The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Task Force Tailgate Lettering

I searched old posts and found one comment that up to 1st series 1955 the letters on the tailgate were not painted, it started in 1956. Since my 56 is now freshly painted, I wanted to see if anyone could verify this info, and if they were, what color? Here are before and after shots.

Tailgate before.

Tailgate after it was painted.

The truck was built, bought new by my uncle, run in LA until 2006 when my uncle passed. After 6 years in his garage, it was pulled out. After a bumpy 3 year ride at one shop, I moved to another that has made quick work of finishing it off.


Thanks, joe

That is a very nice truck.

I have seen nothing published by GM in any manual that specifies if/when the tailgate letters started to be painted (or the color). Nor has anyone ever posted the official "GM" answer to your question. In this type situation, I'd let the Stovebolt consensus you read be the official word. Especially if it's the thread Denny, Tim, & longbox (Bill) were posting in (c 2007).

My 55.2 tailgate lettering is not getting painted.

Brad

I know very little about Task Force trucks.

I found 57/58 sales brochures on-line - they have white letters

I found another 57 brochure with white letters.

I found one 55/56 brochure with no white letters.

Right, Tim; the trouble with '55.2 & '56 similarities is the same trouble I have with '55.1 & '55.2 "differences".

There are blurred lines in what the factory considered "factory" at the time. And I'd bet my truck those fellas that worked on the lines are having a blast laughing at all us trying to figure it out!

A known fact about my 55.2 tailgate: my great uncle hand painted the letters onto the tailgate with a white color paint.

In my restoration process, I hand-sanded the white letter paint off, through the re-painted green (he painted it hunter green), reaching the original Neptune green paint. No evidence of any lettering between the original green and the re-painted green.

(My cousin also remembered him painting it, & told me about it )

So...I also know very little about Task Force trucks- I only know a lot about mine.

Brad

I remembered seeing something in the GM Heritage Center Vehicle Information Kits for 1959 specifications on tailgate lettering, so I went back and looked. Here's what I found:

In the 1959 Chevrolet Truck Specifications under "exterior appearance" (page 32 of 83) it states, "Stepside and deluxe Fleetside tailgate lettering is Bombay Ivory. Custom Fleetside tailgate lettering is body color."

I found no exterior appearance information in the 1958 specifications. There was no reference to tailgate lettering in the exterior appearance information for 1957 specifications (page 75 of 143), 1956 specifications (page 62 of 121) or 1955 2nd Series specifications (page 45 of 211).

Bob

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help.

My uncle wasn't much into doing anything in the way of customizing; I have not found anything else on the truck that was changed. I cannot say with certainty he would NOT have painted those letters but seems less likely. But as you can tell from the picture, someone did. Guess I am just going to leave them unpainted for now and if any solid evidence ever comes up, it can be done then.

Thanks, Joe

My thoughts exactly, Joe. I do realize that so many tailgates were post factory 'white-lettered' to add contrast that most people will swear every one they ever saw came with white letters.

Be aware that if a shop does paint it for you, it is about a four or five hour job. At least that's how long it took me to do one for somebody.

Or, you can get the "CHEVROLET" decals from several vendors...
Bob- thanks for the page numbers!

Brad