1952 Chevrolet COE (Cab Over Engine) Truck

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Volvo FH16.700.jpg
Volvo FH cab-over lorry
Overview
Manufacturer Various
Also called COE, forward control
Production 1899 – present
Assembly Worldwide
Body and chassis
Class Light, medium, and heavy
Body style Cab over engine
Cab-over, also known as cab over engine (COE), cab forward (U.S.), flat nose (Canada), or forward control (UK), is a body style of truck, bus, or van that has a vertical front, "flat face" or a semi-hood, with the cab of the truck sitting above (or forward of) the front axle. This contrasts with a conventional truck where the engine is mounted in front of the driver.

Autocar, the oldest surviving motor vehicle manufacturer in America, produces primarily cabover trucks. Although cabover trucks were popular among United States heavy truckers and trucking companies during the 1970s because of strict length laws in many states, when those length laws were repealed, most heavy-truck makers moved to other body styles. One of the reasons is the Federal Bridge Formula, which is unique to the US, and encourages spreading out the load. If axle distances are too tight, the maximum load allowance is reduced. For COEs operated at maximum weight in the US, this required an axle directly behind the front bumper. This cab design caused an awkward climb into the cab for the driver, forcing them to climb up behind the front wheel, then moving to the front and into the cab.

The Model.

First of all, you must forget the colour. The main reason the museum purchased this 1:24 Scale die-cast with plastic parts was not because of its flashy colour. It's because of it unique shape. So looking at this model, the first thing that struck me was the quality of the paintwork. There are no bubbles, scratches, cracks or paint drip. It obviously has a great deal of effort been considered in relation to this model. The doors open and close nicely and fits well with excellent gap clearance all around the doors. I wasn't sure whether the bonnet opened, because there appeared to be the gap all around the bonnet. But my policy is not to use force on any part. If it opened, it would have been nice to see the type of it. If it didn't, they missed a great opportunity to add something new to it. The back tray extends out. However on the real vehicle, there would have been a hoist. Or maybe they used ramps, found none if that's how they used it. But its a truck that gave birth to the Kenworth and Peterbilt Cabs over engines that most would recognise It not often one gets to see these trucks only at truck shows where they mostly have been customised like our model. or maybe we see then in farmers fields as we drive past. at least the museum has one of these unique trucks and for that we are grateful. I give it a 4.0/5.0. Robin Finlay 09/10/2022.
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