1937

Thirty years ago I had the gas tank of my ’38 pickup coated inside to control rust. Since that time I would change the gas (usually three gallons) every eight weeks due to the gas eating away at the coating. Small bits of that coating would get into the fuel pump and carburetor wreaking havoc. When I found out there...

After 25 years providing the Feature Truck of the Month series, we have found this beautifully restored 1937 Chevrolet ½ ton nicely dressed for Christmas. The proud owner is Janna Chevalier of Bellingham, Washington (about 20 miles from the Canadian border). She purchased the pickup from the owner of a Texaco Service Station in her town. This person had given...

Its 1947! A 14 year old Burt Fulmore thinks of a method of getting to school each day from his home in the small town of Economy to Bass River, Nova Scotia Canada, seven miles away. (This island province in eastern Canada is 450 miles above the US most northern state of Maine). He knows his father’s 1937 panel truck...

We at Jim Carter Truck Parts are occasionally asked if an original 1937 under seat tank will fit in their 1938. This question is asked because the 1937 tank has been reproduced, however, the 1938 has not. We asked a good customer that has personally restored a show quality 1938 Chevy ½ ton. It is a show quality award winner...

If you are lucky and discover a NOS one year only 1937 grille. “Nobody is going to back into my grille!”

During our 18 years’ experience with the Featured Truck of the Month Series, we have never located even one GMC ½ ton pickup of this vintage year. When we discovered it a few months ago, it was an immediate candidate to be posted for all to learn about. The truck is a 1937 GMC T-14 ½ ton pickup owned by...

Its 1947! A 14 year old Burt Fulmore thinks of a method of getting to school each day from his home in the small town of Economy to Bass River, Nova Scotia Canada, seven miles away. (This island province in eastern Canada is 450 miles above the US most northern state of Maine). He knows his father’s 1937 panel truck...

LOOK WHAT JUST BECAME AVAILABLE FROM JIM CARTER TRUCK PARTS! I have not seen new since the late 1930’s. These one year only emblems. Attached to the hood sides of the 1937 GMC ½ through 1 ½ ton. Anodized silver aluminum with black background. Just like GM made them. The final touch to draw attention by anyone that admires older...

To add better night visibility to all Pickups, Big trucks, Suburban’s, and panel trucks, General Motors offered a 4 inch diameter 1940-1953 Accessory GM Reflector as a dealer installed accessory.  With the single small factory taillight, seeing of these vehicles on the road could be difficult especially if their one bulb burned out.  To help correct this problem GM offered a...

What a rare occurrence! At the 2011 America Truck Historical Society Convention in South Bend, Indiana, we found both a 1936 and a 1937 restored GMC truck with the correct grill --- each at different booths. You can go to every truck show for many years and never see even one. Therefore, we just had to get a few photos...

Keeping the passenger area warm in cars and trucks during the winter was always a problem in the early years. Not only were the heater fans and cores small but the vehicles used recirculator heaters. Thus, the air in the cab was recirculated rather than using dry outside cold air being brought inside and warmed. This helped for quicker warming...

The Australian 1937-38 Chevrolet trucks are much like those in the U.S., however on close observation, one can certainly see unique differences. This United States relative is obviously GM but not quite the same. These Down-Under truck's final assembly point was in the Holden plant in New South Wales, Australia. (Holden is a branch for GM in that country.) Much...

Look what a 216 six cylinder can do with a low speed rear end!

This mid-Missouri 1937 Chevrolet 1/2 ton is owned by Tim Koch of Jefferson City. He chose this restoration shop to do the total project because of their reputation for quality as one of the best! The name Herrons Customs Paint is mentioned at so many local shows, it was worth Tim Koch talking to the owner and viewing his shop. The vehicles under rebuilding convinced Tim this was the company to do the restoration of his 1937 Chevy truck.

This is my latest project a 1937 GMC 1/2 ton pickup. Not exactly original but a personal preference. The previous owner had owned the truck for over 30 years and finally parted with it. It had been restored many years ago but was in need of a lot of repair to shoddy bodywork and I have added many upgrades.

During the 1936-37-38 years of this cab design, subtle changes occurred as GM engineers learned better ways to construct this truck. The gas tank changes on the pickup body style was probably the most obvious and it was different each of the three years. In 1936, the new mid year low cab pickup continued with the earlier practice of securing...

Rebuilding the 1937 and older pressure plate can be a little tricky. The early design (activated with a carbon throw out bearing under pressure) requires extra steps when being rebuilt. With the help of an older shop manual (see below) the final details can be successful. The personal letter is from Richard Wright of Westtown, NY. He did not receive...

  Though at quick glance, the GMC grilles of these two years may seem the same, however, look close. Changes at the top show slight differences. The die cast assembly at the top of the 1937 grille gives the impression that the vertical grille bars extend through the emblem. They don't! It's an illusion and is die cast. The hood...

  The differences found on the cab during the beginning of the Advance Design years are subtle, yet on close study soon become quite evident. It probably exists on all vehicles when a body style is first introduced. Lab tests on a vehicle tend to overlook a few problems that later surface when it is in the hands of the...

This early glove box lock assembly has a weak point that makes it difficult to find complete. Its die-cast vertical pointer is held in place by a small steel tension spring. After the truck sets outside abandon several years the spring rusts, breaks, or otherwise looses its tension. This allows the pointer to fall out and the glove box lid will no longer stay closed.

It is so unusual to find an unmolested mid 30s truck! When this all original 21,000 mile 1937 GMC appeared at a recent New England truck show, we had to take notice having never seen the correct installation of the small 3/8” bead cab windlace on an early model. Our camera did some recording.

It's 1937 and the Great Depression has affected all households. Sales of new cars and trucks have dropped and most manufacturers have permanently shut their doors. The struggling survivors must add ways to stay above the level of bankruptcy.

Not only is this 1937 GMC T-14 very unusual but it is one of the only remaining examples of a pure original in existence. It is a part of history and will remain un-restored.

With nothing but a carport to keep the Arizona heat to a minimum, you could say I am a true back yard mechanic. All restoration of this truck took place in my backyard.