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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 | Probably wrong forum. But, I seem to have noticed, by the posts on this site and other GMC sites, that most everyone is working on the 1940's to 1954 model stovebolts. Don't seem as much interest in the 1955 up models. Guess it's just a fad that vehicles go through. It seems in my younger years the 55 and up were more popular, especially since they did not have the enclosed driveshaft. Just a thought.....
57 GMC LCF 370 55 John Deere 40-W 59 John Deere 430-W 2000 GMC 4x4 56 John Deere 420-W Pix on Photobucket | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | And some 40-50 years ago Model A fords were popular. In another 50 years who knows what'll be the common "old" vehicle that so many folks enjoy?
I think the AD trucks are popular lately because they are the oldest Chevy trucks that are easily improved enough to suit many peoples needs for driving an old truck on modern roads with faster speeds and traffic. In fact stock they do OK. Compare an AD truck to the older models which can be on the slow side or have not so great brakes.
It also helps that the AD trucks are sturdy, don't rust to pieces as easily as some other years and makes, and they look nice. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 | The other thing that makes the AD so popular is sheer numbers, you have model years with 300,000+ units of production. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | Here's my take on the popularity of most vehicles. We all tend to like, buy, drive, restore, collect, appreciate and whatever other adjectives one cares to throw at it, the vehicles we grew up with. So if the vote here is towards AD models more than TF's...well that probably speaks to the age of the viewers and posters. There's lot's of us old farts who love our AD trucks. As we fade away I'm sure a new crop of TF lovers will emege to become the prominent parties.
What this doesn't take into account are those of us who just love trucks period. I'm one of those. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 52 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 52 | That and in those sheer numbers there are still some "rare" trucks out there as well to play with. GMC Factory Diesels, 3800 Panel trucks, 1/2 ton Automatic 5 window trucks, Canopy wagons, the list goes on. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Didn't start out looking for an AD vehicle. I simply started out looking for an OLD truck. First it was my 37 then the 52..... and yes, I'd like to have a 58 or 59 TF Apache but, as some mentioned, there are not as many of those as the AD.... and the AD covers more years that will interchange parts, I think! ...and its what one an afford. Buy'em cheap, drag them home and after about 5 years stand back and say "look what I done"  | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 | I love all old trucks also. I especially like the '41-46 body style because I grew up with one. But when I had a chance to buy a '47 I bought it anyway. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 | I have also noticed the popularity as mentioned and agree that a lot of it is because of the amount of them made along with the tough 'ol sheet metal they were made of.
But even though I'm a '60-'72 Fan, they are cool trucks. The first truck I ever drove was a '53 or '54 3/4 Ton Flatbed. We had a lot of fun with that truck.
Bill
'60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan
GMC 9500 Fan
Detroit Diesel Fan
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 942 | 55 John Deere 40-W
59 John Deere 430-W
56 John Deere 420-W
BTW, Old GMC Gold. I'm also a John Deere fan. I've got a '59 435 with the 2-53 Detroit.
Bill
'60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan
GMC 9500 Fan
Detroit Diesel Fan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | For those still looking, older(before AD's) have less legroom, so, if you are not a midget, sit in them for a while, first.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 603 | Hey Bill !! I believe you came and got my tractors when I was not looking ! Except for the 435, those are real neat, but I have never owned one.
Nothing Runs Like A Deere.. and GMC's
57 GMC LCF 370 55 John Deere 40-W 59 John Deere 430-W 2000 GMC 4x4 56 John Deere 420-W Pix on Photobucket | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | EdPruss is right about leg room before the AD style. I owned a '46 and now a '37 ....... I fit in them really nice about 10 years ago. I could get wife and grandchild in there with me. Well, not anymore!! Room for two..... barely Now the AD, yeah, lots better. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | Lots of parts. Trying to find repop doors for a 40's truck? hahahahaha Spend the money overhauling a 216?
I'd kill for a 30s half or 3/4ton truck... | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 25 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 25 | The Advance design was such a leap forward from prewar vehicles a pity mechanically they didn't move forward as quickly but thats what them makes them so appealing I think you have to be an electronics whiz to work on them the new stuff but there's nothing I can't fix on my 52 but I still like the wraparound screen of the 2nd series so cool a pity we only got the c4000 Viking in Aussie but more are coming now even a few RHDs from Sth Africa so hail to
Stovebolts all of them | | |
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