Hot Rods If you had your choice 37 or 38 Chevy Coupe?

Would like to see some opinions on if you had the options of building a 1937 or 1938 Chevy Coupe which would you go for?
I currently have a 37/38 body and fenders along with a hood and Grill assy for each a 37 and 38.
Parts wise there are plusses and minus to each set of parts I have.
1938
Really nice complete hood and so/so center strip that is starting to crack in the normal place.
Pretty nice Grill Insert that is Chrome that will need re chromed to be really nice, missing center trim and top badge.
Grill surround missing lower chin.
1937
Fairlly nice hood that will need some straightening and tweaking but missing the center strip, and side trim.
Not bad Grill surround that will need a little rust repair, missing lower chin.
Older After market grill insert that is pretty straight but missing all of the trim( (top, sides, bottom, and center trim).
I have titles for both years and just having a difficult time deciding which way to turn.

Have also toyed with using a 37 Cadillac Insert on the 37 Grill surround.
Looking for some thoughts.
Thanks

 

Your choice.. Both look nice...

 

Both look great but there's something about an original 37 Chevy grill.

 

I agree^^^...

 

Can't go wrong with either one, but my vote would be 1937. Just can't beat the style of the grill and the hood sides, one of the best looking cars IMO.

 

Hey T,
If you have the time and resources, this was my favorite all time Gas Coupe from 1958-60 in Long Beach, when we attended the drags at Lions. It was Tahitian red, gold wheels, powerful enough to raise the front without those silly straight axles and beat the socks off of anyone who was in the C/Gas class. Doug Cook had one of the quickest reaction times off of the starting line. His speed shifts were ones that everyone tried to emulate in their own cars.

He ruled the C/Gas class, then moved to the B/Gas class with the same car. Then, he eventually, was responsible for the famous SWC Willys coupes and victories. This 37 Chevy was a true street legal Gas Coupe, pop off the hubcaps and go racing.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lions-dragstrip-1960.1025215/page-3#post-12104748

Jnaki
My brother and I got some inspiration from the Tahitian Red 37 coupe. If we did not get the bone stock 40 Willys coupe, we were planning on a 37, similar to that one of Doug Cook's Gas Coupe.


ALSO, Check out (the late) Don Nowell's blue 37 Chevy coupe...it is remarkable, too. It is a pure street legal, Gas Coupe from the early 60s.

 

Funny, I must be the odd one here as I have always preferred the grille of the '38 over the'37. Guess I'm a horizontal guy instead of a vertical guy. Both years make for some very sweet hot rods so you can't go wrong either way.

 

Just for comparison purposes...........

 

37 is my preference.

 

The 1937 Chevy was the coolest of "The Coupes" during the glory days of the Figure-8s at Ascot Park Gardena from 1962 to 1969. Ascot had 2 divisions: Stocks & Modified, but everyone who was the called them "The Coupes" Those were great Sunday nights of racing.

 

Hands down, one of my favorite cars is a '37 Chevy coupe. I think it's the best looking, sexiest shaped car from end to end out there. If I hadn't sunk everything into a '32 build the '37 was my next choice. Even made a couple trips looking at some but couldn't get a deal where I wanted it to be. I never liked the '38 grille, has to be '37 for me.
SPark

 

...I like em both, but 37's have always been my favorite,,,here's my coupe I just sold last Fall after owning it 33 years...

 

To me a 38 grille looks like it belongs on a truck.

 

38

 

I'm a Ford guy but think the '37 Chevy looks nicer than the '38. Bob

 

I had a couple of 37 coupes, they look the best to me, however the 38 grille looks better in a sedan in my eye.

 

I’d vote 37’
Agree with Green53Ford that the 38’ looks like it should be a truck grill, while the more delicate 37’ grill enhances the lines of the car.

 

I had a 37 , hate to say it wish I still had that one ! There is more radiator room in a 38 it sits a touch more forward than a 37 . Not much else changed but garnish mounding , glove box door , hood sides , bumpers .

 

The 37 has a better looking grill in my opinion but opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink.

 

37

 

Which title do you have?

 

I used to prefer 37s but lately the 38 grille has grown on me...I'd pick the 38.

 

Gotta be 37, just a clean look that really calls out to me.

 

37 real low or set up for drags, 39 better than bout for me

 

Jimmy, I have a 37 and 38 title.
My challenge with the 37 is I need the center Hood trim

 

Your wife agreed to sell? I thought she was going to tackle me the day I came to look at it!
SPark

 

'37, just love the grille. Tempestan

 

'37 due to family history with one of those.

 

The ‘37 grill does it for me!!!! Love that grill and I love the hood sides too.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

The big issue is the body, even though fenders, deck lid, doors are all interchangeable. The one bad thing is
the dash in the 38 it is the only Chevy dash that is welded in. It is a pain in the ass putting in wipers, gauges and
wiring. But it is the best looking. I am swayed toward the 1938, just cause I own one.