AMERICAN CLASSIC CAR CLUB AUCKLAND
  • Home
  • News
  • Corkboard
  • Gallery
    • Ian & Kevin Karaka run - 14 March 2021
    • Ellerslie Classic Car Show - 14 February 2021
    • Waipu Classic Car & Bike Show - 7 February 2021
    • Kumeu Classic & Hot Rod Festival - 16 January 2021
    • Xmas @ Bridgewater - 13 December 2020
    • Toy Run - 7 December 2020
    • Piha Bowls - 15 November 2020
    • Bill Tweed shed raid - 25 October 2020
    • Te Aroha Cruise In - 3 October 2020
    • Caffiene & Gasolene - 27 September 2020
    • Packard Museum - 5 & 6th September 2020
    • Willow Glen& Ross Bros - 19 July 2020
    • Huljich Military Shed - 21 June 2020
  • Join us
  • Contact
  • Members only
    • Committee contact details
    • Members contact details
    • 2020 Annual Accounts
    • Club apparel & badges
    • Cruisepaper

Throwback Thursday: Chevrolet’s Standard Coupe Car/Pickup Truck

11/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Billed as a speedy and smart pickup, The Standard coupe/truck was unfortunately, not very popular.
​If you’re a fan of Chevrolet’s El Camino, then you know that the popular model made its debut with the 1959 model year. The El Camino was first built on a full-size Chevroletplatform, then the Chevelle/A-body platform, ending on the G-body platform. But, did you know that Chevrolet built something very similar 23 years earlier? Way back in 1936, the Great Depression had the country in a stranglehold. It was during this time that many small automotive manufacturers were dissolved, and those that remained viable, needed to adapt to the then-current situation. That situation meant that Americans were doing more with less, and Chevrolet had what they thought was a great idea that fit that belief.
Picture
This or an El Camino, which would you rather drive?
​In 1936, someone convinced the management team at Chevrolet that there was a customer need for a dual-purpose vehicle. This vehicle needed to be able to transport the family from the family farm into town, and then haul groceries and whatnot back to the farm. While the cars of the day were great for hauling the family, and the trucks did an excellent job of hauling supplies, neither seemed to both very well.
Picture
​Wanted to alleviate the need for multiple vehicles, Chevrolet introduced the Standard coupe pickup. It was advertised by Chevrolet as a “Standard passenger car that has been adapted for commercial use.” The car/truck was built by the Fisher Body Company by using a Standard coupe as the platform. On early models, the front passenger’s side fender was modified to accept a fender-mounted spare tire after it was removed from the trunk.

​The trunk lid was removed, and the trunk area was filled with a permanently-mounted pick-up bed. This 5-foot long bed included wood planks, metal strips, sides, and a tailgate much like the larger Chevrolet ½ ton pickup, minus the Chevrolet script. The bed extended out of the trunk, and was flush with the rear bumper. Step pads were added to the rear bumper as well, so getting in and out of the bed was easier. Finally, the Standard coupe rear leaf springs were replaced with heavier-duty springs taken from the sedan.

Picture
The 206.8 cubic-inch engine was tasked with pulling not only the 2,870-pound body, but also any cargo placed in the bed.
​Not helping the load-carrying capacity was the 79 horsepower six-cylinder engine displacing a small 207 cubic-inches. Behind that was a three-speed manual transmission. As a truck, it definitely needed more power.
When the dust settled, there were only 3,183 Standard coupe pickups made. Currently, there are less than 10 known vehicles that exist today, and we’re told that only three of them are considered to be in original/restorable condition.
Picture
​This thought-to-be-useful vehicle cost the buyer a whopping $535. This was roughly $100 more than the actual ½ ton pickup, but it was thought the car/truck’s universal capabilities would warrant the upcharge. In 2010, One of these sold at the Barrett-Jackson Orange County Action for $22,000 dollars. If you had bought it new, that would definitely be a great return on your investment.
Picture
Article courtesy of Chevy Hardcore, written by Randy Bolig.
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Classics
    Concepts
    Custom
    Hot Rods
    Interesting Stuff

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Copyright © ACCCA 2020
  • Home
  • News
  • Corkboard
  • Gallery
    • Ian & Kevin Karaka run - 14 March 2021
    • Ellerslie Classic Car Show - 14 February 2021
    • Waipu Classic Car & Bike Show - 7 February 2021
    • Kumeu Classic & Hot Rod Festival - 16 January 2021
    • Xmas @ Bridgewater - 13 December 2020
    • Toy Run - 7 December 2020
    • Piha Bowls - 15 November 2020
    • Bill Tweed shed raid - 25 October 2020
    • Te Aroha Cruise In - 3 October 2020
    • Caffiene & Gasolene - 27 September 2020
    • Packard Museum - 5 & 6th September 2020
    • Willow Glen& Ross Bros - 19 July 2020
    • Huljich Military Shed - 21 June 2020
  • Join us
  • Contact
  • Members only
    • Committee contact details
    • Members contact details
    • 2020 Annual Accounts
    • Club apparel & badges
    • Cruisepaper