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Is there any web site I can go to and enter the truck serial number and it will tell me how the truck was originally setup? It is a 1948 GMC 3/4 ton and we think it left the factory without any bed and the original buyer made his own flatbed.
Thanks,
Mike

no, you'll be left wondering unless you can find the original owner some trucks were sold with a bed, but also many trucks had the bed so beat up after a few decades of hard use, the beds got chucked in favor of whatever the owner wanted

Bill

If your truck came without a bed it's a Model 3603 Cab and Chassis.

Mike B

But Mike, it is a GMC not a Chevy and how would you document the
configuration of the series in either truck?
DG

GMC 152-22 (for USA GMC) - but that is for all 3/4 ton GMC ton models.

As Denny and Mike know: neither Chevrolet Trucks or GMCs came with special markings on the delivered vehicle that would indicate cab with pickup bed, cab with stake bed, cab with chassis. Chevrolet also had chassis w/no wondshield, chassis w/windshield, chassis with platform bed (I am not sure if GMC had those options/models in 1948).

To definitively ID the model, you'd need a bill-of-sale that lists the model.

I don't know about GMC, but as Mike B noted Chevy had specific model number for each configuration that left the factory.

2 ton long wheelbase:

6412 bare chassis with front clip and windshield
6432 stripped chassis, cowl/w windshield (no hood or fenders)
6408 platform body
6409 stake body
6419 high stake body
etc, etc.

The point being made was yes they were sold by models but a 48' is now 66 years old and with no markings or codes but the serial number it is difficult to say what particular model it is. Beds are added or removed, stakes become pick-ups, etc. so without some provenance it is a stretch to say your truck is XXXX.

Thanks, Brad

As you know, Chevrolet did have different model numbers for various configurations but those numbers were not placed anywhere on the truck. I cannot find a chart/list/link for GMC model numbers for different configurations within a model-size. Here is one GMC chart of Conventional Model Specifications (for 1951, I think - from Rob English's oldGMCtrucks.com website).

A bill of sale (receipt) with model number is the only thing I can think of that might "officially" ID the configuration.

My original truck title which is probably better or as good as most for detail. As you can see not much more information than you could pull from the data plate.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/9035376513/in/set-72157631867396207
Another example from a recent parts truck purchase.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/12142231614/in/set-72157631870734114
As you can see without a bill-of-sale or perhaps an original owner purchase (get a notarized letter) who knows? On some of the big trucks I have owned it is even more vague as it usually just says a GVW. At least on the 54-3/4 ton you could get a good idea.

Brad,

They both do state PICKUP - more than on a data plate (Vehicle or Engine Serial Numbers).

We can only speculate that a non-pickup body-type would show on a title (or sales slip). I have SUBN on my NY registration for my 3106 (which matched its original VA registration/Title).

Tim,

At least here I have owned a couple 2-tons that said pickup but they were later titles. I also had a 1-ton that was titled that way. May be just the person typing that day on some of them?