For this month’s feature truck, we present a very special and extremely rare pickup. Few have survived after almost 90 years! It was the year that GMC, the big truck branch of General Motors, introduced their first ½ ton pickup. Here is this special truck, a 1936 GMC ½ ton pickup. Maybe this 1936 is why there are light weight GMC’s today!
Because our country had been experiencing years of the Great Depression, the GMC big truck dealers were hit with very slow sales. Companies that always bought big trucks to use in their businesses, were now being very cautious. The concern of their survival was of the utmost importance. This was not the time to buy a large company truck!
Thus, the GMC big truck dealers of General Motors were in trouble! Many had gone out of business, some were surviving only by selling used cars, pre-owned trucks, farm machinery, and doing most any type of mechanical repairs they could find.
General Motors had to do something and as fast as possible to save their dealers from bankruptcy!
The answer is our feature truck this month. For the first time GMC would market a ½ ton pickup! The hope that a much less expensive ½ ton that stood out above the competition would attract individual buyers and save GMC.
Thus, a 1936 GMC Pickup was created. Few have survived after almost 90 years. This is one of the few remaining. It was a part of GMC history! Owned and was personally restored by Patrick Kroeger of Palm Harbor, Florida.
It all started when Patrick became very involved in the restoration of a 1922 American LaFrance Firetruck in 2003 for the City of Palm Harbor. He was a Fireman for the city and really enjoyed the responsibility he was given. A very big job on a truck almost as heavy as a tank.
He was not in a big hurry to find an older GM pickup. However, it had to be one that really got him excited because of the restoration work that would be ahead of him. For many months Patrick glanced through miscellaneous magazines to see what was available. No luck! Then a call from his father-in-law. He told Patrick, “If you want something really “off the wall and yet is pure GM” you might look at this”. For the first time in his hunt, Patrick got interested. It is this month’s 1936 GMC we are featuring. (Probably the rarest of all ½ ton GMC’s ever produced.)
It was in Arizona, a long way from Florida, but with many photos and the discussion from the owner, he bought it. The GMC was transported by a hauling company that moves 5 cars at a time. It had been setting outside in AZ heat for several years. The carrier said it was too tall to fit on the lower level of the large trailer. The driver would not put it on top for fear of oil dropping on the newer cars below! Thus, it was placed on the far tail end of the hauler where the loading ramp was used. Every time a newer car was unloaded, the 1936 had to be taken off the long multi vehicle trailer! This is why the seller had to get the GMC engine to run as required by the freight company. (First and reverse gear must operate.)
In place for the long haul to Florida.
During our discussion, the owner made an interesting statement. The 1936 could be ordered several ways:
- As inexpensive as possible with no appearance upgrade.
- This base model with the buyer requesting only “certain extras” that came on the deluxe fully loaded GMC. (This is as our Feature Truck.)
- Fully loaded with all options other than the choice of exterior colors.
- The totally redesigned chrome hub caps, for GMC only, were used through 1946.
Our feature truck came with the body color, Medium Cream. An extra $10 gave it (GMC only) Hollywood Tan on the Fenders and radiator housing. This combination would have been a real attention getter in the days of conservative colors. Perfect for a dealer’s showroom!
Other extras above the base model is a chrome windshield frame, and headlights as well as driver’s armrest and dome light.
Thus, the grille, a vehicle’s focal point, must be a new design. (GMC only.) Because it was a new creation, the temporary engine had a lower emergency hand cranking position, the front bumper required a dip in the middle. This also gave GMC a more stand-alone front appearance.
Yes, the bed came with wood planks and metal strips. It now has the same correct replacements.
The totally redesigned Chrome hub caps, for GMC only, were used through 1946.
The only part that matches Chevrolet ½ ton is the back that fits their wheels.
Adopted Engine:
The engines that the big truck GMC used were too large for a pickup truck. There was no time to create a smaller light weight engine to fit in a pickup! (These became available in 1939 and were pure GMC)
The solution was to use the proven six cylinder from Oldsmobile. By changing the front cross member on the Chevrolet frame from the engine mounting position, it fit just right.
NOTE: The engine is green to not be confused with a gray Chevrolet 216.
Patrick Kroeger is the truck’s third owner and has a copy of its original 1936 title! First sold in Phoenix, Arizona during June 1936 for $695.00. The gross weight is 4,500 pounds.
Patrick says this is not a “Trailer Queen”. He drives it locally as much as twice each week. When asked how long it took to restore it, he says, “Owned it 20 years and I continue to do little improvements.”
He takes it to most local early truck and car shows after the hot Florida summer heat has passed.
Proof that Patrick’s restored GMC is “really something special”. It was chosen by Hallmark to be their Christmas Ornament of the year in 2018. Now anyone can have a copy of this GMC among their seasonal collection. (If you are an ornament collector.)
Hallmark’s comments:
This GMC truck is cream and dark brown and has an evergreen tree in the
back. The wheels move on this little truck. It comes in limited quantity and is available at the Keepsake Ornament Premiere Event. The truck is a complement to the Nostalgic Houses and Shops ornament this year and will be used to deliver the Christmas trees from the Festive Firs farm.
Nice correct interior.
80 mph and 80 lb. oil pressure. (Not Chevy)
Extra GMC ½ ton Long Bed Facts:
Several years ago we posted this article on the long bed ½ ton GMC. We have added it here because it is so appropriate.
GMC 1/2 Ton Long Bed Driveshaft Extension
Of the many differences between the Chevrolet and GMC 1/2 ton during the early years (1936-54), the GMC offering of a long bed pickup box was one of the more noticeable. Only GMC provided this option. To obtain this extra bed length on a Chevrolet, the buyer must order a 3/4 ton. This had a lower differential gearing, not wanted by most ½ ton buyers.
This difference existed with the first GMC pickup in 1936 and continued through the end of the Advance Design series in 1955. Possibly the reasoning for this was the horsepower difference between these two marquis. The base 216 six cylinder Chevrolet engine provided 92 hp. The standard 228 GMC six cylinder (introduced in 1939) was 100 hp.
To get the approximately nine inch extra GMC chassis length not only were the two frame rails longer but the drive shaft was extended. GMC engineers did this by developing an extension which was the connecting length between their standard ½ ton short bed closed drive shaft and the rear of the transmission. NOTE: None of this interchanges with a Chevrolet and both makes use a totally different drive shaft design on their 3/4 ton series.
The photos below shows this unique connector link installed in its GMC. A 7 3/8 inch steel jack-shaft is surrounded by a cast iron housing (it is still a closed drive shaft) and includes an extra u-joint, bearing, and seal. Though, a strongly built drive shaft system, this portion becomes the long bed 1/2 ton's weak link after 50 years of use and abuse. Without a doubt this link has performed almost flawlessly beyond the miles expected by its designers. However, it does have its long term limitations. The many prior miles, lack of regular maintenance, and occasionally overloading the truck makes the failure of an original in today's world a definite possibility.
To replace the short drive shaft extension (GMC only) Jim Carter Truck Parts has a few made each year. Only a very special, well equipped machine shop would consider cutting on a hardened steel replacement. It is our part # ME470. Because of this, your GMC 1/2 ton long bed does not need to be out of service for the usual long time!
You can contact Patrick at: pkroeger@tampabay.rr.com