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| | | Forums66 Topics128,090 Posts1,056,018 Members48,430 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 | I recently bought an original Truck Data book that was sold as being for a '54. After looking at it for a while I realized all the publishing dates were in either January or October of '54. Plus it shows a sedan delivery which is clearly a '55. Now I am wondering if this is a book for the first series '55? Wouldn't the '54 book have dates of '53? The color chart in the back of the book has 12 colors and does have a Nov. 53 print date. (So maybe that was from an earlier book?) Can anyone clear this up? Thaks a lot. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 159 | Hi, It was not uncommon for many of the manuals and other pubs from the fifties to have a late date for the year indicated. Usually you can find something about it being a second or 3rd issue on or before the contents page. Many of the manuals I have listed in the Old Online Chevy Manuals are 2nd or third issue, but originals. Cheers, | | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 | Thanks, that helps some, but my main question is whether the info in this book really applies to a truck sold in '54. Things like options, RPO's, and even mechanical choices changed in early '55. One of my books show that the paint choices offered in '55 went from 12 to over 20. There is no contents page in this book and no where except in fine print on the page lower corners does it reference the year it is for. Seems odd. Maybe someone has Data Book with '53 dates. Then I would know that there is something to compare mine with. Thanks again. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | maine 54,
I have an original 1954 Chevrolet Truck Data Book that is dated June 22, 1953 (for all pages except for the Index and Color Choices, they are January 1953) and the PRICE LIST (January 4, 1954). It has the '54 Sedan Delivery in the Vocational vehicles section.
Not only is Keith correct about different issues/editions, but it is also possible that sections of any given book might have been replaced during the year (the original Data Book has a metal, multi-ring binder that opens and closes).
Tim | | | | | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 159 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 159 | Wish I had page scans of these truck data books for the Old Online Chevy Manuals site. Hint, hint! Some of the updated or later issued manuals sometimes dropped or had new info added. This is usually after GM had feedback from the assembly plants and dealerships or change in design of parts. Cheers, | | | | | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 15 | Thanks guys for the replies. Tim, you have answered my question. My pricing section (24 pages) is dated Oct. 29, 1954 so that pretty well says this was for the first series '55. I will keep my eyes open for a '54 edition. The color chart was probably borrowed from an earlier Data Book. Thanks again for the info. Fred | | |
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