I have always loved trivia, and I have always loved AD trucks. What better
than to combine the two....thanks to the new Jim Carter's catalog.
- 1955 and before, the raised letters on the tailgate were body color, not
a contrasting color.
- Bed planks on AD trucks were painted black, not varnished.
- Bed planks have not been oak since the late 1930s. AD trucks had
bedplanks of yellow pine.
- From 1939 and up, the GMC six cylinder was a high pressure insert bearing
engine, initially 228 and 248 cubic inches. Chevrolet did not adopt the
full insert bearing engine until 1954.
- Almost all Canadian built GMC pickups prior to 1953 used the Chevrolet
216 engine, not the 228 and 248 used for US trucks. The Canadian Chevrolet
used the larger GMC 228 and 248.
- Two-tone cabs were not available on ADs until 1954. Only then was a
white top available as an option and only on then more deluxe cabs.
- Most 1/2 ton pickups prior to 1955 used 16" wheels, not 15" or 14".
- Radios were first available as an "in dash" option on the 1947 AD body
style.
- Right taillights were an option until the late 1950s.
- Full wheel covers were not available until 1954, and then only as an
option.
- Dark green (ie, Forrester Green) was the standard exterior paint color
prior to 1955. Other colors were a non-cost option.
- On AD pickups, the door panels matched the seat material.
- The Korean War caused the elimination of "bright work" on the '52 and '53
trucks. Therefore, painted items on these trucks included hubcaps, bumpers,
grille, radio speaker horizonal strip glovebox door, etc. Interior window
cranks and wiper knobs changed to maroon plastic.
- During '47-'48, the Chevrolet painted grille bars and "back splash" bars
were body color. In addition, the leading edge of each painted outer bar
had a horizonal stripe matching the cab stripe.
- On the '49-'51 ADs with painted grille, the back splash bar was white.
In '52-'53 this changed to light gray to match hubcaps and bumpers. On
chrome grilles, only the outer bar was plated. Back splash was painted.
- The cabs on both the pickups and the larger trucks are the same. The
front fenders must be different due to the increase in tire size on the
larger trucks. On the 47-'59 trucks, even the hoods and grilles are larger
to adapt to these bigger fenders.
- The GMCs with the 6-volt system uses a positive ground, the Chevrolets
uses a negative ground.
- The GMC and Chevrolet pickups share bodies, most suspension,
tansmissions, etc., but not engines, grilles, tailgates, exterior colors, or
hubcaps.
- The Chevrolet high pressure 235 engine was used between 1954 and 1962.
Its big brother was the 261. A low pressure Chevrolet 235 was available on
larger trucks only between '41 and '53. This earlier 235 has little in
common with its later 235 relative.
- Whitewall tires were not available from the factory prior to 1955.
- Pamala Lee's breast implants were recently removed, causing most truck
owners great consternation.
Thanks very much to Kelly for the Jim Carter's catalog. And thanks to Jim
Carter's for understanding that us truck owners like to know the history
behind our trucks. Hope this was worthwhile and didn't waste too much of
your time.
Tom Caperton
'47 2nd 3100
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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