The folowing was reprinted from "Jim Carter's Antique Truck Parts Catalog".

1941- 46	1947-53	1954 - 55 1st Series	1955 -56 2nd Series

In the following, several items per year will be mentioned which might help you, in the field, when looking to buy a truck or just parts. The comment by each year does not mean it is always exclusive for that year only. If you feel some errors exist, please let us know.

• Early 1936     Final use of the "high roof" cab. Doors have three hinges. Round dash gauges black with white letters. Headlights attach to short bar between fender and radiator. Top of windshield frame has square corners. Mechanical brakes.

• Late 1936       Beginning of the "low roof" cab. Windshield frame has round corners and is 12" high. Half-ton bed length 72". Running board tread consists of raised spots. Doors have two hinges. Gas tank under rear of bed with filler through bed side behind fender. Round dash gauges have cream colored faces. First hydraulic brakes.                                                      

• 1937     Gas tank filler under seat results in half cushion bottom raised to fill tank. Windshield frame as 1936 except is 14" high. Chevrolet introduces the 216 engine. This used through 1953. Half-ton bed length 77". Headlights secured to radiator shell sides. Running board tread runs length of board. The GMC pickup uses the flat head six cylinder borrowed from Oldsmobile.

• 1938     Much like the 1937, however, gas tank filler extends through the cab wall. The GMC pickup uses the flat head six cylinder engine borrowed from Pontiac. This engine even has the Pontiac Indian head cast in the left side of the block.

• 1939      As in 1940, Chevrolet tailgate has script lettering. Bumper has single full length groove on face. Speedometer is round, not a rectangular type as ’40 to ’46. First year for the two piece windshield. Black dash and window crank knobs. GMC introduces its own high pressure 228 engine. This basic engine design used through 1959. Last oval taillights.

• 1940      Chevrolet bumper has two full length grooves on face. One piece headliner. Hood lacing on cowl is fabric, not rubber as later. Rose tan dash knobs in ’40 to ’46. First year for sealed beam headlights. This results in small bullet-like parklights on top of front fenders. The rectangular taillight first introduced. Bed becomes three inches wider or approximately 48 ½ inches.

• 1941      No stamped name in Chevrolet tailgate. Right hand outside door lock in handle. Steering column is painted black. Six planks in bed. Rear window frame is die cast metal on outside over rubber. Rubber gas tank grommet. Headlight assemblies now secured to fenders.

• 1942     Outside door lock moves down into door. Late ’42 uses leather gas tank grommet. Two piece headliner.

• 1946     Seven planks in bed. Rear window now without metal exterior frame. Steering column painted brown. As in ’42, windlace around door opening covered with brown leatherette. As with earlier years, no weather seal secured to doors. Gas tank grommet went back to rubber. Gas tank continues to be located under seat.

• 1946 v.s. 1947. NOTE: Occasionally a customer’s truck is titled 1947 but the body design is 1946. It can make ordering parts confusing. Reasoning:  (1.) In several factories the 1946 design was carried over through March 1947.  (2.) The GM "Master Parts Catalog" does not show an early 1947. When this year is mentioned it always refers to the 1947-55 1^st series "Advanced Body Style".

• Mid 1947      The first of this new body series. Gas tank under bed. Last year for floor shift three-speed transmission without external linkage. Nine planks in bed. Truck name stamped in tailgate. Bed approximately 3: wider than prior style. Vacuum wiper moved under dash from above windshield.

• 1948      Hood emblem on 1947 is die cast metal. Windlace around door is black rubber and secured with metal strips screwed in place. Gas tank still under bed. Headliner center bow screwed in place. Redesigned three-speed transmission now uses column shift with linkage attached to case side.

• Early 1949      Gas tank moved into cab behind seat. Hood emblem becomes chrome plated steel. As ’47 and ’48, on Chevrolet light trucks hood side chrome emblem states Thriftmaster. Large truck side hood emblem states Loadmaster.

• Mid 1949      Last lever action shocks on Chevrolet, this carried on one more year on some GMCs. Cab windlace goes to gray tan and slides into metal track. Headliner center bow is now "floating" type. Hood side emblems on Chevrolet begin as described in 1950 listing.

• 1950      Handle for left side cowl vent door is flat steel, not maroon plastic knob type, as earlier. Modern tubular shocks introduced. Headlight frames remain chrome plated brass. Wiper knob chrome plated steel. Hood side emblem on Chevrolet show this name plus 3100 on ½ ton, 3600 on ¾ ton and 3800 on 1 ton.

• 1951     Only year with both pull down exterior door handles plus wing vents in doors. Engine in pickups remains 216 cubic inch babbit bearing low oil pressure type for Chevrolet, (used from 1937 to 1953). GMC continues with the 228 cubic inch full pressure engine. Seat adjustment horizontal rod under cushion is run through a rubber grommet which is secured to the seat riser frame. Earlier year seats adjusted with a metal cable. In mid-year, bed changed from nine board to eight board type. Speedometer maximum speed 80 mph.

• 1952       Horizontal strips below and above radio speaker grille plus glovebox door changes from stainless steel to painted steel. Outer door handles become push button type. Chevrolet hub caps changed from chrome plated to gray painted steel with black block letters, however, stamping and shape remain the same as prior years. Some say a very few deluxe ½ ton pickups still carried the chrome cap. Speedometer now shows maximum speed 90 mph.

• 1953       Hood emblem now stainless steel. First year for the optional left side mount spare on this series of pickups. Last year for wood blocks under bed. Wiper knob is maroon plastic, as in 1952. First year for blue and silver ID door post plate.

• 1954      Chevrolet has the newly introduced cross type grille plus the new high pressure 235 cubic inch insert bearing engine on pickups and 261 cubic inch six cylinder on large trucks. Hub caps have the same shape as the 1953 type, however, now have only the bowtie emblem. Redesigned dash board totally different. Bed changed – has increased in depth with all new bed sides. Rear bumper is an option since 1951, but is now dropped in center to make room for new license plate location. Taillight becomes round.

• 1955 1^st         Almost identical to the 1954. First year for the open drive shaft on ½ ton pickup and panel. Final series with the six volt system on Chevrolet. GMC continues to make 12 volt an option throughout the year.

• 1955 2^nd       First year of the new body style. The eight plank bed remains. Introduction of the new optional V-8 engine on Chevrolet, 265 cubic inch. Chevrolet grille opening made up of egg crate style metal square holes. ID plate on door begins with H for ½ ton, M for ½ ton long bed and J for ¾ ton. If produced with V-8, letters begin with a V. Front fender side chrome name plate is one piece and below horizontal ridge. On GMC, the new V-8 is actually modified from the pre-existing unit used in Pontiacs.

• 1956      ID plate on Chevrolet door post begins with 3A for ½ ton, 3B for ½ ton long bed and 3E for ¾ ton. If V-8, letters begin with a V. Front fender side chrome name plate is two piece and above horizontal ridge.

• 1957      On Chevrolet hood has two ribs on top side. Front fender side trim is chrome long oval with red paint in center. Grille opening filled with oval metal grille piece. ID plate on door post begins with 3A57 for ½ ton, 3B57 for ½ ton long bed and 3E57 for ¾ ton. If V-8, letters begin with a V. Round parklight lenses as in 1955-56.

• 1958      Dual headlights began. Fleetside box now available as an option in both six and eight foot lengths. The ‘58-’59 fleetside box uses larger round taillights built into the bedsides. Dash panel the same as the ‘55-’57. Oval parklight lenses. The name Apache first used on light Chevrolet trucks.

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