VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 BODIES

WHEN DID CHEVY STOP USING WOOD AND START METAL BODIES?

I believe that the year was 1935 for the start of the all metal bodies. This was only on the Master Series. The Standards were basically un changed from 1934. The Master series had a longer wheel base (113") only an inch longer but with all the new sheet metal they looked longer.

1936 was the last year that Chevrolet used extensive wood in the construction of cars and trucks. The 36 Standard model did come out with an all steel body. When it was introduced I don't know!

Interesting question!
It appears to have been a faze-out in 1935-1936. My books say that half way into 1936 the doors were changed to all steel. In 1935 the steel industry perfected a way to produce a roof assembly from 80 inch width sheets, allowing for the introduction of the "turret top" roof design, a strong noise-free one piece roof. It all seems so basic now, but imagine how revolutionary it was back then. All that new steel technology was the reason streamlining could be achieved. What an amazing era in automobile design. I always thought that Chevrolet's most beautiful cars were produced between 1936-1938.



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