1930’s
Factory-built pickups replaced cowl chassis models in the 1930s. Chevy's entry into the new market picked up rugged nicknames—"Cast Iron Wonder" and "Stovebolt." These new half-ton pickups competed with a variety of firms including Mack, Studebacker, Reo, and International. The Great Depression, unsurprisingly, proved difficult for the American auto industry. However, when the economy began to recover, Chevrolet sought to revive the truck market and design new, innovative vehicles. In 1937, Chevy introduced a new, streamlined style pushed by a 78 hp engine. On a 10,245-mile monitored drive, the 1937 half-ton pickup carried a 1,060 lb. load and achieved an impressive 20.74 miles per gallon. Efficiency in design was met by fuel efficiency, even in the '30s.