 Chevrolet half-ton pickup in “survivor” condition – mostly. Bidding has reached $11,100, meeting reserve. This truck is located in Waukon, Iowa.
The owner purchased the truck in 2017 from a Minnesota farmer, who had it in his barn for years. The original 216 cu. in. engine was frozen so it was replaced with a later production 235 cu. in. in-line six-cylinder. Horsepower consequently increased by fifteen ponies, to 100 bhp. The truck starts and runs well, and the owner uses it regularly around his farm and in town. The four-speed manual shifts well and the brakes are reportedly good. The seller did note a gas leak from the main tank so he is using an auxiliary tank for now. The seller’s ad includes a well-done video showing more details and its road performance.
The interior has deteriorated past “attractive survivor” quality, and into “ratty”. The seat covers are needed because the seats are worn down to the springs. The handle for the spotlight is broken. The gauge faces are yellowed and their glass is cloudy; the seller reports that the speedometer and gas gauge are iffy. The window glass is cracked, and the rear windshield is foggy. The windows and front windshield need a little help with cranking up/down/out/in. It’s obvious that the truck has received a clear coat; I wish this had been done with a flat sheen rather than this shiny effect.
The bed is rotting away. The tailgate looks like it spent time in a cement mixer, but it is straight. The underside is like the top side – but without the clear coat. This is another tough call: repairing the bed and the seats will make them jarringly new against the rest of the truck. What would you do with this truck?
It looks like a lot of fun. I would have to replace the wood in the bed, but perhaps use some weathered barn siding to match with the patina.
My thoughts exactly!
This thing has a split exhaust manifold! Looks to be a pretty well done piece of speed equipment! Very nice!
Did the same to my ’54 210. Used the thermostat housing upside down and welded it to the manifold. Beautiful sound.
But where does it go? Underside shows a single exhaust.
I watched the video. Or, rather, I watched its beginning. Then I promptly dismissed it when I heard the first strains of music. For the life of me, I’ll never understand why a seller would allow music to mask the sound of an engine and drive train.
Valid point. I, like most of us love music, but damned, I do not want to hear “Freebird” or anything else, over and over, and in every possible place I go and definitely not to mask the sound of an engine and drivetrain.
I like the fact that he replaced the sized original engine with basically a later clone. It definitely tends to preserve the originality appearance. It is a usable vehicle and just a few items to make its appearance cleaner without going all out restoration. I LIKE IT!!
Bringing all the money currently IMO, but like the patina on it!
Take out 6 banger drop in a 350/700 4 9 inch rear mustang 2 front, fix wood in bed have fun. I have a friend that has one that’s identical she has lots of fun with it
OK, OK, that’s all well and good, but is the lawn jockey included?
Not a fan of the preservation done to the patina, would need to undo that. But otherwise a cool find
This one Screams for a custom paint job, custom buckets in the cab fix the gauges, replace and finish the wood in the bed add a set of Nerf bumpers front and rear and enjoy a beautiful truck.
Great find and the dealer/collector at least made the effort to get it running and stopping, and I like the 235 swap as they’re pretty bulletproof. I’d restore the bed with repurposed wood, recover the seat and gas tank and enjoy it until I tackled body and paint. Someone is gonna have some fun.
The transmissions tend to leak down the torque tube and into the differential, then out the axles and the rear wheels. I used Kendall semi-solid lubricant in mine.
I had a 54 Chevy Bel air and it had the old school torque tube that also leaked a little and only a handful of mechanics knew anything about servicing it. Can you replace them with a custom sized regular drive shaft?