Advance Design Truck Identification
The serial number consists of a group of numbers and letters which indicate the assembly plant, the model year, the series, the month of assembly,
and the number of units (plus 1000) assembled at that plant.
EXAMPLE – 3SKB19943
3-SK-B-19943 indicates that the truck was assembled at St. Louis. 1949 model, Series 4400,
built in February, and was the 18,943rd truck of the 4400 series built at that plant.
3 SK B 19943
| Assembly Plant | Symbol & Series | Month | Unit Number |
| 1. Flint | GJ — 1500 | A — January | Each series separately numbered
in sequence, starting with 1001, at each plant. (this number not necessary for chassis classification.) |
| 2. Tarrytown | GK — 2000 | B — February | |
| 3. St. Louis | GP — 3100 | C — March | |
| 5. Kansas City | GR — 3600 | D — April | |
| 6. Oakland | GT — 3700 | E — May | |
| 8. Atlanta | GS — 3800 | F — June | |
| 9. Norwood | GU — 3900 | G — July | |
| 14. Baltimore | SJ — 4100 | H — August | |
| 20. Los Angeles | SK — 4400 | I — September | |
| 21. Janesville | SL — 4500 | J — October | |
| SP(S) — 5100 | K — November | ||
| SR (S) — 5400 | L — December | ||
| SS(S) — 5700 | |||
| SV(S) — 6100 | |||
| SW(S) — 6400 | |||
| SX — 6700 |
1947 2ND SERIES
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| EJ | 116 | 1500 | Passenger (Stylemaster) |
| EK | 116 | 2000 | Passenger (Fleetmaster & Fleetline) |
| EP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| ER | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| ES | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| QJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| QK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| QL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| QV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| QW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| QX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| QP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| QR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| QS(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1948
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| FJ | 116 | 1500 | Passenger (Stylemaster) |
| FK | 116 | 2100 | Passenger (Fleetmaster & Fleetline) |
| FP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| FR | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| FT | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| FS | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| FU | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| RJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| RK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| RL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| RV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| RW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| RX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| RP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| RR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| RS(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1949
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| GJ | 115 | 1500 | Passenger (Special)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| GK | 115 | 2100 | Passenger (Deluxe)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| GP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| GR | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| GT | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| GS | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| GU | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| SJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| SK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| SL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| SV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| SW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| SX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| SP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| SR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| SS(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1950
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| HJ | 116 | 1500 | Passenger (Special)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| HK | 116 | 2100 | Passenger (Deluxe)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| HP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| HR | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| HT | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| HS | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| HU | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| TJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| TK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| TL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| TV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| TW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| TX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| TP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| TR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| TS(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1951
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| JJ | 116 | 1500 | Passenger (Special)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| JK | 116 | 2100 | Passenger (Deluxe)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| JP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| JR | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| JT | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| JS | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| JU | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| UJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| UK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| UL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| UV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| UW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| UX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| UP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| UR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| US(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1952
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| KJ | 116 | 1500 | Passenger (Special)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| KK | 116 | 2100 | Passenger (Deluxe)
Stylemaster & Fleetline |
| KP | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| KR | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| KT | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| KS | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| KU | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| VJ | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| VK | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| VL | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| VV(S) | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| VW(S) | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| VX | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| VP(S) | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| VR(S) | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| VS(S) | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
1953 – 1955 1st
| Symbol | Wheel Base | Series | Type of Vehicle |
| A | 115 | 1500 | Passenger (One Fifty) |
| B | 115 | 2100 | Passenger (Two Ten) |
| C | 115 | 2400 | Passenger (Bel Air) |
| D | 115 | 1508 | Sedan Delivery |
| H | 116 | 3100 | Commercial ½ Ton Truck |
| J | 125 ¼ | 3600 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck |
| K | 125 ¼ | 3700 | Commercial ¾ Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| L | 137 | 3800 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck |
| M | 137 | 3900 | Commercial 1 Ton Truck
(Double Duty) Forward Control Delivery Chassis |
| N | 137 | 4100 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| P | 161 | 4400 | Utility 1 ½ Ton Truck |
| R | 161 | 4500 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| V | 137 | 6100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| W | 161 | 6400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| X | 179 | 6500 | Utility 2 Ton Truck |
| Y | 199 | 6700 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| Z | 212 | 6800 | Utility School Bus Chassis |
| S | 110 | 5100 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| T | 134 | 5400 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
| U | 158 | 5700 | Utility 2 Ton Truck, COE |
REFERENCES:
1949 Chevrolet Truck Data Book
1951 Chevrolet Truck Data Book
Chevs of the 40’s
NOTE 1: In my Chevrolet Truck Data Books, Model 2100 is listed as model 2000. I’m not quite sure which one is correct. I got model 2100 from the reference Chevs of the 40’s provided. If the is a mistake, please let me know.
NOTE 2: I don’t have a data book for the 1954-55 1st series and am going by what Chevs of the 40’s lists. If this is in error, please let me know.
Advance Design Identification Guide
This is not intended to be a comprehensive list, just a simple guide to help you identify Advance-Design (1947-1955) Chevy pickups.
1947 Second Series – New styling, 5-slat horizontal grille.
Vents on side of cab.
No vent windows in doors.
“Thriftmaster” or “Loadmaster” badging on side of hood.
1948 – New foot-operated parking brake.
1949 – Inner bar of grille painted silver-gray.
Series number badging (3100, 3600, 3800) on side of hood.
Gas tank moved inside cab to behind seat (filler cap on passenger side of cab)
1950 – No major exterior changes. Only major change is to tubular type shock absorbers.
1951 – Vent moved from side of cab to top of cowl.
Doors now have vent windows.
1952 – Speedometer top speed changed from 80 to 90 MPH, high-beam indicator moved to top, from the bottom of the speedometer gauge.
Door handles changed from turn-handle to push-button.
1953 – badging restyled, side badging lost “Chevrolet” (now only has the series number).
Door Post ID plate is blue & silver instead of black & silver.
1954 – new “tubular” grille, painted body color with white lettering.
New one-piece front windshield.
New front emblem (no writing, bowtie and “wings” only).
New bed – 2″ lower loading height, 90 degree bed sides (instead of 45 degree bed sides), new tailgate latch.
1955 First Series – grille is painted ivory with black inner bars and black lettering (optionally, lettering can be ivory).
Open driveline (instead of the closed torque-tube, which had been used since the 1930’s)
