The director of Exterior Design for Chevy trucks has a job that is challenging, fulfilling, and a true truck-lover's dream. Rich Scheer is the man with the plan in this department, and claims that the Chevy truck design studio is focused on “purposeful design”, that creates customization options for a very wide breadth of truckies everywhere. As he and many others at the top of the R & D team have looked back on the past century, they realized that Chevy designers have always been focused on the exact same goals since the beginning. In honor of this commemorative milestone, all of us here from the Powerhouse wanted to share a peek at some of the most Iconic Chevy models ever made!
The 1918 One-ton was the very first production truck from Chevy, and was heavily inspired by vehicles that were used in plants at the time to move various parts around. It is a definite example of form following function, and and was a rolling chassis. It featured an open cab, an inline 4-cylinder engine, and an open frame allowing customers to install the body that fit their unique needs. One very cool element of the design is its badge, which was a carefully crafted feature. The font, proportions, and dark blue color make for a very sophisticated bowtie, even by current standards.
The 1929 International Series LD was the very first Chevy truck to feature a closed cab. It created the future potential for what we now know as interior design elements today, and paved the road for more comfort-and style-focused features. This was a very drastic improvement from the previous model, and the closed cab with better styling was a very impressive step up. The color combinations on the cars and trucks from this period are still very impressive today.
The 1938 Half-ton was the first truck designed with the help of a fully-functioning Art and Color Department, which was hand-picked by Harley Earl. A period of time where trucks really began to have their own identity, the proportions changed quite a bit. The end result here was a longer and much lower truck, with very elegant, swept fenders, and a breath of new personality within the design.
The 1947 3100 Series was truly one of the most recognizable and iconic designs in automotive history. At the mere mention of a Chevy vintage truck, this is what many will picture right away. It was much sleeker, stronger, and bigger than ever, and the five-bar horizontal grille was much different from the vertical grilles of models past. The most recognizable qualities of the Chevy Truck were really born during this period, and the lamps are on the wide part of the vehicle, instead of further inboard. This really gave the truck a stronger and wider presence. Nearly perfect proportions are the main characteristic here, and this is a great design through and through.
The 1955 3124 Series Cameo Carrier was also known as the “Task Force” truck, and was Chevy's first design in the Fleetside category. It is a very elegant and tied-in shape, from front to back. This was the first truck from Chevy that is bumper-to-bumper, and the visually pleasant elements continue all of the way to the back of the cab. This was manufactured during a heydey of sorts for truck production, and owning even diecast models and miniatures from this time period is awesome. It just doesn't really get any more All-American than this period, and the styling is over-the-top awesome.
The 1967 C10 Fleetside has a unique type of wheel flare, and a line that flows away from the top of the bed line. There is a very excellent balance with the front of the vehicle, and a strong shoulder that tapers toward the rear. It is a feature that can tend to go wrong, but the designers of this time period did it just right. The Chevy bar on the front Fascia connects the bow tie with the headlamp center, which is a trait still in use today. Metallic paint was introduced right around this era, which does a great job of highlighting body lines not as obvious in earlier models.
The 1973 One-Ton Dually was the third-generation C/K square-body truck, and also the first crew cab dually to hit the market. Many experts consider this the first true modern Heavy Duty Truck, for various good reasons. This is when trucks began to be used for fun recreational trips as well as getting tough jobs done, and it is known for being a model that states its purpose plainly, upon first view. There are not a whole lot of extra bells and whistles here, but it is a solid and haul-worthy companion that many have been putting to the test, year after year.
The 1988 C/K 1500 was the first truck design heavily influenced by aerodynamics. It looked pretty well-advanced for its time, and many drivers immediately fell in love with the low instrument panel. The buttons had a very futuristic appearance, and still look edgy and futuristic today. Blazers also evoked some of this vibe with their use of tech setup, and it was one of the reasons why onlookers became hooked. A lot of the feel that came during this time period was perhaps lost for a little while, but has now been rekindled by the crossover SUV fad, and many truck models upping the ante on interior and tech offerings are currently making the rounds.
