This 1918 Chevrolet 490 Light Delivery chassis cowl was the first truck model Chevrolet built. The chassis cowl consists of the painted metal parts. The wooden cab and pickup-type body were purchased from an aftermarket manufacturer. It was rated for a payload capacity of 1,000lbs. and sold for $595 retail. (Photo: Tom Snively)

term strategy was to use Chevrolet to regain control of General Motors. He reasoned he could accomplish his goal by quickly growing the new company into a very successful and profitable enterprise. The profits generated thereby would be used to purchase GM stock until he had a controlling interest. His inspiration was Mr. Ford whose Model T had proven to be successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Billy figured he could take Ford on and win with a competing low priced auto. Chevrolet cars sold well enough and generated profits such that by 1916 he controlled 54.5 percent of GM stock. He walked into GM and declared himself president.

The other new truck from Chevrolet in 1918 was the one-ton Model T "Ton Truck". It had a payload capacity rating of 2,000lbs and sold for $1245 retail. Chevrolet built only the chassis cowl and the buyer purchased a body from a manufacturer. A 1920 model is shown at left. This body was called a Covered Flareboard In the center is a 1925 Ford TT one-ton stake and on the right is a 1955 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton chassis cab with Farm Body. (Photo: Everett Nebergall)

The customer was expected to provide his own cab and body. Cabs and bodies in those days were constructed of wood. Often times the buyer would build his own body, usually without a cab, but most truck buyers purchased bodies and cabs from an outside independent body company.

The 490 was powered by a four cylinder overhead valve engine displacing 171 cubic

This 1921 Chevrolet 490 Roadster Pickup's cargo box is an aftermarket item. Its interesting to note that the Roadster without a box sold for only $625, the Light-Delivery without a cab or body sold for $560. The Roadster was considered by many buyers to be a better value because it was an ideal dual-purpose vehicle. (Photo: Don Bunn)

The 1927 Superior Model one-ton Utility Express was the first truck Chevrolet offered with a factory cab. The base truck sold for $495, the cab was $115. (Photo: Mike Larson)

The 490 Light Delivery and one-ton Model T remained in production through the 1922 model year. A 3/4 ton chassis cowl Model G was added in 1921 but it only lasted through 1922. The Light Delivery chassis and the one-ton trucks were renamed the Superior Series in 1922 (the same as Chevrolet Cars), this name lasted through the 1927 model year. The Series name was changed to Capitol for both trucks in 1927 which lasted through 1928 - the last year for the four cylinder era. It is interesting to note that for the one-ton model only a cab, stake body and panel body became available in 1927 only. Truck buyers could and did purchase and install aftermarket pickup bodies during this time. The cab returned for 1928 but the bodies didn't. No factory built pickups were built between 1918 and 1928, Chevrolet provided only the chassis and cowl.

Chevrolet's second series 1927 models were called the Series AA Capitol Trucks. The left side of the Capitol's four-cylinder engine is shown. It developed 21.7 SAE horsepower and 35 brake horsepower (Photo: Gary Benidt)

Shown is a 1928 Chevrolet half-ton chassis cab with an aftermarket pickup body. This was the last year for the original Chevrolet four cylinder cars and trucks. (Photo: Jim Benjaminson)

The last four cylinder Chevrolet one-ton truck was this 1928 Capitol Series LO chassis cab with low farm box. (Photo: Don Bunn)