The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Is she rare.

I am in the process of restoring my 1953, 3800 long bed to original, or as close as I can get it with my funding. I really haven't seen that many of them around. My question is, were there a lot of these old girls manufactured? Just curious!

There were 5,630 1-ton 3804 pickups built in 1953.

That was about 2% of total USA Chevrolet truck production in 1953 (model year).

For comparison:
about 46% of 1953 production was the 3104 1/2 ton pickup.
about 2.3% of 1953 productions were the 3106 and 3116 1/2 ton Suburbans

Thanks for the quick response. Very interesting info.

I never thought my 52 1 ton pickup was rare, yes a little uncommon.

Grigg,

Your 3804 is even rarer in 1952:

All 3800s in 1952 (calendar year) added up to about 0.7% of total USA Chevrolet truck production.

Hi Tim, I was wondering about this yesterday. What was the production for the 1948 1 Ton? Any idea how many of these were duallys?

Thanks!
jose

Jose,

Sorry, I only have info for 1950, 1952, and 1953. The info is only by model or by series, depending on the year. Also, two year's info is for calendar year and one is for model year.

Tim, your answer has me wondering. That 2% accounts for 112 trucks if my math is correct. If so, what would your guess be on the number of survivors left. Once again, Thanks for you info and all of the other members input on Stovebolt. This site has been a god send of info for my little "53" Green 1 ton. Jim

Jim,

I would not venture to guess how many (or, what %) of any trucks survive.

2% of the trucks in 1953 were 3800 series.
That 2% was 5,630 3800 series trucks.

That would make the total number of about 281,000 Chevrolet trucks in 1953.

By the way, the correct terminology for a 3804 pickup truck would be simply a 3804 pickup truck (there was only one bed size for each series of trucks - and therefore there is no meaning to "long bed" vs "short bed").

There was a different size of bed for each series: 3104 (1/2 ton pickup), 3604 (3/4 ton pickup), and 3804 (1 ton pickup); and, there was only one bed size for each series/size.

GMC 1/2 ton New Design trucks (47-55) did have a long bed and a short bed. I think that Chevrolet had long ed and short bed 1/2 ton Task Force trucks from 1955-2nd onwards.

Tim, darn your good, Thanks again, especially for the quick response.

tim so my 1952 1ton 3800 is pretty rare. has 3 speed on floor

A three speed on the floor was not standard, nor was it an option.

Either you have the standard four speed on the floor or you have a three speed "conversion".

I've talked to folks who mistakenly call the SM420 4 speed a 3 speed either because they can't find 1st gear or figure it's so low it's not useful... therefore it must be a 3 speed with granny gear( if they happen to find the real 1st gear..)

In reality the SM420 is a 4 speed with reverse.

Grigg

sorry yes tim it is a 4 speed on floor. has that low gear

I'd love to know how many siblings my 1949 3800 DRW flatbed had out there. Pretty cool to know that your truck is one of 2% of all the trucks produced. and 60 years later, its still around.

Is this number just for Chevys? If so do you have a total production number for 52 GMC 1 ton dual rear wheel models?

I have a 54 3800 SRW truck that I'm parting out. I almost hate to do it, considering how rare they are. Can't save them all.

Gee, Do I get a medal? I have 5 classic trucks, and 4 of them just so happen to be 3800 models. In my "Used truck lot", I have the following: a 1947 1 ton 3804 with bed, (Parting out). A 1948 1 ton, (3804)with bed, (Parting Out), a 1951 1 ton 3800 series with dual wheels, grain box and hoist, just acquired this summer, want to clean up, get running and make "someone INTERESTED" into a "StoveBolter". I also own, my Pride and Joy, a 1951 Chevy 1 ton 3804 with bed. I also have a 1946 2 toner with hoist, again hoping to make someone else into a StoveBolter with that one. So I beg the question, are the 3800's a rare bird? NOT in agricultural country. All my trucks were found within 12 miles of my place.And I have yet to find for sale ,in this area a Classic 1/2 ton 3100 series truck.
Jerry

Perhaps an interesting follow up question is how many Juniper Green 3800's are there?
It would be difficult to find data, but I swear most of the AD 1 tonners I see are green.

A dark green color was the "standard" (Regular) color in all Advance-Design years, so I'd bet that most A-D 1 tonners were dark green (Forester Green in 47-52; and, Juniper Green in 53-55).

Some people have observed that the light blue color was more common in southern states (maybe they resulted in cooler interior temperatures?) - Windsor Blue 47-52 and Transport Blue 53-55.

Did I read somewhere that when you ordered your new truck, Green was the default color UNLESS you specified a different color? Maybe that was in a dream! My restored 51 was that green but I could not stand it anymore and it is now black.

Yes, that would be the dark green "standard" (Regular) color, Forester Green, for 1947-1952 referred-to in my post.

Hi Tim,Jerry,Grigg,
Greetings all,
Guess I,m in the same boat as Grigg with a 52 3804.
Was orig as I can tell,red from the factory,as blotches are coming thru on the firewall.
It was poorly repainted loooong before I got it.
steve sr.

I have two 51 3800 pickups with nine foot beds. One is original blue the other was originally red. Both came from corn belt . Both good solid rust free trucks

FWIW: My 3804 was bought off the dealer lot (Dickson Chevrolet in Dickson, TN) in August 1949 as a black truck with chrome grille. (now sports red can, hood and bed sides). Charlie (original owner) got a good deal on it because the dealership was having trouble selling a black truck.