1953

The horn location on the intake manifold of the Chevrolet 216 six cylinder changed position with the addition of the accessory oil filter. This oil filter was attached to the front of the intake manifold. A special shaped horn bracket was necessary to move the horn forward away from the filter. This bracket was included in the box with the...

This was posted June 2020. It's popularity made it worth a repeat. Our regular readers of the Feature Truck of the Month Series know we try to find early GM trucks that are just a little different for an article. Our choice this month certainly fills these qualifications. A 1953 GMC ½ ton owned and totally restored by Allan Fisher...

We have not featured a large GM truck for such a long time. When we saw this 1953 Chevrolet 2-ton, it was the time! A 6400 series was the largest Chevy had available that year. Its gross weight ranges from 16,000 to 20,000 pounds depending on the tire size. The wheel base is164”. The proud owners are Larry and Kitty...

This month we feature a very special ¾ ton pickup. Now, maybe just a little nicer than when it left the factory 70 years ago! Owned and personally restored (from the bare frame) by Glen Black of Lacey’s Springs, Alabama. Few truck owners can say that their pickup has been in the same father and son family over 50 years...

1953 “Canadian Built” 1953 GMC ½ Ton

We had heard of this special GMC over the years but had not personally talked to the owner or seen the various photos showing it in detail. The owner and person responsible for this creation is Bill Miles of Ashland, Massachusetts. After several conversations with Bill, we knew this pickup should have been a part of our Feature Truck series...

Ever hear of an older vehicle being bought on its way to the metal crusher? Our feature truck this month was one of those saved from the recycler to later become one of the most attractive panel trucks in the country! The savior of this 1953 GMC panel truck is Max and Margaret Davis of Columbia, Tennessee. They are the...

For the First Time – Two in a Row! While the Feature Truck article for January 2016 was being developed, we noticed an additional very special vehicle in Greg Fanning’s collection. His photos showed another eye-catcher, one of the rarest of the 1947-55 Advanced Design truck series. This is the now almost extinct “Canopy Express”. We doubt if even 100...

Just a quick note and story for you Jim and a big “thank you” to Jim Carter Truck Parts for all the support while doing my rebuild, couldn’t have done it without you guys…..Greg Fanning, Province of British Columbia, Canada. Well, I guess I should begin this dialogue by saying what an honor it is to have been asked to...

Our feature truck article is a little different this month. One of the country’s leading truck restoration shops was ask to pick a favorite of those completed in their many years of rebuilding, General Motors Trucks. They chose this truck as their all-time favorite. This very special pickup is a 1953 GMC ¾ ton. The restoration company is Possum Holler...

It was over 4 years ago when Vernon Buskirk of Webster, Wisconsin saw an ad on Craig’s list for a restorable 1953 Chevrolet ½ ton. He had been considering a truck like this for rebuilding and when he saw the photos it looked just right! The all-day project included pulling a flatbed trailer 400 miles and bringing the little ½...

The full rear quarter panels for the 1947-55 Chevy/GMC Suburban were made all the same at the metal stamping manufacturer.  To save money these panels were not made different if the Suburban was to have the double doors or the tailgate style opening in the rear. Thus, when the Suburban was provided with a lift and tailgate combination the 4...

Owners: John and Michele Dunkirk We have always assumed that less than 100 Advance Design Canopy Express trucks remain. If you ever see one restored or not restored, you should stop and take note. They are a part of our nation’s history. They carried groceries in neighborhoods with one car families during the years they were built. The husbands drove...

What a unique invention. When you have a 1947 through 1959 single rear wheel 3/4 or 1 ton GM truck and need more pulling power, this is the answer. American ingenuity at its best! This new steel center hub extension includes eight long bolts to reach the original wheel studs. This holds the factory wheel in place and then provides...

Year/Make 1953 ChevroletOwner: Dave and Pat Moore This month's feature truck is a 1953 Chevy ½ ton by Dave and Pat Moore ofKansas City, KS. Dave is our company technical advisor and talks to hundreds ofpeople each week helping with the many questions that come his way. Dave is a 'hands-on' person and has personally done repairs and upgrades onmany...

Year/Make 1953 Chevrolet Owner: Richard & Lorie Baranek On my side of the story! from "Broadway Bob" at Auto Rehab. It was a project that took almost 1 1/2 years to complete. I started working on it from in a small 20x20 garage attached to my house . I was in the process of building a new 40x50 garage...

1953 Chevrolet 2 Ton

Purchasing a 1947-1953 optional cigarette lighter assembly from some vendors provides reproduction that is far from original in appearance. A manufacturer recently offered the optional lighter assembly but used a knob from the headlight of a 1947-1953. There is no similarity to the real lighter! Don't be embarrassed at a show where your vehicle is being judged. Reproduction (above) Image...

With the introduction of the Advance Design Cab in 1947, a new dealer installed heater also became available. When used together this new body was referred to as The Cab That Breathes.

Almost unchanged in 45 years! The second owner repainted the two doors to cover the town lettering, then added the "Moblegas" decals. Yes, the hubcaps, bumpers, and grill back splash bars are still the correct gray color due to 1953 Korean War shortages.

Chevrolet introduced their basic nine inch single disc clutch and corresponding diaphragm pressure plate in 1938. This pair was used in their cars and most 1/2 ton pickups with three speed transmissions through 1953. With about one million of these vehicles sold annually, one can quickly realize the high numbers of this clutch system that was at one time on...

  Beginning in 1951, the rear bumper became an option on both Chevrolet and GMC pickups. This required a change in the standard left tail light bracket. The tail light assembly was now unprotected without the bumper. GM created a new bracket design that brought the tail light slightly ahead of the rear edge of the stake pocket. In this...

A redesigned parklight assembly was started with the introduction of the 1947 GMC advanced body style. It was placed in the front fender 3-1/2 inches below the headlight ring. A 2-5/8 inch diameter bezel held a domed glass lens to its housing by two barrel screws. The unit was not meant to be a combination turn signal and parklight assembly...

  When observing restored 1947-1953 Advanced Design trucks, we rarely see the removable dash parts painted correctly. Though at least half the owners paint these parts to their personal taste, many truck restorers want the dash appearance as original. Surprisingly, we rarely see two alike even on trucks that are said to be restored just like they left the factory...

  During the Advance Design years no less than four different Chevrolet hood side emblems were used on 1/2 tons. Each of their two mounting pins are in the same place so the punched hood holes were unchanged during these years. All were chromed die cast even during the 1952-1953 Korean war chrome shortage. The following pictures show the correct...

  In the 1953 Chevrolet truck accessory book, there is a charging bull head displayed as an optional hood ornament. During my past 40 plus years in this hobby, I have heard reference toward this 1953 Chevrolet truck accessory hood ornament and have never seen an example or heard of another person seeing one. Does any reader have one? Has...

Between 1947-1953 the Chevrolet 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton grilles were made from the same tooling. However, the paint colors and some with chrome plating made a difference. For the perfectionist, the following data will help you build a correct grille during your restoration. Painted Grilles 1947-1948 The standard grille has inner and outer bars the body color. Horizontally, a...

On first glance, most people assume that both Chevy and GMC gauge clusters are fully interchangeable and are the same except for perhaps the minor difference with Chevy oil gauges topping out at 30 psi versus GMC gauges maxing out at 60 psi. But that's quite a bit short of what the actual differences were originally! There are actually no...

This 1953 GMC 1/2 ton is certainly one of the more special trucks we see at today's shows. It not only is of interest to people now but would have been a definite attention getter in the 1950's. Jerry Willis of Independence, MO bought this farm truck un-restored in 1995 and is the third owner. He found it in South Missouri so it had not experienced winter road salt. It was a great candidate for restoration.

I note the absence of GMC participation on the featured trucks so I though that I’d send in some photos of my current project: a 1953 GMC 400 series with livestock body and twin double telescoping hoist.

This panel was purchased by me about three years ago in Calgary, Alberta. It was a Police Paddy Wagon there in its previous life. I've added a Mustang II IFS, a Crate Ram Jet 350, 700R4 Transmission and a four bar coil over rear suspension with a 9" Ford (Auburn Posi - 3:50) rear end.

Well this truck has a really long story but I'll try to make it short and sweet. It all started with a trip to my wife’s cousin's farm in Kentucky . We were looking at some of his horses when I saw this old truck next to his barn. I thought to myself, "I sure would love to have that old truck". At the time, I didn't know what would be involved in restoring it.

Here is my 1953 Chevrolet 3/4 ton. I have just about completed my restoration and I have been driving it to work everyday. I bought it two years ago for $6500.00. It was very stock and solid with only minimal rust. It was originally green but had been painted burgundy/black over the years. I really liked the colors so I decided to go with a popular Chevy color, Garnet Red Metallic/Black.

This month we feature a very special truck. It is no doubt one of the few pristine examples of a pure 1952-1953 Chevrolet 1/2 ton in the U.S. today.