Hot Rods frame is 38..title is 38 chevy....BUT????

what is it??? can you put a 37 grille on a 38??? or is the whole body a 37??

 

the hood opens like this, I read that there is only one place that makes these... up in oregon???

 

Switch out grille and hood. Show a rear view of rear fenders.

 

I don't know how you can tell the different between a 37 and 38 frame, Chevy never stamped numbers on them, and they look the same to me.

The 37 and 38 body are the same, the front sheet metal is different.

 

This is the only group that would know the difference, so don't call attention to title.

 

Swapping front sheet metal is all thats required, the trucks are the same way for those two years.

 

The most beautiful convertible Chevy ever made, just my opinion.

 

The rear fenders have a slight difference in width. But I’m not sure which is which.

 

I had a 37 years ago,... numbers didn't match the motor because it was long gone... the guy at dmv in vegas found them on the dr side rear frame past the rear tire... they did reg. off that

 

wasn't superior glass the only ones that ever made these bodys???

 

I believe Old Chicago in Molalla, Oregon built bodies for '37-'38 Chevys, but not sure they ever built a convertible? The shop burned down years ago, and was never reopened as a fiberglass Chevy parts provider again.

 

I had a 38 conv many years ago, was in a salvage yard when i bought it. Did a valve lob and it ran fine for several years.

 

Front sheetmetal doghouse assembly, grille, headlights and hood are different. Front fenders are the same. Firewall back it's the same. 38s have slightly wider rear fenders as others have mentioned.

 

38 Rear fenders are 1" wider on each side, making a total of 2" wider rear track width.

To the original poster, the hood and grill shell / radiator doghouse can be swapped between 37 and 38.

There are other differences but they are mainly bolt on things like bumpers, speedometer, and as mentioned rear fender width.

 

Well, GM made them originally in steel, but they all had rumble seats. Superior glass convertibles had trunks like a coupe, other than the obvious fact they are fiberglass.

 

Frames were not stamped with any numbers associated with the VIN. The only numbers were body serial number, on the cowl. The VIN at that time was the engine serial number, and if the engine was swapped out, the VIN went with it.

 

In ‘37 and ‘38 Chevys used similar frames, but I believe there is is a difference in the angle of the rear section. The rear axle is wider on a ‘38.

 

I've never seen an early Chevy with a serial number or partial stamped on the frame. That includes all of the 47/54 Chevy pickup frames I have had.

These pages snagged from the PFDs for 37 and 38 Chevy from the GM Heritage center archives show both 37 and 38 serial numbers and locations. The other two pages show the measurements for 37 and 38.
37 PFD https://www.gm.com/content/dam/comp...information-kits/chevrolet/1937-Chevrolet.pdf

38 PFD https://www.gm.com/content/dam/comp...information-kits/chevrolet/1938-Chevrolet.pdf

 

What proartguy said. And if you're wondering, 39 is similar to 38 except the upper rear shackle mount goes through the side of frame.
1937
1938

 

HERE'S A FACT ABOUT THIS CAR.... IT'S AUTO TRANS AND POWER STEERING.... i'M GONNA DRIVE THE WHEELS OFF IT...

 

wasn't there a State that titled cars by the year the car was sold? or was that way before the thirties? I remember hearing something to that effect.

 

Not much to do to this one but drive it

 

inside is do able for a daily type driver,seats are comfy..and the red is not too bad..huge trunk for parts runner

 

for once, the stance is right,as is the tires and wheels...

but... the one time in band camp exhaust tips gotta go...

maybe lake pipes???? lol

 

Man Steve your going to need to get another lift soon. Nice one

 

38's have a wider rear 1/2 of the rear fenders,...your ragtop looks Austrailian to me..

 

Car number was stamped on a plate attached to the passenger side floor at least thru '39.

 

Depending on when it was built as a hot rod/custom it may be as simple as the builder thinking that the 37 nose was better looking than a 38 nose. Or the car got wrecked years ago even well before it was made into what it is today and there was a real nice 37 nose sitting the wrecking yard and no car with a good 38 nose, don't overthink it. Right now, I 'd drive the daylights out of that car with a great big grin doing it.

 

Vin tags were on the body on the passenger side cowl. At least that's where mine is on my '39 and pretty sure '37-'38 are also.