Posts Tagged ‘trim’
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
The 1957 Chevrolet side trim unfortunately had the threaded holes that connects it to the fenders in the same position on the right and left sides. This creates a problem for many during painting. The right and left interchange! Therefore, body shops often attach them to the wrong side after painting the two fenders.
These emblems were made to look like a rocket with red-orange exhaust. Installing them incorrectly points this rocket in the wrong direction. The new paint lines created by tightening the emblems on the fenders prevent them from being reversed. The damage has been done!
Actually the emblems have “right” or “left” cast on their back side. If the shop would only look, the mistake would not happen!
Correct trim (above)
Incorrect trim (above)
Tags: 1957, chevrolet, mistake, old chevy truck, side, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
During the mid-1950′s most car and truck manufacturers begin to install optional V-8 engines in their vehicles. To set the vehicles apart from their six cylinders, V-8 emblems were designed.
This GMC front fender V-8 emblem was used during 1955 through 1957. The GMC letters were on both six and V-8 trucks.
The pictured Hydramatic emblem is removable and would not be in place on a truck with a 3 or 4 speed manual transmission.
Tags: 1955, 1957, emblem, fender, gmc, old chevy truck, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
During the mid 1960′s, most still considered pickups work vehicles. The manufacturer designed them as haulers and few people owned them as their only family vehicle. However, a slight change was beginning with truck buyers as Americans began to have more disposable income. GM and other truck producers were aware that extras on work vehicles were finding more buyers. Each year additional pickups with deluxe equipment were ordered.
This 1965 GMC 1/2 ton is an example of this trend. Though it obviously had been a work truck, it’s optional deluxe features still remain intact. Looking at the trim shows how GMC designers were careful in adding expensive trim.
To keep cost down they placed chrome on the hub caps and grill of their base model pickup. The stainless windshield trim is identical to that placed on the Chevrolet deluxe cabs. The long anodized aluminum side trim is also Chevrolet. One exception: GMC did not use the narrow shorter side trim as found on Chevrolet fleetsides that ran parallel to this longer piece. See photo comparisons.
Most aluminum cab trim is very basic in design. Straight pieces butted together kept GMC’s cost low. Only the chrome plated die cast emblem with the word “Custom” shows extra design effort.
The curved door window trim did require extra tooling but was made of anodized aluminum. Note this aluminum window trim as it runs parallel a few inches from the windshield stainless. The use of two different materials on trim so close is very unusual.
GMC Single Trim Strip (above)
Chrome Standard Grille (above)
Window Aluminum and Windshiled Stainless (above)
Econimical Side Trim (above)
1962-1966 Chevrolet Lower Trim (above)
Deluxe Trim (above)
Economical Side Trim (above)
Tags: 1965, deluxe, fleetside, gmc, old chevy truck, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
With increased prosperity in the USA during the 1960′s the demand for more extras on cars and trucks was high. Manufacturers followed this trend with additional features, at least on their top of the line models.
GMC followed this movement even though their product was mostly for work related duties. While sharing much sheet metal with Chevrolet, they certainly did not want to look like their competitor so GMC designers made a point of adding no deluxe features to the new ‘Custom’ truck that would relate to Chevrolet.
What must have been a limited budget is reflected by the inexpensive trim on their new custom cab. The post behind the doors uses three pieces of straight anodized aluminum butted together to fill the space.
What looks like an amateur creation was truly a factory design. It almost appears they needed paint divided strips for their two-tone paint option! A more expensive piece is the curved side window trim with the unusual groove to fit into the door lines.
For their custom cab GMC chromed their pre existing white grill, V-6 hood side emblems, bumpers, and hub caps. Thus, their design and manufacturing costs were lessened. Even the stainless windshield trim was already available from the Chevrolet division. A new small chrome Custom emblem on the door post is an exclusive GMC only part. (This die cast emblem was also used on the rare deluxe model GMC Suburban.)
The remaining GMC ‘Custom’ feature appears to be the paint scheme when two-tone colors were ordered. Here designers seemed to have gone to excess. No copying Chevrolet here! There must have been a 20 minute meeting on the telephone in 1964 to decide which color went on which metal body panel.
The accompanying photos are from a 1964-66 GMC Custom ½ ton pickup that was seen parked along the street. The owner was not available for comment.
The wear on the original paint and trim give no doubt that it was an untouched factory GMC. Its pure condition deserved ‘a second take’ and the following pictures were a result.
Note: Even on the Custom GMC pickup, the large back cab window was optional. Many did not want the extra sun on their neck or in the cab during hot summer days. Therefore, this deluxe cab was ordered with the small rear glass.
Tags: 1964, 1966, custom, gmc, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Though at first, a new person in the GM truck hobby might think all 1960-66 Chevrolet cab trim (only on the deluxe models) is the same. In reality no less than three changes occurred during this seven year body style.
During 1960 (maybe into early 1961) the optional stainless cab side trim on the Chevrolet truck was designed to attach to a long connecting horizontal trim strip. After production began, GM discovered that new owners could easily dent this more delicate trim. When carelessly throwing items in the bed or during fast stops, cargo could hit the stainless. This problem was solved by discontinuing this horizontal strip. The connecting ends of the side trim were then modified to show no evidence of a past attachment (see photo)
Therefore, side trim part# 8768843 and 8768844 as well as the horizontal strip #8768842 are very difficult to locate 45 years later. Most 1960 truck restorers must compromise and use the more readily available 1961-63 side trim.
In 1964, a major change occurred in the construction of this cab trim. Chevrolet followed the trend of other new vehicles and also began using aluminum trim. It was anodized to keep its shine and the production cost was less. It required lower pressure to be stamped as compared to the previous stainless steel. Thus, the tooling lasted much longer.
1960 (above)
1960 (above)
Top piece in photo-1960 with notch. | Lower piece in photo-1961-1963 notch removed (above)
1960 (above)
1960 Stainless Trim (above)
1964-1966 (above)
1964-1966 (above)
1964-1966 Cab Trim (above)
Tags: 1960, 1966, cab, chevrolet, deluxe, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
During the early 1960′s GM’s majority of truck buyers chose the base truck with few dealer installed options. It was ending an era of very limited disposable income among the average US citizen.
General Motors saw the trend toward more extras on trucks and began to offer visual extras such as two tone paint, side trim, and upgraded interiors.
Though there were limited takers, both Chevrolet and GMC offered full length stainless steel side trim during 1960-61. Note: Cab and front fender trim are the same on both makes. It is the fleetside bed trim that is a different length. On the Chevrolet, the rear “C” side piece requires this trim to be shorter than the GMC. See images below.
Chevrolet (above)
GMC (above)
Tags: 1960, 1961, chevrolet, gmc, old chevy truck, side, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Fleetside bed trim was available only during the final year of the Task-Force truck series. The very deluxe Cameo was history by mid 1958. This is probably the reason General Motors added a little extra flair to their top of the line fleetside box.
The cost to GM was minimum considering the price of other appearance options of the day. Two die cast ends (the same right and left ends) two arched stainless strips per side made up the package. The only difference between the 6′ and 8′ fleetside trim package was the length of the strips.
The optional stainless cab trim had to be included when the bedside trim was ordered. The customer also received a chrome grille, bumpers, and headlight bezels. The open space between the two horizontal strips is a difference color to give an attractive contrast.
As trucks in 1959 were still considered mostly as workers, the full trim package found few buyers. Today, a nice complete set of 1959 bed trim will easily bring over $500.00. Unfortunately, most original fleetsides with this trim have most of it damaged beyond repair.
The pictured sample lacks the reflective red tape that was originally behind the three open slots on the rear die cast end! This began a trend which later became the federally required side marker lights starting in 1968.
Tags: 1959, chevrolet, deluxe, fleetside, old chevy truck, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
With the new Fleetside bed design in 1958 the Chevrolets placed a chrome emblem on the bed side with the word “Fleetside”. However, GMC referred to this new bed as a “Wideside” to not copy Chevrolet. A Wideside emblem was never created, thus the GMC bedsides are without letters. (The horizontal bedside trim is a 1959 option).
(images by Ralph Wescot)
1958 Chevrolet |
1959 GMC |
Tags: 1958, 1959, chevrolet, emblem, fleetside, gmc, old chevy truck, trim, wideside
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
One of the rarest emblems of the mid-1950′s is the 1956 Chevrolet Hydramatic front fender trim. A small percentage of ’56 Chevrolet pickups were equipped with the Hydramatic, so many enthusiasts have never seen this item.
At a glance it looks like the one used with the non-automatic and thus it is often over-looked. This is a very in demand part as even restorers adding newer modern automatic transmissions are joining in the hunt.
Tags: 1956, chevrolet, front fender, hydromatic, old chevy truck, pickup, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
GMC entered the light truck market in 1936. They shared some sheet metal with Chevrolet including the two tops of the four piece butterfly hood. However, the hood sides were not the same and certainly their trim was totally different.
Two designs of the General Motors Truck logos were used during the years of the side opening hoods. The 1936-37 hood sides held a narrow horizontal logo plate above the air vent openings as in attached photo. The right and left were the same. A more streamline design began in 1938 and was carried through 1946. Its rounded point on only the front creates a different part on the right or left.
1936 – 1937 GMC Hood Side Trim (above)
1938 – 1946 GMC Hood Side Trim (above)
Tags: 1936, chevrolet, gmc, hood, old chevy truck, side, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
The 1939-1940 Chevrolet and GMC grilles may look the same when they are seen separately, however they are not! By sharing fenders, hood top, headlight stands, etc. , the grilles overall dimensions had to be the same. To keep each marquee individual, GM made the grilles different. When the two are compared side by side, what a difference!
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1939-1940 GMC Grille
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1940 Chevrolet Grille
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Tags: 1939, 1940, chevrolet, gmc, grill, old chevy truck, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
It was during these years that General Motors began offering more style to their pickup truck line. Though most still considered a truck as a work vehicle, a growing segment of pickup buyers were being strongly influenced by trim and accessories that even rivaled many automobiles.
For the first time on GM fleetside pickups, decorative trim became available on the tailgate of their middle and upper level models. Even on the basic gate that had no trim, the stamped letters were given a contrasting color. During all of 1967-1972, the middle and more deluxe series gates carried three upper strips making one line running the width of the gate. These three strips were the only tailgate trim offered for 1967-1968. During 1969-1972, an additional horizontal strip (66 3/4′ long) was attached to the lower gate edge but only on the middle series fleetsides.
It was on the top of the line 1969-1972 pickup that Chevrolet went all out in tailgate appearance. On the 1969-70 CST and 1971-1972 Cheyenne, the lower trim strip was replaced with a very attractive wood grained horizontal band at the center. Though it covered the basic Chevrolet and GMC stamped gate letters, the band carried its own chrome die cast letters over the wood (vinyl) decal.
The following photos show both the three styles of trim on the 1967-1972 fleetsides. Note the lower narrow strip is not placed on the gate with the wood band. Tail light rings or bezels are designed to harmonize with the tailgate trim. The 1967-1968 CST light trim is different than the later design.
1969-1972 Middle Series (above)
1969-1972 Cheyenne (above)
1967-1972 Chevrolet (above)
1967-1968 Chevrolet CST (above)
Tags: 1967, 1969, 1972, chevrolet, cheyenne, fleetside, gmc, old chevy truck, pickup, tail gate, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
In recent years, the 1969-1970 Chevrolet non-metal grille insert has been sold as one item. This is not the way they came!
Each of the two years used a grille insert of a different design. The 1970 style is now the one you receive when you order either year. Thus, a pure 1969 insert is becoming very difficult to locate.
1969 (above)
1970 (above)
Tags: 1969, 1970, chevrolet, grill, old chevy truck, trim
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Thursday, February 11th, 2010
1967 GMC Super Custom
During the first year of this new body design GMC’s top of the line was referred to as the “Super Custom”. An unusual piece of chrome die cast trim was added to this model in the center of the front fender this year. (not on Chevrolet) It is identifiable in the GMC Master Parts Book as: Group# 10.095, Part# 3903748/
It is now very difficult to find and probably will never be reproduced.
NOTE: This factory drawing shows the now rare full wheel covers, on the Super Custom.
Tags: 1967, gmc, old chevy truck, super custom, trim
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