Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Who can tell me why the 55 Chevies are known as shoe-boxes? I have heard this for years, and even call them that myself. But for the life of me I don't know why.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Braverman Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Because they are shaped like a box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I knew that.....lol. But why a Shoe box? Why not Cracker Box or Soap Box????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I knew that.....lol. But why a Shoe box? Why not Cracker Box or Soap Box?????Maybe because shoe boxes lay down and the others stand up?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palosfv3 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 49 to 51 Fords were referred to as a "Shoebox". I never heard this term applied to a Chevrolet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 LOL... I guess what it all boils down to.. is that Shoe-Boxes don't have a top part (as in the widows and top). I know if you look at a 55 they are pretty squre cornered. Big flat hoods and trunks. But I just don't see a box of any kind when I look at them. Now a new Scion XB, now that looks like a box!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 49 to 51 Fords were referred to as a "Shoebox". I never heard this term applied to a Chevrolet.???? I didn't know it ever applied to Fords.......:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The first time I heard it was years ago, (I think it was drag racing) and was talking about 55/57 chevys. Now it seems mostly used on 49/51 Fords.....maybe because the Chevys took on the "tri five" nickname? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 49 to 51 Fords were referred to as a "Shoebox". I never heard this term applied to a Chevrolet.I've heard the term used routinely for both '49-'51 Fords and '55-'57 Chevys since at least the mid-1970s. I think the Fords were the first to be referred to that way. Both are approximately the proportions of a typical Thom McCann box, while most other cars (even of that era) are typically too long, flat, or tall.I've always felt the '52-'57 Nashs deserved the term even more, but somehow they've escaped that term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 .............I've always felt the '52-'57 Nashs deserved the term even more, but somehow they've escaped that term.Probably didn't sell enough of those, Dave. Oh, for the days of that kind of competition again. Buying cars now is so much like buying house appliances. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The term was applied to the '49 Fords when they came on the market because other cars had rear fenders that bulged out and the sides of the Fords were flat like a box. So when Chevy flattened their fenders in '55 they decided to steal the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The term was applied to the '49 Fords when they came on the market because other cars had rear fenders that bulged out and the sides of the Fords were flat like a box. So when Chevy flattened their fenders in '55 they decided to steal the name.I guess the name "stovebolt" was not good enough for Chebbys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I think a shoebox is a better name than an upside down bathtub....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gelfer Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Scions and Honda Elements are more like "toasters", and that is what I call them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) "Bathtubs" were the Nash Rambler "Superman" cars. I guess MoPars were called "MoPars". I have not heard of any real nicknames for those until the "slabside" name of 1969. Edited October 19, 2009 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 (edited) I think I first heard the term "shoebox Ford" around 1980, and it was being applied to the '49-'51 Ford; my Dad said it was probably due to the lack of fender "bulges" down the side.Other period vechicles that would have fit that definition would have been the '47-'50 Kaisers & Frazers.I never heard "shoebox" applied to the '55-'57 Chevy until about two years ago, maybe while watching the Barrett-Jackson auctions, with their vapid commentary ?As for "Toaster", I've recently heard that term applied to the first-generation Nash-Rambler ? (Not sure why...)I think the Scion X-box looks more like a chest-type Deep-Freeze. Edited October 19, 2009 by DeSoto Frank (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 There's another good question John.... Why the "Stovebolt" for the earl 6 cylinder Chevy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Braverman Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 There's another good question John.... Why the "Stovebolt" for the earl 6 cylinder Chevy?The car was put together mostly with stovebolts, (cap screws). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Steve, A normal bolt is a hex head cap screw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoods Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 They used a round head screw with a slot in it,flat blade screwdriver type.The name came from early stoves, heating and wood cook stoves that were put together with them. My 31 chevrolet has a lot of them,holds the fenders on ,side pan on the engine and a lot of other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Braverman Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Steve, A normal bolt is a hex head cap screw.I guess I should have said round-head cap screws. My bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 But wasn't the stovebolt name basically for the screws that held the valve covers on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 I agree, the Chevies are Trifives. 49 to 51 Fords were referred to as a "Shoebox". I never heard this term applied to a Chevrolet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bluesky636 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Google "shoebox ford" and "shoebox chevy." You'll be surprised at all that comes up for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DeSoto Frank Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 But wasn't the stovebolt name basically for the screws that held the valve covers on?Yes, but on the side of the engine; the rocker-box cover was held down by two acorn nuts on top (through 1953).The "stove bolts" are now known as "truss-head machine screws"; they have a broader, flatter head than round-head machine screws. I believe Chevrolet used 1/4 x 20 stove bolts.The '54-'62 Chevy six used pan-head machine screws to secure the valve cover and tappet side cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Google "shoebox ford" and "shoebox chevy." You'll be surprised at all that comes up for both.Google Fight: "Shoebox Ford" vs. "Shoebox Chevy": 554 vs. 149Google Fight : Make this fight with googleFight \"shoebox ford\" VS \"shoebox chevy\" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Xprefix28truck Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 It seems many names are somwhat "Common".......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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