The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk truck history?

Hi,

Is there any way of finding out the history of a truck? like where it was originally made/sold, what colour it was etc etc. It's 64 years old, it must have a story to tell!!

The serial numbers will tell you where it was made, and you might be able to get the color code from under the hood, as it wasn't uncommon for the color name and/or code to be handwritten on the underside of the hood in white grease paint. As far as where it was sold and who originally owned it, only way I can think of is perhaps doing a title search.

A code on the door pillar plate will tell what plant assembled it.

Original color will take some detective work. If it doesn't have a deluxe heater there will be a plate on the firewall that may have original color under it. If it does have deluxe heater there is a seal around the blower motor. You may need to pull the voltage regulator and look under it. If there is an undercoating under the fenders the original color may be on the cab under it.

The first digit(s) in the serial number will tell you where it was made.
1.Flint; 2. Tarrytown; 3. St. Louis; 5. Kansas City; 6. Oakland; 8. Atlanta; 9. Norwood;, 12. Buffalo; 14. Baltimore; 20. Los Angeles; 21. Janesville. Numbers not shown weren't used.
Next letter will tell model year, in your case there will be a J for 1951.
Next is the series ID, P for a 3100.
Next is a letter for the month it was built. A thru L for the month (J=Oct).
The last digits will be the production number.

Bubblemaker,

It is a good practice to post the make, year, and model of your truck. Often people post questions regarding the truck in their "signature", but often people post about another truck.

1951 Chevrolet 3100 pickup

Here is a lot of information about your truck.

The information on page 53 of the a...ntains other identification information.

Here are locations of engine codes. These codes will tell you about the date/type of head/block you have. Post the codes you find and people will help you decode.

There were no standard GM markings/codes/plates on the truck to indicate for colors/options/accessories for trucks during the Advance-Design years (1947-1955st trucks). As mentioned above, some people have found under-hood (under-bonnet) cryptic crayon/chalk markings that might have been put there by worker(s) on the assembly line.

Thanks for the replies. I'll have a look for the serial number in the morning and start from there!
Do you think Chevy would keep records of sales that far back?

No

And, you cannot expect any state to have records that far back.

Up here in the great wet north we have to send $35 to General Motors for the history of a vehicle. I believe it is free in the States.
Along with a bunch of photo copied specifications (most which did not pertain to my half ton) was a separate letter saying (if I recall correctly) that my truck was made in May 1949 at Oshawa Ontario and delivered on June 5. It also states that there were only close to 6000 identical trucks of that year made in Canada. I find that number strange but it may include the colour whereas there may have been another 6000 green versions.

Bubblemaker,

Is your truck a Canadian-built truck or a USA-built truck?
Does it have an ID tag?

Sedgewick's information might be useful/helpful to you.

Maybe he can post a link to GM Canada's webpage for the "history of the vehicle".

Here is information about "build records" and dealer invoices.

This makes reference to GM Canada information packets.

Good luck,

Where can I find this information for my 48 GMC fc 253?

Info for decoding GMC serial numbers can be found at www.oldgmctrucks.com