VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans '51 half-ton identity crisis

I'm about to begin a body-off restoration of my 1951 3100 and have a problem that I need a knowledgeable Chevy historian to help me with.

According to the VIN number and the lack of a driver side vent, the truck is a 1951 model, BUT it has push-button door handles. The simple conclusion is that the PO installed doors from a later vehicle, BUT I've been told that some vehicles built later in the 1951 run had 1952 doors.

Is that true?

I'm asking because if that is true, I don't want to destroy the unique nature of my truck. If it's not true I'm just going to replace the doors with the correct ones.

Any experts out there care to help me with this dilemma?

Thank you for ANY help.

I have never heard or seen any info that the late 1951 trucks had push button door handles.There is no mention of it in the 1951 or 1952 Engineering Feature books or parts books......What month was the vehicle assembled? See serial number.
1952 trucks also had a 90 MPH speedometer (1951 and prior 80 MPH), and 8 board bed, and window handle knobs and wiper knob was maroon plastic.
Late 1951's also had the 8 board bed. Early 1951 had a 9 board bed. Late 1951's also did not have the series name plate on the side of the hood (3100),late 1951 had a plastic parking brake release knob. The wheel rim width was increased during 1951 on the 1/2 ton trucks, from 4 to 4 1/2".....This is an example of the running changes listed for 1951...but nothing on door handles.

The VIN number is where things continue to be strange... it's 9JPL1881 which translates to a 1951 but built in December 1951. To the best of my knowledge the model years assembly began in September... further complicating things.

When I bought the truck it had already been "restored" (and I use the term VERY loosely) so incidentals like speedometers and other things can't be relied on to ID.

Your truck is a very early 1951. Truck production began on 11-27-1950 and ended on 12-29-1951 so the 1951 trucks were actuallly built through two Decembers. The serial numbers ran from 1001 and up so your truck was the 880th off the line.
If the truck was used in the rust belt the cab and doors usually are rusted through. It is common to replace the doors or even the whole cab when restoring. Up here in the north vendors bring cabs to swap meets for that reason. You can check some of the other 1953 changes I mentioned.

Sounds like your truck was built in December of 1950 and not in December of 1951.

:eek: :)

I guess that's what I get for not checking more than one on-line VIN decoder. I used THIS ONE and it tells me the date of manufacture is December, 1951.

Regardless, now I know what I'm dealing with and will track down a correct set of doors and get this thing done right.

THANK YOU for the help!

Woody

Just gave it a try and I see what your refering to......That why the VCCA is the best place to come for correct CHEVROLET information.

Why not join NOW :) :vcca: :)

Just tried that vin decoder site for the fun of it I put the number from my 1926 in it came back as 1961 4wd stake body.So thought I would try the vin off my 1980 came back as a 1963 Impala.

Ummm, that VIN decoder is just for trucks... not cars.

My 26 is a truck oh and my 1980 is a cheyanne 3/4 ton pickup

If you take the time to read the intro, the VIN Buster is for 1929-1964 trucks.

Thanks to Chev Nut for exactly the info I needed.

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