The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1st or 2nd series?

I have a 1958 Chev Apache Fleetside. How do I know if it's a 1st or 2nd series? I'm guessing it's a 3100?

Actually, neither. The First and Second series only really is used in reference to the '55, whcih had 2 distict body styles for the production year.
If your truck is a shortbed, it would be a 3100, longbeds are 3200 in 1/2 ton.

As Longbox says,,a first or second series is 54/55 only.
They made the 54 for "x" amount of time, then still, during 54 started making the 55 "first series" which looked like the 54, with subtle changes.
Then later in the year,started making the 55 "second series",,which looks like the 55 and 56.
Confused?

...and that was only the Chevies, the GMCs had no first series '55.

GMC had a 1st and 2nd series in 55. The first series was the "new design" and the second series the "blue chip". This is US GMC. I'm not sure how it was done in Canada.

Yes. Most people only use the First and Second designations for the '55s, though. There was also similar instances in '23, '24, '25, '26 (mid year changes on 1/2 ton models), '36 (high cab and low cab), '88, '99, and lastly, '07. In some of those cases, it was delayed intorduction due to strikes ('99) or issues with getting the new models ready ('88). In the case of the '07 "Classic", I'm inclined to think that they were just using up lefover parts inventory.

Well that is a matter of some debate.

GMC did not call them 1st or 2nd series, though the model breaks occured the same as the Chevrolet.

I call my '55 GMC's 1st series to distinguish them from the Blue Chip trucks, but its a misnomer according to the GMC historians.

Misnomer or not, I don't know what else to call them. Aftermarket parts books refer them to 1st and 2nd series.

During the New Design series of GMC trucks (approximately 1947-1955), the 54-55 body style was called Z series by GMC. GMC did not seem to make year-references (at least in vehicle/chassis serial numbers) during the years below.

A = 1939-'40
C = 1941-'46
E = 1946
F = 1947-'50
Z = 1954-'55 (Dec 53 through 15 Mar 55)
Y = 1955 (after 15 Mar 55)
X = 1956
T = 1957
S = 1958-'59
N = 1960

Rob English has some helpful information on these GMC series designations. Rob has a large collection of GMC documents - you might want to contact him about 1958 information.

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0010.html
http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0290.html

The parts suppliers might use any type of year-designation terminology.

Tim

This all came about when I was at napa yesterday ordering axle seals. They wanted to know if I had a first or second series.

This thread brings up a related question- my 1956 GMC 3/4 ton is listed in the registration as a 1956 since I bought it in 1980 and by the previous two owners, but the VIN has a Y indicating 1955. Any thoughts on why this would be? It was originally a 6 volt, but that was continued to 1956, I think.

Dave

Those years listed above are approximate - GMCs did not sell by year, they sold by series.

GMC did not seem to make year-references (at least in vehicle/chassis serial numbers) during the years below.

They sold vehicles of one series until they sold out and then started selling the next series. It is quite possible that your "Y" series truck was sold in 1956 as a new truck.

Yes, 6v electrical systems were used in Y-series GMCs but 8-cylinder engines were mostly 12v in GMC Y-series trucks.

Tim

Hey Bruce,

If we are talking Chevy, 46 and 47s had a couple of changes; the 46 early produced just after the war ended had no chrome and were pretty much like the 42s. 46 late had chrome returned. 47s were a mix of 46 style and ADs. I don't know when Chevy went to all AD designs. Somewhere in time frame, there was a strike and all production stopped. 47 big trucks seem to be common in the 46 style, but I see 47s in both GMC and Chevy 1/2 ton in the 46 style around here once in a while so I try to search 47s for my style as well. I can't believe it was accurate, but I saw a bigger truck like a 1.5 or larger titled as a 48, but in the 46 style.

Chevrolet did not use the term 1st and 2nd series with respect to 1947 trucks. They sold the 1946 trucks into 1947. When Chevrolet brought out the 1947 Advance-Design series of trucks (June 1947), they did not refer to it as the 1947 2nd series. However, as stated above, Chevrolet did refer to a 1st series and a 2nd series in 1955.

Tim