Who Invented the Chevy Truck?

William "Billy" Durant and Louis Chevrolet started the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911. Durant had been the CEO of General Motors until the company's bankers forced him out. He formed a new partnership to produce vehicles that would make him a large profit quickly. His goal was to purchase enough stock in General Motors to have a controlling interest. By 1916 he had purchased enough stock to make his dream a reality.

First Trucks

The first Chevy trucks came out in 1918, the same year Chevrolet became part of General Motors. Most were sold for use as delivery vehicles. They sold for $595.

Identification

The first Chevy trucks did not resemble our modern idea of a truck. They were actually roadsters with a cargo box in the trunk. Many early truck parts were interchangeable with Chevy's automobiles.

Considerations

Trucks from this early era are not generally sought after. Parts are next to impossible to find. They usually have to be fabricated from scratch, since no patterns exist.

First "Modern" Truck

In the 1930s, Chevy trucks began to take on more modern styling cues. The first model with a pickup box came out in 1930, but the front still looked like a car.

New Style

In 1939, Chevy trucks began to look less like cars and more like the modern truck. The two-piece "V" windshield was introduced, and the grille became taller.

Collectibles

The most collectible Chevy truck is the Advance Design model, produced from 1947 to 1955. Chevy was the first major car manufacturer to restyle its trucks after World War II. This style is what modern collectors think of as the "classic" old truck.