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When it comes to hot rod ownership, there are generally two kinds of people – those who prefer the clean, crisp lines of a relatively factory-correct piece of automotive history and those who’d rather a unique, custom feel influenced by the great eras of American car culture. Both are beautiful in their own right and the more we see of each, the more we fall in love all over again with the different styles and builds within the hot rod and custom scenes.
Thought of as the first modern Chevy truck, the 1937 half-ton was an influential vehicle in the creation of many Chevy truck generations.
Recently, we ran into an amazing 1937 Chevy pickup at a car show in Fort Collins, Colorado that truly expressed the beauty of original factory designs. Pristinely finished, the truck offered classic styling, a recent refresh and just enough unique details to keep us coming back to look at it more and more. Luckily, the owner of the truck, Jon Jacobs of Fort Collins was more than happy to share his beautifully restored ride with us as we hit the streets of Old Town a few weeks later for a classic country-inspired photo shoot.
From Farm Machine to a Streamlined Dream
By the mid 1930s, pickup trucks were a staple in communities all across the country. Earlier that decade, Chevy had acquired the Martin-Parry body company, allowing them to provide steel-bodied half-ton pickup trucks to customers.
Chevrolet was so confident in its half-ton pickup truck in 1937, they sent one across the country with over 1,000 pounds of cargo just to prove its safety and performance. Image: The Classic Cars Site
After the Great Depression, more and more automotive manufacturers began introducing trucks to their lineup and by 1937, Chevy trucks were much more streamlined – featuring heftier bodies and bigger engines.
Perks of the Chevy half-ton pickups included the inclusion of spare tires and a rather amazing mpg rating demonstrated by the AAA Nationwide Safety and Economy Test in which a 1937 Chevy half-ton was loaded down with 1,060lbs of cargo and sent on a cross country trip. On that trip, the truck averaged 20.74 miles per gallon- rather remarkable for the 1930s. Of course, there was also that undeniable styling!
Yes, even Jacobs’ two daughters loved the ’37 pickup as soon as it was home! Images prior to the truck’s restoration supplied by Jon Jacobs.
A Passion Set in the Classic Years
While Jacobs is far too young to remember the 1937 pickup truck when it first came out (he was born some 30 years too late), the appeal of owning one has been with him for a very long time.
First really introduced to the car world back in high school, it was a Corvette, however that got him started in the automotive scene. “I purchased a 1963 Corvette convertible in high school in 1984,” Jacobs told us, “I was hooked ever since.”
From his first Corvette, Jacobs’ automotive passion grew, so much so that now he has a warehouse full of vehicle projects in various stages, from classic family-style Cadillacs to a modern 2-seater Viper. Within that collection is this 1937 half-ton pickup, a vehicle Jacobs told us he always wanted. And with as stellar as this example is, we can’t blame him!
Meet Jack
There is a simple rule when it comes to naming cars- go with your gut. For most, this means sassy girl names but for Jacobs, his truck struck him as a “Jack”. Not as in jack of all trades, but rather as in Jack Daniel’s. Why you ask? Well, Jacobs decided to include two Jack Daniel’s barrels in the rear of his pickup truck for something a bit out of the ordinary.
We couldn't help but go black and white with some of these images looking right out of the '40s.
Something a bit different and vintage looking, the barrels are actually relatively new, just stained to look like they belong in the back of the vintage truck. And no, there isn’t whiskey still in the barrels, a question that Jacobs gets asked on a regular basis, including once or twice during our shoot.
Brand Spankin’ Old
Ironically enough, the Jack Daniel’s barrels in the back of the truck are about the only things not factory correct, or close to it, on Jacobs’ truck. In fact, the truck is so original, it still maintains its stock suspension system, original 216ci engine, which was new for the 1937 model year, and drivetrain.
As Jacobs told us, even things as simple as the bolts that hold the paneling together on the insides of the doors are original, just cleaned up and put back the way Chevy intended.
They may look old, but the Jack Daniel's barrels in the back of Jacobs' truck are surprisingly some of the newest features you'll find on this '37.
“I have built a press to make the cardboard headliner just like original,” Jacobs gave as an example. “No one makes one.”
Sharing styling cues with Chevy’s car models, the 1937 half-ton truck can easily be distinguished from other model years by its front grill.
The performance and power of vehicles in 1937 was not stellar by today’s standards. But compared to previous model years, the ’37 half-ton pickups brought new highlights to the table.
Although the truck isn’t overly powerful, Jacobs told us he wouldn’t change a thing about it!
As we stated earlier, Jacobs’ truck has the 216.5ci straight-six engine, an upgrade from the previous 181ci straight-six used in Chevy and GMC trucks in 1935 and 1936, as well as the 207ci straight-six used in Chevy and GMC trucks from 1934 through 1936.
In addition to a larger displacement, which the 216ci engine achieved with a 3.5-inch bore and a 3.75-inch stroke, the new straight-six offered a compression ratio of 6.25:1 as well as an upgraded horsepower rating of 85bhp. However, trucks with the 216ci engine were only rated at 78bhp at 3,200RPM with a torque rating of 170lb-ft of torque between 850RPM and 1550RPM. The new straight-six also offered detachable cast iron cylinder heads with the famed “Blue Flame” combustion chamber design.
In the case of Jacobs’ truck, the engine has been rebuilt and continues to burble to life with just a little bit of convincing on Jacobs’ end.
Backing the 216ci engine is a 3-speed syncromesh manual transmission, with helical constant mesh gears and a silent second gear thanks to the 2nd and 3rd syncronous meshing gears. Underneath the truck is a leaf-spring rearend suspension with eight leaves, coilspring frontend suspension, and 11-inch drum brakes. Pushing all 78 horses to the ground are hand-striped wheels, just like those originally put on the ’37s, and wide white-wall tires.
This 216ci straight-six engine may only be rated at 78hp, but its plenty enough to keep Jacobs’ gorgeous Chevy tootling around town 76 years after it came off the assembly line.
On the inside, Jacobs’ truck also features a vintage feel, incorporating the truck’s original seats and even the original gauges. Each vintage gauge is offset nicely against the copper crinkle powder coated dash, which is the only non-factory correct component inside the cab. Of course, we can’t forget that cardboard headliner that Jacobs made just like the original for above the seats.
Adding to the classic character of the truck is a factory-correct red and black paint job. Although the truck was originally green and black, Jacobs opted for the factory red variety, one of just a couple of paint scheme options offered on the half-ton trucks in 1937. The paint is topped off with Diamont clear coat.
Jacobs’ truck may not be a chopped and dropped custom or a flamed-out hot rod, but she sure is a beauty just the way Chevy made her some 76 years ago.
Often times we find classic cars and trucks chopped to death all in pursuit of a certain look. But as Jacobs’ truck shows, not everything that came out of the factory over three-quarters of a century ago was bad or in need of modification.
In fact, Jacobs might be on to something by just cleaning up what Chevy already constructed. After all, years down the line, his truck may be one of the only mostly factory original examples of its kind around. And something tells us, that’s not a bad way to go!
A bit minimalistic, the Chevy's interior has only the necessities in true vintage style. 
