From Durant's holding company to the Action Line and the squarebodies — a century of GM pickups, told era by era. Find your truck's chapter, then find its parts.
William C. Durant founds GM as a holding company for Buick. A year later GM buys the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company — the seed of the General Motors Truck Company — and by 1912 the "GMC Truck" marque debuts at the New York International Auto Show.
Race driver Louis Chevrolet co-founds the Chevrolet Motor Car Company with Durant in Detroit. The bowtie emblem lands in 1914 — wallpaper from a French hotel, or a stylized Swiss cross in tribute to Louis's parents, depending on who you ask.
Launched June 28, 1947 and sold with minor changes into 1955 — the 3100 half-ton, 3600 three-quarter, 3800 one-ton, Thriftmaster and Loadmaster. The truck that put America back to work.
Twelve-volt electrics, the first 265ci V8, and fleetside beds in 6', 7' and 8' lengths. Apache, Cameo, Viking and Spartan — the era styling caught up with the horsepower.
A drop-center ladder frame and independent front suspension gave it an almost car-like ride. Fleetside or Stepside, C10 through C30 — "C" for two-wheel drive, "K" for four.
The "Action Line" brought a cleaner, modern look and coil-spring trailing-arm rear suspension on most 10 and 20 series — a ride no work truck had earned before. Today it's the most restored pickup on earth, and the heart of what we stock.
1967–72 parts: ordering opens soon →
All-new for '73: double-wall Fleetside beds, wraparound tail lamps, Scottsdale and Custom Deluxe trims, and a 1981 aero facelift born of the energy crisis. Officially "Rounded-Line" — but everyone calls them squarebodies. Crew Cabs, Blazers, Jimmys and Suburbans ran clear to 1991.
1973–87 parts: ordering opens soon →
Introduced April 1987: eight body configurations, Cheyenne to Silverado trim, and independent front suspension across the board. The last of the C/K line — and the next wave of collectible.
Blazer, Jimmy & Suburban parts through 1991: coming soon →Material on this page is presented solely for reference and educational purposes. "Chevrolet," the bowtie logo, and "GMC" are registered trademarks of General Motors. Southern Kentucky Classics Inc is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with General Motors. Use of such material falls under Fair Use provisions of intellectual property law.
Vehicle photography via Wikimedia Commons contributors including Chevy1948, Writegeist, Rastaman3000, Bull-Doser, IFCAR, Corporal clegg48, Morven, Karrmann and Angilas89. Full attribution list available on request.