VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Tech Talk Master vs Standard

Searching for parts for my 1936 Standards got me to thinking, what was the point of creating two virtually identical models that are mechanically different (ie frame/suspension/wheelbase) Tooling would be pretty costly for a difference most folks wouldn't notice when one drove by??

I am guessing it was $$$$ as the standard was about 10% less unless you loaded it up with accessories.

The Standard series that began in 1933 was bascially a line of smaller, lighter and lower priced cars..
The Standard was about 15% lower in price, about $150 back then,which was a lot of money.
Was this a good business idea?
In 1937 Chevrolet Went back to a one line car with almost equal sales of models and would bet made more profit.
Another way to look at it The 1936 Standard line probably sold more units than Pontiac and Oldsmobile combined.

I see. Just seemed like a lopp-sided effort/reward ratio....
Could you custom order your car with specific factory options like you could in the 50's haydays??

There were almost no factory options in 1936. What comes to mind is probably 6 ply tires and an oil bath air cleaner.i
In 1954 there were more options but the readio and heater were still dealer installed accessories.

Oldrek, you could pose your same question today to GM - why do they make the Chev Silverado and GMC Sierra - two vehicles that mechanically are alike, that differ basically only in appearance factors.

Good point, kaygee. I thought the same thing when they phased out the youthful Pontiac, but kept both of your dads cars, Buick and Cadillac.
I was asking about options due to the differences in my '36's. My sedan has two wipers, a water temperature gauge, two sun visors and the streamlined bird hood ornament, whereas my coupe only has one wiper, one visor, no temp gauge and the low bullet style hood ornament?? Neither had a radio.....

Options I believe are installed at the factory. Accessories were dealer installed and could include non-GM items. A couple that come to mind are heaters-and radios and perhaps some of the items mentioned above by OLDREK.

All the accessories you mentioned would have been installed by the dealer. It is more common to find a 4 door wirh a number of accessories and a coupe bare. This is because the coupe was the cheapest model and the owners that bought them very thrifty.

So Gene, are these "accessories" made by or authorized by GM?? Or would other makes/models possibly have the identical part, ie sun visors??