The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1936-37 GMC COE Truck?

Hi

I've found an old COE truck, but need some help identifying it. I've attached some photo's of the truck.

It seems to be a 1937-39 GMC COE truck, but the bars on the grille are all vertical, while the only ones I've seen before have vertical bars in the middle and horizontal bars at the sides.

Could this be a 1936 model? 1936 GMC pick-up and truck grilles have all vertical bars.

Also where is the VIN located on these trucks?

Thanks a bunch

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[IMG]http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv208/IndianaJones7746/Lorrie006.jpg[/IMG]

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wish I could help you Indianajones but I can't. I would like to know the answers to your questions too because I will be looking for 2 of those in about 5 years

I can't say about what year it is but the guages seem to indicate just what you said. Somewhere around a 37-39. I'm sure someone else will be around soon to let you know. Traffic is a little slow on the weekends but just wait till Monday!!

Some area's to look for Vin tags is usually on the door post near the hinges, sometimes they are on the edge of the door near the door handle, sometimes they are on the firewall on the right side (drivers side for you) or perhaps they on the other side of the firewall since its right hand drive.

Jonsey - are you sure that's a GMC? Chevy and GMC grilles were the main visual difference in body styles back then and I believe Chevy was the primary GM truck exported to your area - all the right drive trucks originated in Canada, maybe assembled in Port Elizabeth if that GM facility was operative back then

Bill

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

I am not 100% sure it's a GMC, as I have not located a VIN tag yet.
From photo searches on the web, I have deducted it must be a GMC. The Chevy grille for the time looks much more different than the GMC grille, the Chevy grille has all horizontal bars. The other differences from the pictures I've seen is that it seems Chevy's have 5-spoke wheels, whereas GMC trucks have 8-spoke wheels.

From what I know the COE body style is very rare, and its unlikely that it was assembled in P.E.

Looks like a '37, or '38 Canadian Exported Maple Leaf COE. Very "RARE" ! might even be a Oldsmobile COE.

It looks just like the GMC Coe I had a few years back. and it is prior to 1938 There is key parts that are GMC only designs.


are you going to restore this truck?

Found an article in the ATHS "Wheels Of Time" Vol. 21, No. 5 with a story on Maple Leaf Trucks. Shows a photo of a Chevrolet Maple Leaf COE with the same all vertical bar grille as this one, & it is refered to as a HM series Maple Leaf COE. Article says truck should have Chevrolet insignia on the grille, but the ID tag will identify it as a Maple Leaf. a GMC of this same Vintage will have horizontal grille bars to each side. There's a '37 model GMC COE fuel truck in "THE Gallery".

Here's one advertised on craigslist in the Bay Area which appears to be the same vintage. Ad says it's a 1946 but the seller doesn't know for sure.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/1911801443.html

not mine.

Hy IndianaJones, I think that truck is a 1937 G.M.C., that is the first year of C.O.E. trucks in the G.M.C. line, two years before Chevrolet began their C.O.E.s. Being right hand drive only adds to it's rarity, I hope you can save it, good luck.

We've got a good debate going on this one. Don't think this is a GMC COE fella's. I'm sticking to my asumption that it's a Canadian Export Chevrolet Maple Leaf. 1937 was the first year for production Medium Duty GMC COE's. 1934 was the first year for production Heavy Duty GMC COE's. 1939 was the first year for Chevrolet production COE's. When I first saw the photos, I knew it either had to be a exported Maple Leaf, or maybe even a Oldsmobile COE. but after looking up my Wheels Of Time issue, & seeing the article, with a photo of the Maple Leaf COE, I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

Here's what a '37-'38 medium duty GMC COE looks like. Note the difference in the grille, from the one Indiana post, http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/shirvell_lou_1937.html

I believe Spanky called it: scroll down to Additions to Above = "Chevrolet-badged C.O.E. chassis debuted for export as well as in Canada [see below] in 1937 Model Year. It appears that these were supplied C.K.D. not from Bloomfield Boxing Plant, New Jersey, but General Motors Truck in Pontiac, Michigan and were very similar to G.M.C. and Oldsmobile C.O.E. trucks also built in Pontiac Plant. For 1937, as with export G.M.C. and Oldsmobile trucks Hercules Diesel engines were available as well as Chevrolet 216 cu in engines."

Canada supplied all the trucks to that side of the world

Bill

The COE 00truck post in the San Francissco area is a '37-'48 style Heavy Duty GMC COE. It's actually a '37-'42 with the two smaller engine access doors. The later version up through '48 had a alligator hood,that split the grille in the middle & not the access doors.

Hi

Thanks to everyone, your comments are extremely informative.

My intention is definitely to restore the truck, and I'm very excited to get it home and start searching for parts.

I found a link to a picture of an Oldsmobile COE in Australia, which looks remarkably similar to my truck.
http://coetrucks.t35.com/Olds.1.html

Seems to me the debate now is, whether the truck is a Canadian Export Chevrolet Maple Leaf or an Oldsmobile.

Could anyone please advise me on the location of the VIN tags on these truck, in order for me to confirm the model.

Thanks again guys

Good work Indiana. If you can find the ID plate on your truck, that will tell it all, weather it's a Maple Leaf, or Oldsmobile. Either one is extremly "Rare".

Great thread and even cooler truck. I had no idea that there was an Olds COE. Indiana, hope you restore that truck and have blast doing so. Oh yea, don't forget to take lots of pictures and share them with us often!!!! Can't wait to see your progress.

Billy

My '36 Maple Leaf had 2 plates on the driver side firewall in the engine compartment. 1 plate listed the GVW etc and the other had it been there had the serial #. Fortunately I have the paperwork. Hope this helps.

the circles imprinted on the inside door trim is the same as my 39 gmc coe I had. and the dash looks the same. The hood openings look to be the style that was added to the hoods after 39 gmc's.

It is possible that if it is indeed a olds. then they could have used q's from other trucks of various years? Not unheard of.

Hi guys, once again I need your help.

I still haven't had time to move the truck to my workshop and start stripping.

The problem I need your help with is; I still haven't found any VIN tags on the body or chassis. There is no tags or badges left on this truck that might identify it as a Chevrolet or Oldsmobile or GMC.

The only identifying feature might be the engine in the end.
I'm attaching links to a few more photos of the truck.

The engine serial number is BFC748675.

Could someone shed some light on the make and series of the engine by the serial number and shape?

This engine also has a Updraft Carter Carburetor. I think 37, 38 and 39 model year COE's, each had a different series Updraft Carter Carburetors.

I've also measured the wheelbase, which seems to be 155-1/2".

LH View of the truck
[IMG]http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv208/IndianaJones7746/LHView.jpg[/IMG]

RH Inside Cab
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RH View of the engine
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Engine Serial Number
[IMG]http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv208/IndianaJones7746/EngineSerial.jpg[/IMG]

LH View of the engine
[IMG]http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv208/IndianaJones7746/LHSideEngine.jpg[/IMG]

Carter Updraft Carburetor
[IMG]http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv208/IndianaJones7746/CarterUpdraught.jpg[/IMG]

IJ,

I have Chevrolet Engine Serial Numbers from 1926 thru 1940 for USA built cars and trucks and your number doesn't fit anywhere...

Take the floor pan engine cover off and see if the valve cover is stamped GMC or Olds...just a thought.

Mike B

Thanks Mike B

I'd also like to know whether this model would have had a Chassis Number stamped somewhere? Where on the chassis would it be located?

Thank you

Possibly on the left frame rail, near the left front spring hanger.

By the way, the engine is not a flathead, from what I've seen on the internet, both the Olds 230 and Pontiac 223 Flatheads have intake and exhaust headers on the right hand side of the engine.

This engine seems to be a 2nd Generation Chevrolet 216ci Stovebolt 6.

Could someone de-code the "BFC748675" serial number?

IJ,

Serial numbers being stamped in the frame rail started about 1955.

Mike B

Not on GMC's Mike. GMC was stamping serial numbers on the frame rails starting in the late '30's, to early '40's. Indiana, did you check on the firewall, just below the dash. GMC also would put an ID Tag there.

I haven't been able to find ID Tags anywhere, including under the dash.

Thank you

Spanky,

I did not know that...seems weird that Chevy waited until the mid 50's to start stamping the frame.

Mike B

According to this website,
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/gmhistory/1931to1938.html,
some of the COE trucks produced in 1937 had a Canadian Pontiac 224cu in motor, which was an enlarged version of the Chevrolet 216cu in engine.

Could the "BFC748675" engine serial number fit in with the Canadian Pontiac 224 engine numbers?

Lots of Mis-information here. The COE's like this were production models in 36--and the longnose versions -at least started appearing in 35. They were exported to GM factory in Belgum as chevy bulldogs--and I think to Australia and elsewhere as oldsmobiles. The right frame rail should have a chassis # stamped just behind the front leaf spring. The dash is 39 up style, and I think it has a 248 GMC motor. the book GM the first 100 years has pictures of a 36 longnose and coe with this cab.

I see alittle mis-information here, but not "Lots of Mis-information".

Indiana, That pic of the Olds Forward control is great. Never knew anything like that was built. You learn so much here! Thanks all 'Bolters!