Year to Year Changes

Year Changes

1947
  • Gas tank is mounted under the bed, filled through a hole in the passenger bedside
  • Turn-down door handles
  • Headliner screwed in place
  • Non-moveable, 2-piece windshield
  • 9-board wood bed
  • One-piece door glass (no vent windows)
  • Chrome wiper and window handle knobs
  • Three-speed transmission is floor shift
  • Lever-action type shock absorbers
  • Standard engine is 216 ci with babbit bearings
  • Side hood emblems say "CHEVROLET" and "THRIFTMASTER" for light trucks, "JOBMASTER" for big trucks
  • Serial numbers: EP (1/2 ton), ER (3/4 ton), ES (1 ton)

1948
  • Three-speed transmission now uses column shift
  • Serial numbers: FP (1/2 ton), FR (3/4 ton), FS (1 ton)

1949

Early
  • Gas tank now located behind seat
  • Serial numbers: GP (1/2 ton), GR (3/4 ton), GS (1 ton)

1949

Late
  • Headliner bow changed to "floating" type, no longer screwed in
  • Hood side emblems now say "CHEVROLET" and series designation (3100, 3600, 3800).
  • Serial numbers remain the same as early '49 trucks

1950
  • Tublar shocks replace lever-action type
  • Serial numbers: HP (1/2 ton), HR (3/4 ton), HS (1 ton)

1951

Early
  • Vent windows added to doors
  • Serial numbers: JP (1/2 ton), JR (3/4 ton), JS (1 ton)

1951

Late
  • Bed changed from 9 boards to 8 boards
  • Serial numbers remain the same as early '51 trucks

1952

Early
  • Door handles changed to push-button type
  • Wiper and window handle knobs are now maroon
  • Speedometer now shows maximum speed of 90 MPH
  • Serial numbers: KP (1/2 ton), KR (3/4 ton), KS (1 ton)

1952

Late
  • 3100, 3600, and 3800 emblems removed from hood
  • Serial numbers remain the same as early '52 trucks

1953
  • "CHEVROLET" emblems removed from hood
  • Hood series designation emblems changed to large "3100", "3600", and "3800"
  • Serial numbers: H (1/2 ton), J (3/4 ton), L (1 ton)

1954
  • New "Bull-nosed" grill
  • New one-piece curved windshield
  • Redesigned bed with flat bedside tops
  • New 235 ci engine with insert bearings and full-pressure lubrication
  • Rear bumber now has center dip for license plate
  • New round tail lights
  • Serial numbers: H (1/2 ton), J (3/4 ton), L (1 ton)

1955

Early
  • Very similar to '54 models, often reffered to as 55 "First series"
  • New open driveshaft replaces the Torque Tube
  • Serial numbers: KP (1/2 ton), KR (3/4 ton), KS (1 ton)

 

Side Hood Emblems

Side Hood Emblems

Click to enlarge
  • 1947 and 1948 side emblems read Chevrolet at the top and Thriftmaster in smaller type below.
  • 1949 thru 1951 models used two side emblems, Chevrolet above and the model number (i.e. 3100 for 1/2 ton, 3600 for 3/4 ton, etc.) below.
  • 1952 models eliminated the model number and just used the Chevrolet piece. There is some evidence from exisiting, orginal trucks, that this change took place with some late production 1951 trucks as well.
  • 1953 and 1954 models used just the model number but the model number emblem was redesigned with a larger base.
  • 1955 First series was again redesigned as a single piece with the model number at the top and Chevrolet below.

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