The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Army/military truck?

I bought a 1957 3100 (dream come true) and while talking to the guy I notice that under the crappy light blue paint is an Army green with white letters all over the truck. Apparently the truck was an Army truck then went to a Nampa ID school district, probably bought from surplus. The guy shows me the glove box. On it is an identification plate roughly 5"x5". The plate has a lot of information on it and says US Property at the bottom. The information it shows is as follows:
Truck Make/Model
VIN
Contract #
Federal Stock #
Delivery Date: 12-1956
I'd love when restoring this truck to track down a template or image for what the original markings were. Seeing as they're under a layer of paint they're very hard to make out. I've already tried powering washing it to reveal more of the original paint and markings, but it didn't work too well.
Does anyone know or know someone that might be able to dig up some information on this truck based on the government identification plate?
Thanks,
Nick

I think that would be neat too.
Larry

That sound great, post any picture and share with us please.
Alfonso

I know that there are military vehicle collectors out there, and also magazines devoted to those vehicles. There's probably websites also. If you could tap into some of those sources, you may be able to find the info you're looking for.

Military vehicles are one of my hobbies (too many of those). A civilian Chevy pickup used by the military would've likely been used at a base or some other sort of post to haul people and supplies around. It would not have been a tactical vehicle and so would not have had an "official" military designation or any sort of unique equipment (unless bolted on later).

Very cool find, though. See if you can find any identifying numbers. Usually, they'd be on the side of the hood or on the front and rear bumpers. That may tell you more about where the truck came from and what it was used for.

Oh, also: www.steelsoldiers.com

If anyone can help you with getting more info/history about it, it will be that site.

Anything that is put in the government inventory was assigned a FSN (Federal Stock Number), currently known as a NSN (National Stock Number). The contract was more than likely issued by TACOM Tank and Automotive Command in Warren MI. The contract date is incorporated into the contract number. Post the contract number and I may be able to offer more detail. As stated previously commerical vehicles were used on bases for a variety of administration purposes.
Fred

Contract DA-20-113-ORD: 21497
Fed. Stock No.: 2320-520-8372
Date of Delivery: 12-1956

Anything beyond a colon (:) has been stamped into the plate i.e.
Contract DA-20-113-ORD is printed on plate
21497 is stamped into plate

Here are some pics of the truck and the military markings:
http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/PirateYarr/1957%20Chevrolet%203104/

I'll be that PW stands for Public Works.

military vehicle links @ Woog's links page

-W

Yeah man back in 1956 and 1957 we had a lot of AD pickups at our motor pool in Fort Richardson Alaska.They were used for everyday hauling duties and also used on guard duty.Most of them had very few miles on them,and they were expertly maintained.And oh yeah,the heaters worked in them too.Whereas the other vehicles 3/4 tons and 2 1/2 tons and also the 5 tons it was rare to use one with a working heater.Ahh but those were the good old days.