Hi builders and collectors, Can anyone tell me the differences in a 1947 and a 1952 Chevy COE cab? Thanks, Sky Valley
Minor changes, but overall dimensions are the same. '47 smoother firewall, '52 reinforcing ribs in firewall '47 fresh air vent left side cowl, '52 no vent but vent windows instead Different door latches and weather stripping
Other than the Chevrolet emblem on them, I think they are totally different! Chev came out with their Advance Design in late 47 in their conventionals and 48 for their COEs. I think the 47 would be the same all the way back to 41 at least.
Sorry Wolfcreek, I think your a little off on that. I don't know the numbers but I have seen more Advanced Design COEs then Art Decos for '47 (including mine). I'm not sure what month they started the body switch but mine was made in late '47. Rob
We're all here to learn. I read somewhere that the AD COEs didn't come out at the same time as the conventionals, but a year later. this from wikipedia: (does not state if just for conventionals or includes COEs) 1947 - Gasoline tank filler neck on p***enger side of bed. No vent windows in doors. Hood side emblems read "Chevrolet" with "Thriftmaster" or "Loadmaster" under it. Serial numbers: EP ½ ton, ER ¾ ton, & ES 1 ton.[4] 1948 - Manual transmission shifter now mounted on column instead of floor. Serial numbers codes: FP ½ ton, FR ¾ ton, & FS 1 ton. Early 1949 - Gasoline tank now mounted upright behind seat in cab; filler neck aft of p***enger door handle. New serial number codes: GP ½ ton, GR ¾ ton, & GS 1 ton. Late 1949 - Hood side emblems no longer read "Thriftmaster" or "Loadmaster", but are now numbers that designate cargo capacity: 3100 on ½ ton, 3600 on ¾ ton, 3800 on 1 ton. Serial number codes remain the same as on early 1949. 1950 - Telescopic shock absorbers replace lever-action type. Last year for driver's side cowl vent, its handle is now flat steel, not maroon knob as in previous years. New serial number codes: HP ½ ton, HR ¾ ton, & HS 1 ton. 1951 - Doors now have vent windows. Mid-year change from 9-board bed to 8 boards per bed. Last year for 80 MPH speedometer, chrome window handle knobs, and chrome wiper knob. New serial number codes: JP ½ ton, JR ¾ ton, & JS 1 ton. 1952 - Outer door handles are now push ****on type as opposed to the previous turn down style. Speedometer now reads to 90 mph and dashboard trim is painted instead of chrome. Mid-year, Chevrolet stops using the 3100-6400 designation on the hood and changes to maroon window and wiper knobs. New serial number codes: KP ½ ton, KR ¾ ton, & KS 1 ton. 1953 - Last year for the 216 in³ inline-six. Hood side emblems now only read 3100, 3600, 3800, 4400, or 6400 in large print. Door post ID plate now blue with silver letters (previous models used black with silver letters). Last year to use wooden blocks as bed supports. New serial number codes: H ½ ton, J ¾ ton, & L 1 ton. 1954 - Only year for significant design changes. Windshield now curved one-piece gl*** without center vertical dividing strip. Revised steering wheel. Revised dashboard. Cargo bed rails, previously angled, now horizontal. Tail lights round instead of rectangular. Grille changed from five horizontal slats to crossbar design commonly referred to as a "bull nose" grille, similar to modern Dodge truck grille. Engine now 235 in³ straight-6. Serial number codes unchanged from 1953. Hydramatic automatic transmission is available for the first time as a paid for option. 1955 First Series - Identical to the 1954 model year, except redesigned hood-side emblems and modern open driveshaft in place of enclosed torque tube. Serial number codes unchanged from 1953 and 1954.
Well, after doing a little searching I found a breakdown of my VIN number. Looks like my COE was #43 built at Kansas City plant in December of '47. This makes me ponder; just how many COEs where produced in '47? Looks like (based on my number built in December) that there where, in fact, many more Art Deco COEs then Advanced Design built in '47. Not that mine will have any value based on the low production number. Does anyone have any info on COE production numbers? Thanks, Rob
daddio, I think you are right. there is some grey area because some states followed the factory designation of model year and other states followed the calender year when processing paper work. I don't think GM introduced the AD COEs as a 47 mid year model, they were introduced as 48s. Conventionals were a 47 mid year change-over.
Well, now who knows what I've got now. ***le states: Year 1947, Date First Sold: 1948, List Price: 1920 Weight: 5100, Last time a ***le was applied for was 6 14 71 and it had an inspection for 1979 on the windshield. I'm sticking with 1947. Because I bought it in LaMar Colorado and it was made in KC I'm guessing it had never been more then 300 miles from where it was built. Of course with a max speed of around 50 MPH that would make sense. $1920 list price brand new......man I gave 1/2 of that for just the body and would do it again in a heartbeat. Rob
I guess it doesn't really matter which year you call it, just be aware that when looking for parts and you say 47, you can get parts for 2 different trucks.
For what it's worth... I have a conventional cab 54 Ford F750 (year confirmed via ***le and stamped VIN). Yet it has a 53 grille and no evidence of the grille ever having been changed. Although he never could find it for me, the former owner said he had a photo from when the original owner took delivery of this fire truck and it had the 53 grille. All this to say, I think all the manufacturers were inconsistent when switching production to new models or new year designations. I've seen a lot of these strange things over the years.
V8steel is right on the money. Early cars in each model year often got "leftovers" from the previous years, especially commercial and low-end vehicles.
I have a Dealer filmstrip somewhere that introduces the new Advance Design Chevrolet COE's for 1947. They were considered 1947 2nd design, just like the 1955 2nd design Task Force trucks. I've owned two 1947 Advance Design COE's, & a friend of mine has one also.
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