1937 Ford Coupe with added Pick-up Bed - Was Ford first with this idea?

[mercman from oz]

1937 Ford Coupe with added Pick-up Bed - Was Ford first with this idea?

[mercman from oz]

The answer to the above question is that it appears that Ford were not the first company to add a Pick-up Box to a Coupe, as you can see from the above advertisement showing a 1936 Chevrolet.

[paul2748]

Was this an actual Ford model? First I have seen this outside of some aftermarket mods.

[v8fordman]

Yes, it was a Ford model with its own designation. It was a short lived idea but my understanding it was created in response to Chevy's '36 model. I wrote an article about mine for V8 Times if you would like to look back at it. I also have a set of factory blueprints from Ford archives. I requested them before I bought this because I wanted to be sure what I was getting was real. It's not very practical because it is open to the environment at all times, so when it rains water is automatically inside the vehicle...especially when you press the brakes.

[flatford8]

“ so when it rains water is automatically inside the vehicle...especially when you press the brakes.”
This was the first thing I thought of when I saw one of these pictures, but I never asked the question. I think a small trailer would have made more sense...........Mark

[woodburnranch]

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Our local bachelor TV repairman, "TV Jack", had a grey '36 Chevy "EL Camino" as his sole transportation during the "70's in my hometown. My brother and I were into Model As and V-8s and considered the Chevy so ugly that we did not even go see it sell at the estate sale. Our neighbor bought it but it soon left the area and I have not seen it since.

[RalphM]

There was one of those Chevys up here about 15 years ago that was for sale. It was in project condition and I think they wanted $10,000 for it.

I’ve seen plenty of converted Model A’s that were done during World War II to gain extra gas rations as a farm truck.

[mercman from oz]

Here is a picture of a fully restored 1936 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup, a year before Ford offered a similar vehicle.

[blucar]

I came very close to buying a '35 Ford Roadster that had a pickup bed modification in 1961-62.
The vehicle was an orchard truck that had spent it's whole life in a citrus orchard in the Santa Barbara, CA area. The truck had not ran in years, pretty rough. I had offered $125. for the truck, the owner wanted $150. We would not arrive at an agreed upon price so I walked away... One of them woulda.coulda shoulda, deals.

[blucar]

The rest of the story:
Based on actual brochures and the fact that ten years ago I owned one, it would appear that GM's answer to the pickup/coupe was a MATCHING TRAILER, in 1937-38.
A little ove ten years ago I had a '37 GMC T-14 1/2 ton that I had a matching trailer for. The trailer had a regular 1/2 pickup bed with fenders and the GMC script tailgate.
I took the outfit to several car shows, one of which was in Elko Nev. I would put my Boxer Dog in the bed of the truck with a sign on his neck.. GOAT FOR SALE
One day a man offered me a lot of money for the truck/trailer so I sold it.
The trailer was made by Yellow Truck And Coach, which is the actual division of GM that made the GMC trucks during the 1930's.

[AKCJ]

I didn’t realize it was a steel, factory thing. I always thought it was a homemade wood thing. Very cool. I’d be happy if I could just find a 37 coupe for sale that still has a flathead.

[RalphG]

I have never seen that option on a Ford, or any other make either. Looks like Frazer had something similar in 1951 with their Vagabond.

[mercman from oz]

1951 Kaiser Traveler that RalphG refered to.

[mercman from oz]

Here is the Illustration for 1952 Kaiser Traveler

[mercman from oz]

1951 Kaiser Traveler on display at Ypsilanti Heritage Museum, Michigan.

[tubman]

With the fancy wood strips on the floor, you can bet that the K/F "Travelers" were not intended for use as trucks. The picinic basket and 3M "Scotch" cooler says it all.

My folks had one of those coolers when I was a kid in the fifties.

[ford38v8]

With the severe angle of those tailgate straps, it appears that one might do some real damage just by sitting on the tailgate.
Kaiser was a car before its time. Innovative style is not always enough for a car to become a trend setter. If I remember correctly, Kaiser also offered a station wagon that had a sliding top section at the rear to accommodate tall cargo.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

With the severe angle of those tailgate straps, it appears that one might do some real damage just by sitting on the tailgate.
Kaiser was a car before its time. Innovative style is not always enough for a car to become a trend setter. If I remember correctly, Kaiser also offered a station wagon that had a sliding top section at the rear to accommodate tall cargo.

Nope. That was a Studebaker Lark. K/F ever made a station wagon, which is why they offered the "Traveler".

[woodiewagon46]

I don't think any manufacturer can claim that it's their idea. I have seen pictures of home made pick-up boxes in model T's and A's and other makes. Back in the teen's several companies were building wooden pick-up and station wagon bodies that were named Depot Hacks. They were used primarily as a vehicle to move good's from freight depot's to stores and factories. In 1927 Ford capitalized on the idea and assembled his design team to produce a prototype Station Wagon and in 1928 built five. They went over so well that in 1929 the first Station Wagon was added to the production line. The rest is Woodie history.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by tubman

Nope. That was a Studebaker Lark. K/F ever made a station wagon, which is why they offered the "Traveler".

Winner winner chicken dinner!

[mercman from oz]

Studebaker Lark Station Wagon with the Sliding Roof - ford38v8

[mercman from oz]

1963 Studebaker Traveler from the Original Sales Brochure.

[mercman from oz]

Here is another picture of a restored 1936 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup.
Where are the Fords???

[mercman from oz]

Coupe or Pickup? It appears that this "conversion" was trialed by a number of Manufacturers. This Coupe is not a Ford Product, probable a Chrysler Product?

[sugarmaker]

My uncle had a Studebaker Lark, green with the sliding roof! Very nice car. Traveled with him and my aunt to the Falls for vacation. Dang I am old!
Regards,
Chris

[mercman from oz]

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It seems that Ford and Chevrolet were not the only ones interested in producing a Coupe Pickup - Check out this Ad for the 1937 Terraplane Utility Coupe Pickup

[blucar]

Terraplane cars of '37-38 were also available with fender mounted spares which Ford and GM did not offer. I have a spare tire cover for a '37 Terraplane hanging on the wall in my garage.
I found the cover on an abandoned Terraplane that was sitting on an abandoned farm in Montana.

[CHuDWah]

Both Ford and Chevy produced regular pickups - wonder why they even bothered with coupe pickups?

I can't recall the make (one of the extinct ones) but I've read about a coupe pickup with a box that slid in/out of the trunk like a drawer. The car had a deck lid that could be removed or just propped open when the box was in use.


Edit: Just noticed mercman's Terraplane post - that may be the one I was thinking about.

[mercman from oz]

Unlike the Terraplane, the Pickup Box on this 1936 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup is part of the body, and does not retract.

[Mart]

A friend of mine had a 42 Ford coupe with this setup. He sourced a trunk lid and reinstated the gutters to put it back to a regular coupe.

Mart.

[mercman from oz]

Can someone please post a picture of a similar set-up in a Ford?

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by AKCJ

I’d be happy if I could just find a 37 coupe for sale that still has a flathead.

I just sold this unrestored '37 w/21-stud flatty about three months ago. It's a runner & a driver, and went to Ohio. Owned it just over 20 years! DD

[Clem Clement]

Didn't sears sell them. I've seen them on a model A coupe and my Uncle had his 35 Ford coupe altered by his mechanical bro with a box in the back.

[mercman from oz]

V8COOPMAN, that is one sweet 1937 Ford V8 Business Coupe

[mercman from oz]

Yet another Chev, this time a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup

[mercman from oz]

Still more Chevrolets, this time a 1938 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup.
Where are the Fords???

[AKCJ]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

I just sold this unrestored '37 w/21-stud flatty about three months ago. It's a runner & a driver, and went to Ohio. Owned it just over 20 years! DD

Dang! Looks great.
I bid on the one at the auction in Scottsdale but it went just past my stopping limit.

[mercman from oz]

This time around, we have a 1939 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup.
Where are all the Fords?

[blucar]

Interesting; The 39 Chevy appears to have a access panel/compartment under the bed.
I would assume that the compartment houses the spare tire.
I wonder why the truck/car has the correct '39 tail light on the body and a '37-38 tail light on the bed?

[34fivewindow]

Originally Posted by paul2748

Was this an actual Ford model? First I have seen this outside of some aftermarket mods.

yes it was an actual model #770-C, ford called it five window coupe with pickup body. it was only available in a standard model coupe.

[mercman from oz]

Here is another 1939 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup. This one doesn't have the additional 37/38 Chev Tail Lights.

[blucar]

I would also surmise that the style of the bed construction indicates that it is not a factory bed. No stack pockets and the tail gate.

[mercman from oz]

Accessory Pickup Box showing Opening Tail Gate - 1939 Chevrolet Coupe

[mercman from oz]

This time around, we have a 1940 Studebaker Coupe Pick-Up.
Where are all the Fords?

[mercman from oz]

Nov/Dec 2021 - V8 Times "Ford Notes by Bob Lincoln".
Bob has listed this "add-on" as mentioned in the 7/29/36 Buffalo Branch Newsletter.
This pre-dates the 1937 Ford Coupe Ute with Pick-Up Box by one year.

[mercman from oz]

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1941 Chevrolet Coupe Pick-Up.
Where are the Ford Coupe Pick-Ups?

[tom1948]

when I was growing up in s.e.pa, my uncle had a 1935 ford 5 window with a pickup bed, he didn't know much about it, he said he bought it like that. It looked too good to be a hack job, but that was back in the early iron age(1950;s).

[mercman from oz]

Another 1941 Chevrolet Coupe with Pick-Up Box

[mercman from oz]

Original Advertisement for the 1939 Chevrolet Coupe Pickup.

[blucar]

Interesting Ad for the '39 Chevy's. I did not remember that GM went to independent coil spring front suspension in '39.
A little know fact about coil spring front suspension vs leaf springs.. The majority of the auto manufactures would have gone to independent front coil springs much earlier because they were on the average $10.00 per vehicle cheaper. DPCD went to coil springs in '32. GM in '34. The problem was that there was not enough coil spring manufactures in the US to meet the coil spring demand.
The coil spring issue is similar to Fords move from spoke wheels in '36 to disk wheels, a savings of five pounds per wheel, thereby saving $$$$, while improving the handling and safety of the vehicles.