Every car show that we attend features a large percentage of custom and hot rod pickup trucks. The battle of Ford vs. Chevy pickups is as old as the chicken and egg debate, which led us to ask, which came first, Chevy or Ford pickups? The quick answer is neither.

1925 Ford Model T pickup. Photo from {linl=http://topclassiccarsforsale.com/ford/159755-1925-ford-model-t-pickup-rare-and-beautiful.html}topclassiccarsforsale.com.{/link}

Studebaker was the first to use the body style name “pick-up” as far back as 1913. That was the same timeframe that aftermarket manufacturers were adding bodies to bare chassis that the auto companies were producing. That was the typical operation in early auto manufacturing, the companies would build the chassis and a third party company would add the body.

One of the earliest manufacturers of these pickup and work truck bodies was the Galion Allsteel Body Company. This company is often credited with creating the pickup truck when by adding a hauling box on a Ford Model T chassis.

Dodge soon followed by adding a wooden box to a 3/4 ton pickup in 1924. Ford, wanting their share of the market, introduced a steel-boxed Model T Runabout in 1925. For their part, Chevrolet introduced their first factory assembled pickup truck in 1931.

1931 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup. Photo from www.conceptcarz.com.

In a direct question between the two manufacturers, Ford was obviously the first to make a pickup from the factory. Judging which is best has always been great sport. Much like the Pepsi or Coke judging, the popularity of the Ford or Chevy pickup is directly related to the taste of the consumer. We like almost every truck build that we’ve seen.