VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 1955 1st Series Spare Tires

I have a 1955 1st Series 3100 pickup with spare tires mounted on both sides. Both rear fenders have the factory looking cutout to allow room for the spares. I have not seen any others with spares mounted on both sides. I was wondering if anyone here knew if the two spares were a factory option or did someone probably add the passenger side one when restoring the truck? The truck appears to be an older restoration done somewhere in California as it has a California assigned vin #. If it was added they went to the effort to make the fender cutout.

I know of a 1954 3100 that had 2 spare tires mounted on each side of the bed. According to the owner it was ordered that way from the factory. So I would say yes it was a factory option.

Definitely was an option for 55 1st on driver side only.

I have heard rumors of factory passenger side mounted spare tires over the years, but on close inspection every one I have ever seen on has been a home made dimple job on the fender.

Dual spares are popular on lowrider show trucks.
There are even several people in SoCal that offer a service to dimple the fenders for the spare tire.
They use a press & finished product is smooth just like the factory did.

The fact that your truck came from Calif. leads me to believe that the passenger side fender has been dimpled & is not a factory spare fender.

Even though the passenger side dimpled fender was not an option, that would not have stopped an aftermarket coach builder at the time from stamping out the fender for the spare tire.

And then there is the possibility that right hand drive trucks had a dimpled fender on the driver side.

The option lists option 346, side mounted spare for left side only.
The parts book shows a left fender only for side mounted spare.
This is also true for 1955 2nd design trucks also.

Thanks. It makes sense that someone in California did the passenger side dimple. I will have to look closer to see if I can tell. The bracket from the picture looks the same on both sides. I tried to track back and contact the California owner to ask them a few questions but with no luck. It is a very common name in the Southern California area. The truck is definitely not a low rider but it appears that they got about 90 percent complete with the restoration so that could have been in the plans. It does have a automobile rear end and drive shaft. It is original enough to satisfy me. Still has the original engine. Thanks for your information.