A 1937 Chevy Sedan Delivery will stand out in any crowd, mainly because only 220 of them were made, according to Lyle Mowat, the proud owner of a resto mod version.
Lyle’s unique combination of a car and delivery van has been massaged into one of the coolest resto mods in the hobby.
The interesting part is 8 different owners played a role in the ’37 Chevy’s history, but Lyle was the owner who able to bring the car back on the road.
Jerry Sutherland
Lyle told MyStarCollectorCar his 88-year-old Chevy, “has been around Calgary (Alberta Canada) forever”, in his words, ever since it was discovered and “drug out of the trees” by one of the former owners.
It was moved around many times over the years by previous owners and altered along the way, but none of them completed the restoration process until Lyle became its current owner.
The Chevy underwent a ground-up restoration over the years and now sports a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am front suspension, along with the donor TA’s rear end components. The ’37 Chevy’s original powertrain was replaced by a 350 Chevy small block with a 350 Turbo automatic transmission, a legendary GM mechanical duo from a bygone era.
The former delivery vehicle has an upgraded brake system with front discs and rear drums, along with a Ford dual master brake cylinder, to provide a solid combination for better stopping ability.
Other significant upgrades include power and tilt steering, power windows, and power seats that are also very comfortable.
The exterior of the 1937 Chevy Sedan Delivery has undergone some major changes, and the car was lowered just enough to give it a cool stance without chopping the roof. The paint scheme is another custom touch that enhanced the overall style of the vintage Chevy.
Lyle pointed out the car’s front grille and headlight rings because they are known as “gangster style” features, according to him. The ‘37 Chevy’s headlight rings are wider and give the car a more streamlined look, in our opinion here at MyStarCollectorCar.
The gas tank has been moved to a location on the side of the Chevy and the gas filler has been frenched into the body, while the battery has been moved to the rear storage area in the car.
The side mirrors on the ’37 Chevy Sedan Delivery were made for a 1936 Ford and add a stylish touch to the custom car. Sharp-eyed MyStarCollectorCar readers will notice the 1961 Chevy Biscayne hubcaps on the car, another nice add-on for the Chevy resto mod.
Lyle pointed to the door plungers because he used branches from his apple tree to fabricate them for his Chevy. Lyle is a mechanic by trade, but he clearly knows how to work with wood as well.
Lyle was a little hesitant to pinstripe his car but is very pleased with a local pinstripe guy’s work because he made the car’s custom purple paint pop with his creative touches. The Pink Panther decal is also a solid custom choice for the car.
Lyle was very happy to bring his custom 1937 Chevy Sedan Delivery back on the road after too many years as an unfinished project for its former owners. Now he just wants to have fun with it.
Jim Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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