VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Production figures and locations 37' 1/2 Ton ?

I was at a local car show recently and saw some other car owners displaying various kinds of information about their cars. Since then I have been trying to find out how many 1937 1/2 ton chevy trucks were made. Old Blue was manufactured in Oakland, CA in November 1936. :) I'd like to find out how many trucks were produced at that plant in that year. Also, what other plants (USA), if any, produced that model? What was the total production? Is there any VCCA data on the number of 1937 pickups owned by the members? Any leads on where I can find the information? I seem to have exhausted the internet options.
Thanks, 37Blue.

There were 88,867 1/2 ton trucks produced in 1937.64,420 were pick-ups.The 1/2 tons were assembled in all plants.
There is no accurate data as to how many are still in exsistance an/or owned by VCCA members.Not all members list their vehicles in the roster....just do a search on 1937 chevrolet.

Chevgene:
Thank you for the reply. Do you know how many were produced by each plant? My internet searching using various combinations of wording; 1937 Chevrolet included, has yielded some information. However, I would like to get more production information, if possible. Do you know the reason the 1/2 ton trucks production figure differs from the pick-up figure? I am guessing it includes the panel trucks and coupe conversions. Is that right?
Thanks, 37Blue

1/2 ton trucks included a flat cowl, with/without a windshield, chassis; a cab & chassis; pickup; panel; and canopy express; suburban.

The pick-ups were the most common 1/2 ton trucks by far.The panels would have been next.Also was sold as a light delivery chassis (with or without cab),canopy express,Suburban Carryall, plus some othe special chassis/body conbinations.
I have never seen production by plant on the older models.

I have some Chevrolet production figures for the 37 trucks; commerical 1/2 ton chassis 796 units, 1/2 ton panel 16742, 1/2 ton Closed cab with pickup box 64420, 1/2 ton Canopy express 1206, 1/2 ton Suburban 1998, 1/2 ton Chassis with closed cab 3705. This includes the early high cab and the late low cab. Production numbers from Sept. 36 to Sept. 37.

Guys:
Thanks!!!! Can you tell me how to determine the difference, using the cowl tag numbers or other clues, between the commercial 1/2 ton, 1/2 ton closed cab with pickup box and the 1/2 ton chassis with closed cab? The first three characters stamped on the cowel tag are 6 GC. The six is an Oakland plant identifier and the GC I think denotes 1/2 ton, but is there more to deciphering the GC? The remaining characters I understand indicate the month of production and the last digits indicate the production number assigned starting at 1000.

Does GM have an information contact or a research library one can call or correspond with to get historical info?

Thanks again.

37Blue

As far as I know there were no numbers identifing the body style...All 1/2 ton trucks were GC and the number you are refering to is the serail number as trucks didn't have a body number as far as I know.

GM would be of no help I am sure.

The single unit trucks such as the panel, canopy express and the surburban for 1933,34,35 & 36 had a Chevrolet Indianaoplis build plate inside of the RH body sill just behind the RH seat. I am not sure if the 37 had this? Lou, Mr.37, out in Berkley, California would know. None of the Commerical chassis or closed cabs including pickups had this plate. The Optional Canopy top for the pickups had an ID plate on the underside of the RF roof area.

Chevgene and 35 Pickup Man:
Thanks for the help guys. I'm trying to trace as best possible the origin and the number of owners since build date to get Old Blues' history. I saw a display at a show last weekend that the owner had done for his car and I thought I'd give it a try.
37Blue

37 Blue,

Two ideas.

1. In some states, you can get title history on vehicles from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Different states call that dept different things; but I hope you get my drift.

2. In that you're a VCCA member, you might want to contact your Tech Advisor. He/she may have some more info along the lines you've gotten a lot of help already from Chev Gene and 35 Pickup Man.

Just a couple of thoughts......

Bill.

42Bill and others:
Thank you for the suggestions. I'll follow-up with the Tech Advisor. I had time over the long weekend to look at the new membership roster and count the number of '37 1/2 ton pickup trucks listed by members in the USA. It looks like there are about 55 listed. I am a little uncertain about the count because some members only refer to " 1937 pickup"; which could mean 3/4 ton or maybe even a coupe with a box or some other combination. I am also aware that not all members list their vehicles or even all the vehicles they own. So the figure derived is interesting but incomplete, I am sure. None the less and in a relative sense of the 64,420 produced to have an estimated fewer than maybe 2000(?) survive in original or near original condition is interesting; to me anyway. Of course this info and 50 cents won't buy a cold cup of coffee but it's kind of fun to look in to, at least for me. May be I need to spend the time working on the truck instead????
37Blue