The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Vehicle Number decode?

Going thru tons of old stuff at my Mom's place, I ran across a registration certificate for a supposed 1929 Chevy Truck owned by what became my dad's plumbing company. Photo attached

The certificate says it was first sold in April 4, 1929 but the serial number, 6LR3908 seems to come back to a 1930 1-1/2 ton with 131 inch wheelbase, according to THIS WEBSITE

I tried the GM Heritage Center Vehicle Info kits for 1929 and 1930 and find that an LR series truck was built in 1930, while in 1929 the 1-1/2 tons were designated LQ. But of course, California wouldn't have made a mistake on a vehicle title.

The 6 initial digit would indicate an Oakland Plant built truck, which makes sense. Maybe the 2880# beneath the serial number indicates load rating.

My curiosity is getting the best of me. Anyone have any other information on the serial number?

I have no insight to offer, but that is definitely COOL.. That little piece of paper is nearly 100 years old..

Is it possible they started building the 1930 models in 1929 like we do today?

Kevin - I did some deep diving through my older Chevy truck resources and the web. From what I could tell the 1929 Model LQ assembly year began in Dec 1928 and ran to December 1929. That info came from this 1912-30 Chevrolet Production Data document posted by Greg Wapling. Lots of scrolling/reading to get down to the pertinent info.

Also found info there and in a 1929-32 Chevy Master Parts Book that indicates the 1930 1-1/2 ton truck model year was split into 1st half = LR and 2nd half being = LS (see screenshot below).

Also noted in the Master Parts Book is the average road weight for the 4 LR series trucks is listed from 2505 to 2840 lbs (less driver). That kinda ties in to the "2880# P" rating listed on the document.

Just a swag on my part, but me thinks the DMV messed up on the date of manufacture. Or they simply copied previously incorrect data as the issue date for this truck title was in 1936 which leads me to believe the truck was not a new vehicle sale.

Anyhow, it's a very cool family document treasure. Thanks for sharing it!

My thought is that California messed up the date, as it's unlikely they started building 1930 models that early in 1929. I believe that the plumbing company originates from 1929 or so, started by Mr. Furby who signed the title, then by his son-ini-law, W.L. Gann, who hired my dad, who bought in, and then bought Mr. Gann out and ran it by himself until he retired. It's now owned by a friend, who is owner number 4.
So this truck would be the first vehicle the company had, followed by a '40s Chevy Master PU, then a '51 GMC, then a 59 Chevy, and a '66 Chevy. The current owner has restored that last one to use as a daily driver.

Craig, that little piece of paper is going home with me. It's definitely cool.

Dan, I was typing as you posted. Thanks for the info.

Kevin - Your info on your Grandfather and the original business sounds like the title transfer in '36 might have had to do with the sale of the business to your Grandfather. Only other thing I can think of with the 1929 date could be that when the Mr. Furby first purchased the vehicle, it's possible he ordered it (signed a contract with the dealer) in 1929???, and that date being on some of the original purchase documentation presented to the DMV may have been read incorrectly as the manufacture date.

We'll never know, but it's great conversation and brain exercise.

Dan, signing a purchase contract in April 29 and taking delivery in 1930 makes sense. Unfortunately there's no one left to ask about it. BTW I'm not related to the first two owners. John Furby started the business in 1929+/- and possibly bought the LR truck from someone else in 1936. If it was a renewal of the registration there wouldn't be a pink slip issued, just a registration document.

OK, Here's what I have to offer...I believe the typo is the model designation not the year based on the engine serial.

1929 engine serial numbers start with 1 and end at 1265800 (1265801 to 1365365 were not used on Chevrolet production).

1930 engine serial numbers start with 1365366 and end at 2100284.

Your engine Serial Number "17423" is low enough to believe it could have gone in a truck assembled in early April of 1929.

Additional fodder...Mid year 1930 the 131"wb "LR" (identical to the 1929 "LQ") was discontinued and the improved model "LS" 157"wb became the only 1-1/2 ton offering (it was also the first Chevrolet truck offered as a Dually).

Mike B

Thanks Mike. Interesting info, and you're probably right about the model designation being a typo.

I did some more checking and Neal Furby who signed the title was the son of the owner of the Plumbing shop who was John C. Furby. Neal went on to become a Petroleum Engineer. John Furby was the Father in law of W.L.Gann who bought the company from him.

That's W.L."Buzz" Gann on the right in the photo with the then-new '51 GMC shop truck. Somewhere I have a photo of a previous shop truck, a Chevrolet Master in front of the shop building

Found the picture of the older shop truck. Pic is kind of fuzzy so it's hard to tell the year, but looks to be late 30's.

Cool thing to have the history documents and pictures Kevin.