RE:CREWCABS

[Stewart G Griffin]

When did the concept of crewcabs originate and when did the first one come out?  I'm not nessesarily referring to 73-91, i'm referring to the first one.


When did the concept of adding dual wheels (and a fender flair) come about.

[bigblock73]

The crew cab concept I believe was first implemented by coach builders back in the late 60's, early 70's.  I have seen several 67-72 era trucks that were made into 4 doors...with the rear doors just being the same as the front doors...with an ungly triangle in the middle.  Dodge and Ford had factory crew cabs early on too...and both Ford and Dodge had extended cabs in the 70's...GM didn't until the late 80's I believe.

[Captkaos]

GM started making Crew Cabs in 1973 along with the Dooley (dual wheels) 
The concept as Jeff stated was started well before that...

[joesgarage71]

 1973 was the first year for the 3+3 and the dualley fenderside
http://brochures.slosh.com/1973/pickups3.jpg
http://brochures.slosh.com/1973/gmcpscc2.jpg
http://brochures.slosh.com/1973/gmcpscc8.jpg

[bigblock73]

International Travelette was a 4 door truck, production started in 66 I believe.  Dodge had a factory crew cab introduced in mid year '62.

Google is your friend. 

[bigblock73]

OK, a few more.

[Dragon]

If you mean as Factory Optioned Trucks, not really till the 1960's were they available....  Crew Cabs were offered much earlier by Independant Coach Builders, before any Automotive Manufacturers ever did....  I have heard of them as far back as the late 1920's/mid 1930's, up until the Late 1950's...   The Majority of the Crew Cabs were specially built for the US Forrestry Service,Logging Companies,State DOT's,Army Corp. of Engineers,US Army, and a few others.....

Dual Tires were optional for 1-ton and above trucks dating back to the 1930's... Wide Dually Flares were first offered through Aftermarket Coachbuilders, again before being offered by any Automotive Manufacturer(Not certain on actual year, have heard of Widened Stepside Flares, for trucks of the Late 1940's, Early 1950's).... Automanufacturers did not offer them until our trucks in 1973, but had played with the design "In House" back in the 1950's/1960's(I have seen a GM Sketch of a 1956/57 Suburban with Stepside Flares added to the quarters, but never heard of an actual truck being built)...

[bake315]

(I have seen a GM Sketch of a 1956/57 Suburban with Stepside Flares added to the quarters, but never heard of an actual truck being built)...

It'd be kinda cool, just for grins, to build that truck using the sketch.  Bet it'd be a real head turner at shows.

[xtremjeepn]

Anybody have an idea how many 73-91 crew cabs were built?

[78BBSTEPSIDE]

I have seen several of the mid 60's Crew Cab Chevy trucks around town, not exactly sure of their origin/coach builder, they definitely stand out in the crowd.

http://www.grumpyzgarage.com/photogallery/2005/c20/index.htm

[Blazin]

That Dodge in the last picture bigblock73 posted. In high school a buddy of mine had that exact same truck except it was safety orange. Had a 383 with a granny four speed. Posi front and rear. Didn't have a lift but still fit 36x 10.5 bias ply tires on it. I don't even know the brand they were, but they had some meet on them by those days standards. Looked like the old Gumbo Mudders. They rubbed a little bit wheeling. We did allot of partying in that thing! He traded it off to some kid in Mass for a 70 Nova SS, with a 396, 4 spd. in it, not a cherry but a decent driver. He totaled it about 6 months later, him and the kid with came real close to dying, about ripped the car in half. Hit a tree about 80 or better right behind the drivers door.

[Dragon]

(I have seen a GM Sketch of a 1956/57 Suburban with Stepside Flares added to the quarters, but never heard of an actual truck being built)...

It'd be kinda cool, just for grins, to build that truck using the sketch.  Bet it'd be a real head turner at shows.

Definately something I would love to be able to do some day, but I lost touch with the guy that has it    The sketch is burned in my memory, and I would like to have a rendering done of it atleast....

[bake315]

ttt

[1HI4x4]

Here is a 1961 on E-bay, It says it is a conversion truck for the government.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Other-Pickups-Crew-Cab-4dr-1961-Apache-CREW-CAB-Chevrolet-Chevy-Truck-Rare-1960_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem190294035900QQitemZ190294035900QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

[79K20]

I just found this thread; Ironic because there is a '64 4-Door that I have been eyeing on Craigslist... Price is a little high but I dig the look of a 4-Door stepside. Sweet. These things have a lot of potential

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1043709082.html