Could someone post a photo of the I D plate for a 1953 one ton? The one that is on the door jamb. I have a replacement that I purchased, but it doesn't look quite right to me. Is there a difference between the 52 and 53 plates? Just wanting things to look right, I've owned the truck for 40 years and have a good title, so I'm not worried about registration.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
I've looked at those, and I can only find plates for the 1/2 ton, so the GVW would be way wrong for my truck. I may just have to go with what I have and see how it works out.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
"Is there a difference between the 52 and 53 plates?"
Tim,
Sorry - I posted the links to those plate in the hope that it would give you an idea of general design-differences between the years (especially the 1952 and 1953 plates).
I think it should look like that attached, black, but would be 8800 lb. for the 3800 It looks like the tag is unique in this layout and color for 1953 year only The next year 54 the tag becomes blue background I feel your pain trying to find this tag, the Canadian 1 ton tags are also non existent.
Also I could be wrong, I studied US tags as a byproduct of searching high and low for Canadian model tags -s
Actually that last photo probably isn’t even correct, the 1953 ID plate is elusive. I would make a note to check ID plats at the wrecking yard, take a good photo of every plate you come across and then researched them at home later. -s
If you have a few minutes each week to look at '53 model trucks for sale on eBay, you'll find photos of the id plate. It might be soon or it might be eventually, but it's a technique I've used to answer lots of questions that are difficult to answer. One of my trucks is a GMC and, compared to a Chevy, much more difficult to find information on. The pictures really help.
Thanks so much for the photo. Now at least I know what it should look like. Part of my problem is that according to the information I have my truck should be rated at 7700 GVW, although it's a bit confusing. The 8800 rating is for duals with overload springs, and while mine has the overload springs it is SRW, not dual.
I really don't know if the service station I will take the truck to for safety inspection would know what the correct tag should look like, and since I have a valid title for the truck in the state I live in I don't know if the license bureau will even need to look at the truck itself, or just the paperwork I bring in.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
i have two non dually (single rear wheel) 1 Ton trucks that are both GVWR 8800 lb 1953 Chevy 1 Ton (1434 - means it has a pick up box, cannot have duals on back, yet 8800 lb) 1953 GMC 1 Ton (9430 - delivered with platform, same axles as the pickup, 17inch rims front and back) both trucks have the overload auxiliary springs on the back
my daily driver 1950 Chevy 1 Ton is GVWR 6600 lb, it also has the auxiliary springs on the back, same spring stack up as the other two from 53.
my theory's as to why identical frames and suspension have such a different ratings are: 1 - each year GM got the GVWR moved up a tiny amount with either testing data or pure government lobbying 2 - the rules changed in their favor without trying 3 - they would have been able to list the GVWR at 8800 in 1950 but just chose not to being conservative 4 - the chassis and springs are actually different and i just can't see it 5 - i'm being gaslighted or off my medication and it has nothing to do with reality
if anyone knows the reason why GVWR changes in these year ranges for seemingly identical chassis and suspension layouts please chime in
all my trucks are Canadian models the GMC frame, suspension and axles are identical to the Chevy for Canadian trucks, the GMC uses the Chevy engine, the differences are the grill and hood and badging only (and the GMC radiator behind the grill). -s
