The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Title says Chevrolet but it looks like a GMC

I just bought a old and rough 59 pickup, from a dentist that seemed to be doing pretty good for his self. He has had truck for 20 years sitting in a garage. I got the title and it says 59 chevrolet, however it has a GMC dash and the tailgate is stamped GMC, but it has a chevrolet emblem on hood and apache 31 emblems on fenders. the vin plate is missing from driver door. Title says Chevrolet. I wanted to fix it up and maybe sell it but I feel like this could create a problem???????? Any suggestions.

And now we know why it sat in a garage for 20 years.

Well he did drive it for hauling mulch and wood he said for the last 20 years and he did drive it to a truck show and he did keep insurance and plates on it. So if you are implying something fishy, it may be possible but the dentist was doing very well for himself and I would find it hard to beleive that he would take the risk of any screwy stuff on an old clunker. But I did have the same thought at first as well.

Welcome woodrow, a missing vin plate could potentially be a problem depending on your jurisdiction. Many of these old trucks have mismatched parts on them, nothing new about that. Does your title have a vin on it? New vin plates are available, but you need to be careful putting new numbers on it, be sure things match up.

Leo

On Task Force trucks, the serial number is stamped on the frame by the steering column. That serial number should match the title. I have two '59 Chevy's (a half ton and a big bolt) and they are both stamped that way.

Hope that helps

John

I think it's pretty common to change an old tailgate - they take a lot of abuse ! Changing the dash a little more unusual, but they are likely interchangeable between Chevy & GMC. I doubt DMV will take note.

My Dad had a 74 GMC with Chevorlet on the tailgate. He bought it brand new and use to laugh "He'd pull it into a GMC dealer for warranty service and Back it in to Chevrolet".

Seems to me when it comes to restoring it I could maybe go either way with it. Seems the GMC is more rare than the chevy apache, Which one would be better to restore back to, any thoughts on that.

Does it have a chevy or GMC grille. If the GMC grille it would be more rare to restore it to a GMC. Larry

Sat in a garage for twenty years is a different horse than a garaged, licensed and used vehicle. Maybe he is like me and just wanted the GMC looks.

If the title says Chevrolet, and the serial number (stamped on top of the left frame rail by the steering box) matches the serial number on the title then you have a Chevrolet. In the past, it could have had a cab swap (to a GMC). But, the title and frame would still indicate that you have a Chevrolet no matter what sheet metal is mounted on it.

John

I have a '55 GMC that we changed cabs with a Chevy. The dashes between GMC and Chevy will fit both cabs....but they are welded in, so not an easy swap.

The data plate is on the door jam on my truck, and is held in with push in type rivets. It is possible that it was removed during a cab swap and the original plate was not replaced and was lost. (trust me this can happen) This would explain the GMC cab on a Chevy truck. As stated tailgates are easy to swap and not much indication.

I would look to the number on the frame to satisfy curiosity and then find a replacement data tag to put back on the cab that you stamp with the correct serial number.

VIN plates are illegal to remove/replicate, but serial tags are not.....after all they were not originally intended for vehicle identification.

Tad

This is very interesting. Hope it works out!

You have probably found a truck that is like 99% of the trucks we all own. Only 1% of the trucks are 'original' and the rest have been 'upgraded' with parts when the 'original' fails, is dented, or simply looses it's shine.

Recently, some are putting their old trucks sheet metal on newer frames. How is the future going to look at that?

Sounds like you got something nice. You have a good question. Enjoy your ride.

Did you buy a vehicle that had a title and you didn't check the VIN on the vehicle? To make sure they matched? Why? Anyway GMC did not do a good job at applying VIN to frames, only Chevy did a good job. Also as you probably know, Chevy VIN's are way different that GMC. Which style VIN does it have on the title? Chevy or GMC? As long as your state never inspects these years then it does not matter, build it like a Chevy, GMC or Hybrid. Obviously if you have already transferred title, they don't. If it has only one headlight per side, it could be some kind of crazy mixed up "fleet" truck.

Stay in contact with the dentist. If you have DMV problems let him know that you will expect him to resolve the issue or get your money back. Otherwise you have a parts truck.

selling this truck in the future may be like











Pulling Teeth!