These are some of the differences in Chevy trucks from year to year.

                                    1947
1.) Gas tank under bed & fills through hole in passenger bed side.
2.) 9 board wood bed.
3.) wiper motor mounts under dash.
4.) 3 speed with floor shift.
5.) 2 piece, non-movable windshield.
6.) Windlace around door has screw-on metal retainer.
7.) Headliner center bow is screwed to roof cab.
8.) One-piece door glass, no vent.
9.) Hood side emblem says "Chevrolet" & "Thriftmaster".
10.) Lever action shock absorbers.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= EP, 3/4ton= ER, 1ton= ES

                                    1948
1.) Same as 1947 except:
2.) Three speed with column shifter.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= FP, 3/4ton= FR, 1ton= FS.

                            1949 First Half Year
1.) Same as 1948 except:
2.) Gas tank inside Cab behind seat.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= GP, 3/4ton= GR, 1ton= GS.

                           1949 Second Half Year
1.) Windlace fits in metal track around door opening.
2.) Headliner center bow is not screwed to Cab Roof.
3.) Hood side emblem says "CHEVROLET" only.
4.) Series emblem on side of hood - 3100, 3600, 3800.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= GP, 3/4ton= GR, 1ton= GS

                                    1950
1.) Tubular type Shock Absorbers.
2.) Driver's side cowl vent is flat steel and not a maroon knob.
3.) Last year for driver's side cowl vent.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= HP, 3/4ton= HR, 1ton= HS

                                    1951
1.) First year for vent windows.
2.) Last year for outside pull-down door handles.
3.) Mid-year change from 9 to 8 board wood bed.
4.) Last year for 80mph speedometer.
5.) Last year for chrome window handle knobs and chrome wiper knobs.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= JP, 3/4ton= JR, 1ton= JS

                                    1952
1.) First year for exterior door handles.
2.) First year for 90mph speedometer.
3.) Horiz. trim above & below radio speaker grill & glove box are painted steel, not stainless steel.
4.) Hood side emblem says "CHEVROLET and 3100, 3600, 3800".
5.) Midyear the above numbers are dropped.
6.) Inside window handle and wiper knobs are maroon.
7.) Last year for Black & Silver door post ID plate.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= KP, 3/4ton= KR, 1ton= KS

                                    1953
1.) Last year for BABBIT BEARING engine.
2.) Hood side emblem changed to "3100, 3600, 3800" without "CHEVROLET".
3.) Door Post ID plate is BLUE & SILVER instead of BLACK & SILVER.
4.) Last year for wood blocks under bed.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= H, 3/4ton= J, 1ton= L

                                    1954
1.) One-piece curved windshield.
2.) New "BULL-NOSE" grill.
3.) Top of bed sides are flat not angled anymore.
4.) First year for BEARING 235cu.in. engine.
5.) First year for round taillights.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= H, 3/4ton= J, 1ton= L

                                 1955 First Series
1.) First year for open drive shaft.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton= H, 3/4ton= J, 1ton= L

                                1955 Second Series
1.) Complete Redesign "Task Force Era".
2.) Grill has 3 horiz. & 4 vert. bars.
3.) Single headlight in front fender.
4.) One-piece fender side emblem mounted
 below horiz. line on fender.
5.) Front hood emblem is longer at top than at bottom.
6.) Step between Cab and rear fender.
7.) First year for "CAMEO".
8.) First year for optional V-8, 265 cu.in., engine.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton shortbed= H2, 1/2ton longbed= M2,
 3/4ton= J2, 1ton= L2

                                   1956
1.) Fender emblem 2-piece mounted above horiz. line on fender.
2.) Front hood emblem is longer at bottom  than at top.
3.) "V" on front hood emblem if V8 engine.
 Serial #'s: 1/2ton shortbed= 3A, 1/2ton longbed= 3B,
 3/4ton= 3E, 1ton= 3G

                                   1957
1.) Fender emblem one-piece mounted above horiz. line on fender.
2.) Front hood emblem paint scheme reversed from 1956.
3.) Hood has two raised humps on top running from front to back.
4.) Grill has inner & outer oval ring separated by 8 teeth,
 4 on top & 4 on bottom.
5.) First year for "283 cu.in. V8" .
 Serial #'s: Same as 1956

                                   1958
1.) First year for dual headlights.
2.) One-piece grill with parking lights mounted  in grill ends.
3.) Last year for "CAMEO" pickup (mid-year).
4.) First year for "FLEETSIDE" bed.
5.) Fender emblems have "CHEVROLET" in center with  "APACHE" on top rear of emblem.
6.) Series designations changed to 31, 32, 36, 38.
7.) Front hood emblem is 31" long with bowtie. Vert. design in background.
 Serial #'s: Same as 1956

                                   1959
1.) Fender emblems have "CHEVROLET" and "APACHE"  in center of emblem.
 Serial #'s: Same as 1956