The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Advanced Design history

Hello all. I'm a new member with an old truck, a 1952 Chevy ton-and-a-half. I have chipped away at renovating it for decades and I'm kicking it into gear this year to finish it. Now that I've begun working in ernest, I am curious about the history of this model. Does anyone know how many advanced design trucks were manufactured? Where can this information be found? Is there a website or bureau that contains historical info on chevy trucks?

Thanks.

Joe

Welcome to the crew, Joe! I know some of the guys here have an almost encyclopedic knowledge they can share off the top of their heads - I have to look things up.

I would recommend that you consider picking up a copy of Tom Brownell's book, reviewed on this site at: http://www.stovebolt.com/features/brownell%20book/

I'm sure the smarter guys will be along soon!

The general consensus is that such exact records weren't kept.. altho I find that difficult to believe since Brad dug up that data for the Deco trucks here

I suspect that info is out there, just nobody has put it up on the web yet.

You may try a google search.

Thanks for the responses Kimberly and Fumblin46. In fact, my copy of Brownell arrived last week and has been nightly reading. I've tried several attempts with google but no (fuzzy) dice. The trail is cold, but at least it isn't a brick wall.

BTW, that is a beautiful '54.

Joe

JoeH,

Here is an original copy of a Chevrolet brochure announcing the Advance-Design series.

I have copy of a excellent 1974 article from the magazine of the Light Commercial Vehicle Assocation (LCVA) based on information obtained from Chevrolet/GM document about the Advance-Design series of trucks. It confirms what others have written in the replies above, that there does not seem to be any annual production information about different models of trucks between 1947 to 1955-1st. (My copy of this article is of very poor quality and I am slowly transposing the text and tables, so that I can post the information on my website).

It looks like Chevrolet officially called the 1947-55-1st trucks the Advance-Design series (hyphenated, and with no "d" at the end of Advance); and, GMC officially called their trucks during the sames years the New Design series. Of course, these names were chosen for marketing purposes, but they were official GM designations for the series during those years.

Tim

Hi Joe and welcome to the Stovebolt Page!

I can't add much to what the folks said above, just wanted to say "Hey" and welcome aboard. We hope you enjoy the joint and that you ask lots of questions and contribute what you can -- As Tony P says, we're all bozos on this bus and we're learning together! The best first step you've already done -- buy Tom's book. Wise move.

Thanks everybody for jumping in.

Regards,
John

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. This will be a fantastic resource.

I'll get some pics up soon and a bit of history about this old truck.

Joe

KC Joe,
Welcome to the Bolt.

Cliff59

According to my " secret sources " with GM.

I came up with the following total annual commercial production figures.

These only apply to the Chevrolet trucks & these coulda been anything from 1/2 ton to 2 ton.

I adjusted the numbers up & down by no more than 5000 [ or somewhere in between ].....
Just in case someone has any ideas of stealing the info. :p

I still retain the " actual " numbers

[img]http://shutter05.pictures.aol.com/d...uED7yaPH9Th3g-XAZyIzJv54Q8Dl2ZYz0300.jpg[/img]


1947 335,434
1948 389,590
1949 383,643
1950 494,373
1951 426,315
1952 323,117
1953 361,333
1954/55 325,615

OTPW,

Thanks for posting the annual production numbers. In case anyone is also interested in prices, here is a table.

Does your secret source give production numbers by models, for each year. No one sems to be able to find those numbers.

Tim

new guy, welcome to the bolt. You may also want to consider calling the chevy assistant line 1-800-222-1020 and have your vin # ready. Hang on the line and you will get to talk to someone. They will send you out a packet. It may not have all the info you want but it has some interesting stuff in it and all dimensions etc of your truck....and its free.

Joe,there are several good books out there on old trucks.I have one which I refer to on a regular basis.It is Chevrolet Pickups 1946-1972,by John Gunnel.It lists at $22.95,but you can probably get it cheaper on the net.Also just go to your local book store and look around,its amazing what you can find.

according to tim's pricing chart, i paid $12.00 less for the 50 than my grandpa did when he bought it brand new.

at least it held it's value...

That is kinda tough but I do have some partial records [ which have been rounded off ]

1949
about 200,000 under 5,000 GVW
about 100,000 5,000 - 10,000 GVW

1950
just over 250,000 under 5,000 GVW
just over 100,000 5,000-10,000 GVW
just over 25,000 10,00-14,000 GVW
justunder 100,000 14,000-16,000 GVW

1951
just over 200,000 under 5,000 GVW
just over 75,000 5,000-10,000 GVW
just over 25,000 10,000-14,000 GVW
just over 100,000 14,000 GVW & up

1952 unknown

1953
just over 200,000 under 5,000 GVW
just over 70,000 5,000- 10,000 GVW

1954
just over 170,000 under 5,000 GVW
just under 65,000 5,000-10,000 GVW

which also contains, and agrees quite closely, with the general production figures quoted here ... it also contains tables of shipping weights, 'job numbers', and original cost of the light truck models, and also agrees that GM has never released any further breakdowns in production figure for years before 1965

Bill

KC try this site for info an history:

www.pickuptruck.com

According to the "Chevrolet Pickup Red Book", which I am not sure is in print any longer, in 1952 total production was 272,249. And of those, 9,715 were sedan delivery vehicles. There is no "fudging" of those numbers by me. But further breakdown by models is apparently not available. Either GM kept lousey or no records, or do not want to give out such information. But I am willing to bet most of those are 1/2 ton trucks.

Another interesting tidbit, 1952 was the lowest production year for the entire AD span, 1947-55. I am not sure why, but maybe due to the Korean conflict? That war did impact GM, they had to stop putting chrome and stainless steel in the trucks, I imagine it also limited their production numbers.