I didn't make the original post, but I think I understood the point. Or at
least I'm willing to summarize what I thought he meant and add my own
thoughts.
He wasn't suggesting that all of the cars or trucks purchased new from a
dealer with 'options' that weren't listed were built on the assembly line.
His point was that when we get all caught up in determining how something 40
or 50 or more years old was supposed to look, we are sometimes mislead by
looking at something that was not done the standard way on the one hand, and
on the other we might be expending effort to make something 100% right, when
way back then only some of them were ever that way.
When I asked someone to decipher the serial number on my '55 1st GMC
Suburban along with an answer he also told me mine was built in Oakland,
California, and that a couple of things that were going to be different from
those built in other places. (I think it was Rob English at
www.oldgmctrucks.com.)
I've never been able to inspect another 55 1st GMC Suburban to compare or
verify, but I believe he knew of what he spoke when he suggested that mine
would be different from ones that originated in other factories. My '54
Chevy pickup was made in St Louis (I think) and I've not a clue if that
means anything about it is different than other assembly lines.
There could be lots of reasons why some trucks don't appear to have ever
been the accepted stock configuration in one way or another. I suspect that
some of the differences originate because some lines operated different than
others, or perhaps even implemented company wide changes on different
schedules. Others may have been unique factory ordered non-standard options
(built by a jobber?), or maybe special orders for a fleet where the line was
reconfigured to build a limited number.
Of course, I'm a hot rodder, not a restorer, and have to admit I don't feel
I have a lot invested in this issue...
----- Original Message -----
From: "aren gabriel" <deadmonkiracing@yahoo.com>
To: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 7:19 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] re: is it stock...
hey whats the big deal, yes you could get cars and trucks modified from
dealers, but no it dosen't make them stock!.. special yes, but stock, no...
forever dealers have been looking for ways to make extra buccks on there
customers. I for instance have a hearse, a 70 Cad, I had been intending to
find a suitable roof section to chop and install, when I went to a rat fink
getogether, I was shocked to see one already done, same year and already
droped on bags. I had to find the owner, and we hit it off, my first
question to him was, "What did the top come off of?" his response "I don't
know, but I can show you thhe paperwork." he let me see the original bill of
sale from the dealer (he was 2nd owner) it was a Cad stationwagon, one of
17, the bill said he bought the car for around 4 grand, and paid an
aditional 11 for the top conversion. It was a butifly executed top, and
looks like it made the dealer quite a bit of extra $. My point being, no
they didn't build 67 ss elcos, but !
yes the dealer would more than likely sell you the goods installed, parts
thats where they make there $. get the picture, anything for the $.. So no
it was probably not a factory modification, but jobbed out, remember these
are assebaly lines, kustom is not effeciant. But don't think that I am
trying to talk bad about these types of cars, they are special, different,
and rare for sure, but no they where not built at the factory, like the guy
with the tow truck, I'm shure it was built at the time it was new, but I
also guarentee that it was built jobed out, do you realy think that someone
on the line had the time to shorten fenders and figure out kustom bumpers,
or would the company rather they spent time knocking out as many trucks on
the line as possible, my dollar is on the 2nd.
anyway, these strange birds are special, they where true hand crafted
pieces, stock or not.
---------------------------------
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