47-55.1 Why does it seem more 1954 ADs survived

[vintovka]

Is i just me or does it seem more 54's are still around than other years? Did they make more? Been told 54 was first year that had plastic coated wires instead of cloth. Maybe this meant fewer 54 and 55-1 either burnt up or got junked due to electricl issues like mice chewing or shorts? Curious to know how many were actually made by year. My google-fu has failed so far.

[nvrdone]

just a thought - the '54 / '55 were short term runs and purchased more by the residental owner than the farmer/tradesman. therefore they weren't beat up as bad as the early AD's. any thoughts?

[mr48chev]

54's had several things going that the earlier trucks didn't including cloth covered seats on the deluxe model. I think they might have appealed to a lot of guys who were in position to buy a pickup as a second vehicle to drive to work rather than as a work vehicle used for work.

Around here the 47/53 survived pretty well and you see plenty of them around and a lot of them got used by farmers as irrigating trucks up into the 90's having since been replaced with mini trucks.

I'd agree on the cloth wire thing causing a lot of the earlier trucks to be parked and left to the elements. the truck that is donating the back half of my cab had a pretty serous under dash fire at one time. The wiring on my 48 was shot when I bought it in 1973.

Still for individual areas you have to figure the economy of that area at a certain time and also what new vehicle dealerships were in the area at the time and how aggressively they advertised or worked to sell their product along with what the "local guys" considered to be the good truck at the time.

In the early 50's this town had a Chevrolet dealer, one that sold International, GMC, Buick and Pontiac, a Ford dealership and a Dodge dealership. You are likely to see any of those trucks still out on farms or ranches if you hit the back roads. The hop ranches used up a lot of the AD 1-1/2 ton trucks in the area shortening the frame up to make bob tail trucks to pull the hop trailers because the nose and cab slid though the hops real smoothly when they picked the hops. Some hop yards had 30 or 40 of them around.

A town about 50 miles from me has more old Internationals around than anything else as they had an International dealer there for close to 40 years. I worked for that shop for a year or so in the 90's and worked on a lot of those trucks. A lot of the 1-1/2 and 2 tons only got used for under 3 months a year hauling apples to the warehouses and sat in an equipment shed the other nine months.

[mgchevyparts]

I think it's just what you see. I l browse for sale ads about daily and there are way more 49-52 that I see. I see very few 54 and fewer 55's for sale.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by mgchevyparts

I think it's just what you see. I l browse for sale ads about daily and there are way more 49-52 that I see. I see very few 54 and fewer 55's for sale.

Cause those that have them don't want to sell them.( LOL) Also think many 54s went to west coast and survived in greater numbers. Mine was made in LA Maybe the one piece windshield leaked less? I cannot find production number for any ADs anywhere. If you have them please share.

[Marty68]

47-53 CHEVYs have always been my favorite.... i almost bought 53 GMC in 2000. ex wife said no... i now prefer the 47-53 GMC i do really like the 54 chevy with painted grill. really dislike 54 GNC chrome it too much and looses the mustache... my 2 CENTS.

[popstand]

It's just you. I hardly ever see 54's for sale, lots of 47-53

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by popstand

It's just you. I hardly ever see 54's for sale, lots of 47-53

I have yet to find production numbers for the 54 or 55 so the jury is still out.

[mongocanfly]

I think I've read somewhere on here that they didnt keep production numbers for ADs..

[whitedog76]

I've thought there seems to be more "survivor" 54's than previous models for a long time. Since I own a 54, I can spot one a mile away. 1 piece windshield? Flat bed rails? Car like grille? My best guess is that it was the first year for the full pressure 235. They also had the later model trans crossmember which made engine swaps simpler.

[Clay54]

Originally Posted by vintovka

I have yet to find production numbers for the 54 or 55 so the jury is still out.

My '54 chevy pickup, in accordance with LMC parts and accessories catalog, serial identification number H54S042955 is translated as follows:
Engine=blank (standard engine)
Series=H (3100)
Year of production=54
Assembly plant=S (St Louis)
Production number=042955

[jweb]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Is i just me or does it seem more 54's are still around than other years? Did they make more? Been told 54 was first year that had plastic coated wires instead of cloth. Maybe this meant fewer 54 and 55-1 either burnt up or got junked due to electricl issues like mice chewing or shorts? Curious to know how many were actually made by year. My google-fu has failed so far.

Maybe it's a thing in Oregon, I see a lot more '54 Chevy trucks around also.

What I would like to see is more GMC's, if I could ever build another truck that's what I would want.

[Dan in Pasadena]

About the mid Fifties a few people were starting to use half ton trucks as daily drivers instead of strictly work implements. If you notice the trucks had manual throttles in them so they could be used to tow a large mechanical mower or some such.

Later, that went away. GM noticed this too which is why they came out with the Cameos and the Fleetsides in the Task Force trucks. They knew their market was changing.

[mgchevyparts]

I'm certain things were different in various areas. Growing up in the Los Angeles extended area, high school in the mid/late 60's being in a pick up was not cool.

[Clay54]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I think I've read somewhere on here that they didnt keep production numbers for ADs..

Open the link below and go to the first post by Mothertrucker where there is a total AD production listed for 1948 to 1955.1. Then go further down to the second Mothertrucker post where he separates the production numbers by GVW for the 1954 below 5000GVW.

https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/...ies-production.

[vintovka]

This coupled with other unconfirmed data would suggest 54 3100's were 2nd lowest AD production at 170,000 units. Only 55-1 being really low production. I might be wrong be makes sense and more info that Ive see ever. I still believe plastic wires and other technological improvements really helped them survive longer than other years. I have also heard that the one piece windshield and cab weatherstrip in 54's kept water out longer adding to mix of factors. Saw another 54 recently but a suburban.

I lumped everything together to kinda/sorta support the 170,000 number above.. Always open for correction.

May add the decline in production and sales may have been reason
the ADs were replaced by TFs;

Still think there are more surviving 54's than all previous years

May 1 1947 - Dec. 31 1947 335,343 units
1948 389,690
1949 383,543
1950 494,573
1951 426,115
1952 387,423
1953 361,833
1954 325,515
1955 first series ? (lumped in with 54's?)

1954:
170,824 units produced had GVW's of 5,000 lbs. or less.
64,599 units produced had a GVW rating of 5,001 & 10,000 lbs. "

http://www.1954advance-design.com/A-...CVA-11-55.html

[mr48chev]

I'd have to say that the "since I own one" has the greatest bearing on what you see no matter what you drive both in AD and TF trucks and daily drivers.

Our family daily is an 02 VW Passat sedan in disappearing in the Costco parking lot gray. I bought it though an online auction last year and never noticed the things before but can pick them out all the time now. Still have to hunt for mine in the parking lot if I don't make serious note of where it's parked though.

On the AD trucks I tend to sort out the 47/50 from the 51/53 as I have never cared for the vent wings appearance wise.