A very unique year for General Motors trucks. This was a split year! Two different body styles were displayed at different times at the dealerships. They are referred to as the 1955 First and 1955 Second Series.
Why did this happen? Many have said: It is easy, Follow the Money! With limited changes in Chevrolet cars since 1949, it was time for a big change. The new 1955 car was so different. In addition to their proven 235 six cylinder of the year before, the really big news (as well as their body design) was a V-8 engine. Chevrolet had never done a V-8 engine before (except a totally different V-8 design in 1917).
Thus, a new body design and a 265 cubic inch V-8 resulted in a big home run. Of course, the dealers knew it was coming and were expected to place major ads in local newspapers and mail-outs saying the “great one” was coming!
The show rooms were packed with people the opening day especially since most dealers covered their showroom windows the day before the official presentation so the new Chevrolet cars could then be put in place.
Back to the original statement:
With so much advertising on the coming cars, why wouldn’t Chevrolet also try to show the new trucks at the same time? This would not be good marketing. Follow the Money!
The trucks were introduced several months later! Advertising on a smaller scale, but GM and their dealers did an introduction all over again. These are referred to as the 1955 Second Series trucks. The dealers loved the 1955 year. Two new introductions in one year! If you did not get big sales increases, no doubt GM probably has second thoughts if they should renew your franchise.
Our Feature Truck this month is a 1955 First Series. Made between the end of 1954 and about mid-year 1955. The big difference is for the first time the ½ ton pickup had an open, visible turning drive shaft, (between the transmission and the differential) not inside a tube out of sight as 1954 and older.
Other “First Series” Changes:
- Side Hood Emblems, Chrome with Black Inserts.
2. Front Hood Emblems
Changes in the front hood emblem was at no cost for Chevrolet. They just changed the paint color on the vertical strips from red to white.
Our Feature Truck is pure “First Series”. Actually the last of the popular Advance Design body style, beginning in 1947. Some would call it a “space filler” waiting until the new Second Series truck was introduced in mid-year.
The proud owner of this deluxe ½ ton is Michael Sasser of Enterprise, Oregon. He had been an owner of a very nice 1965 Corvette for 15 years. It appears he was no exception of the often complaint by others of the low roof line. If he forgot, he bumped his head getting in the Corvette.
One day he said he did not want to do that anymore and he sold it.
Mike’s Next Step!
Mike really liked special interest vehicles so to make entering the vehicle easy, a ½ ton pickup would be just right. His real attention was toward the always popular Chevrolet Advance Design Pickup, 1947-1955. Mike was soon attracted to a mostly restored early 1955 Chevy Pickup with 82,000 miles. Made about 4 months, it was the last of the AD eight year run.
He has owned it two years with no regrets, while adding little improvements while it was usually drivable. He has kept the correct Gray 235 six cylinder engine (one of GM’s greats) but removed the 3 speed column shift assembly and added an accessory floor shift 4 speed transmission with the granny first gear. This is the top of the line model with corner cab windows and the optional white top. The lower color is Skyline Blue.
A nice factory option is the left side mounted spare tire. Its size on a short wheel base ½ ton requires the dimple in the rear fender. Chevrolet heard the requests for this option from owners that did not like putting their knee on the ground sliding out the spare from under the bed. The frustrated owner usually placed the flat tire in the pickup bed (not under the bed) until it was repaired.
You can contact Mike at: msasser@eoni.com
