Is the vin plate the only tag on these trucks? How do I decode my vin ? How do I find out what color it was, outside or inside? Thanks
henry51, as far as i know the vin plate located on the drivers side door pillar is the only tag identifying your truck. There are a few websites out there that have vin decoders that will tell you about your truck. the easiest way is to post your vin # here and one of us can tell you pretty quickly. As far as knowing what color it was outside and inside, chevy cars used to have an additional plate (I think it was on the firewall) that used to give a paint # and a trim#, but the trucks didn't.
henry51, the "8" means it was built in Atlanta, Ga, "JP" means that it is a 1951 series 3100 (1/2 ton), "L" means it was built in December, and the last 4 digits are the sequence number. As far as the color is concerned, look at certain areas if you decide to take the truck apart for clues as to its original color. Removing the hood emblem might show the dull, but original paint color, taking a headlight rim and bucket off might show the original paint, removing the center piece of the hood might show the original paint. If you remove a runningboard, the bottom portion of the rear fender might show you what the original paint color was. hope this helps.
As for the original color, a good place to look is the firewall, original paint probably still there, or under one of them rubber grommets. Most are gonna be Forester Green as it was the standard color. Dave
I've found spots of real dull pale green (like army paint) under some dark green. Did they use green primer back then? Tha dark green is flaking like a repaint. What dose the SRS in front of the V.I.N. mean? Thanks for all your help Henry
Nice truck, Henry! Where's all the rust. These trucks are supposed to have rust! Try this link. If it works, it will show you paint chip for 1951 through 1954 commercial colors http://autocolorlibrary.com/cgi-bin/search/searchpic.pl?1954-chevrolet-pg04.jpg I don't have a clue about the srs before the vin #
Could it be seacrest green? That was the only other green on trucks. I think primer was usually black, but maybe not.
