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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 78 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 78 | I have asked elsewhere on these forums but gotten no response to I'll try again:
Where and when did the descriptor "Art Deco" become
used for the '41 - '46 trucks? As a long time art and design appreciator this is a mystery I would like to clear up.
Milk the cows you have
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | As far as I know Art Deco was a term used to define art work, paintings, pottery, sculpture, etc. around the 1920s and 1930s. This art was much more bold and flashy then the trends before. Seems that the restyled ’41 with the large chrome grill and huge fenders just fit into that same style.
Now I’m fairly sure someone will come along who really knows and correct me, but we’ll see
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 253 | I've wondered this myself. In their day the Harley Davidson "Knuckle Head", "Pan Head" and "ShovelHead" motors were not refered to by these names when new but gained their nicknames years later. I suspect it's much the same with the Art Deco lable for 40's Chevy trucks and it seems as though the phrase art deco while not new first started to get tossed around alot in the 1980's as a popular buzz phrase in reference to art and design Items from the 30's and 40's but so far I have had no way to substantiate this.
Last edited by sleeve; 10/14/2011 2:39 AM.
1945 Chevrolet G 506 1.5 Ton Military 4X4
1967 Jeep Cj5 with 283 SBC
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | in reference to 41-46 GM trucks, purely made up by the restoration hobby world - referring to decorative arts and crafts it originated from the name of an exposition in Paris in the 20's and was widely adopted after a book, written in the late 60's, on said art ..... Tom Gunnell calls these trucks the 'Wurlitzer' series because of the grills, and I've seen them referred to as 'waterfall grills'
a rose by any other name .... [who coined that?]
Bill | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 201 | I inherently knew but couldn't describe it well. This page puts it well : http://m.eb.com/topic/36505/Art-DecoPicture a 41-46 in front of the Chrysler Building in New York, and you'll get the idea. I think most people relate it to either buildings or furniture.
'69 1/2T stepside, Sea Foam Green, 250 L6 w/ 3 on the tree, not an option on it, in the family since new.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | Farmer - that link is for mobile phones only, this page puts it as well, with a number of purty pictures  Bill | | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 78 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 78 | Thanks, fellas! I knew the typical uses of this term and wondered if something or someone specific had used it to reference the trucks, which are clearly later than the hey-day of the style. I reckoned it was the grille, too.
Anyway, there you have it and thanks to all! Mark
Milk the cows you have
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