Selling Tonka Trucks? Tonka Truck Identification Guide

I have attempted to note enough major differences so that you can determine the age of your truck. There are other
differences that are very minor but I have not listed them because there are other major differences that are definitive.

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Close the window with the picture to return to this page.

**CAB STYLE:** CABOVER (1949-1952)
	1949 - 1952	1953
Hub Caps	None	None
Tires	Plain*	Plain
Bumper	Smooth	Smooth
Grill	Simulated (3 lines of equal length)	Simluated (1 Short, 2 Long)
Headlights	None	None
Hood	None	None
Glass	None	None
Trailer Hitch	None	None
Decal
Decal Wording	Tonka Toys (script) Mound Metalcraft Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound Metalcraft Mound, Minn
Other	No Distinguishable Difference among 1949, 50, 51 & 52 * No Tonka ID on tires 49-52

**CAB STYLE:** ROUND FENDER (1954-1957)
	1954 - 1955	1956	1957
Hub Caps	5 Round Holes	5 Round Holes	5 Round Holes
Tires	Plain	Plain	Plain
Bumper	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth
Grill	One Piece With Bumper	Seperate Grill	Seperate Grill
Headlights	2 Large, Smooth, Metal	2 Large, Smooth, Plastic	2 Large, Smooth, Plastic
Hood	1 Ridge	1 Ridge	1 Ridge, Hood Scoop
Glass	None	None	None
Trailer Hitch	None	Trailer Toungue fits in slot under bed.	Same as 1956.
Decal Colors
Decal Wording	Tonka Toys (script) Mound Metalcraft Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn
Other	The bottom of the 54 doors are flat and on the 55s, there is a small " flip-up."		Front Roof supports are straight up & down

**CAB STYLE:** SQUARE FENDER (1958-1961)
	1958	1959	1960	1961
Hub Caps	5 Round Holes	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc
Tires	Plain	Plain or White Wall	Plain or White Wall	Plain or White Wall
Bumper	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth	Ridges with embossed 'T'
Grill	Seperate Grill with embossed 'T'	Seperate Grill with embossed 'T'	Seperate Grill with embossed 'T'	Seperate Grill
Headlights	4 Small, Smooth, Plastic	4 Small, Smooth, Plastic	4 Small, Smooth, Plastic	4 Small, Smooth, Plastic
Hood	4 Equal Ridges	4 Equal Ridges	3 Ridges, thin, thick, thin	3 Ridges, thin, thick, thin
Glass	Windshield only	Windshield only	Windshield only	Windshield only
Trailer Hitch	Same as 1956.	Same as 1956.	Mushroom shaped tab on truck fits through hole in trailer toungue.	Same as 1960
Decal
Decal Wording	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (script) Mound, Minn
Other	Last year for tailgate chains.			Dual-dash on 1961 cabs

**CAB STYLE:** GENERIC SQUARE FENDER (1962-1966)
	1962	1963 - 1964	1965 - 1966
Hub Caps	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc	5 Triangle Holes or Solid Disc
Tires	Plain or White Wall	Plain or White Wall	Plain or White Wall
Bumper	Ridges	Ridges	Smooth
Grill	One Piece with bumper with embossed 'Tonka'	One Piece with bumper with embossed 'Tonka'	One Piece with bumper with embossed 'Tonka'
Headlights	4 Small, Smooth, Plastic	4 Small, Faceted, Plastic	2 Large, Faceted, Plastic
Hood	2 Ridges (recessed in the middle)	2 Ridges (recessed in the middle)	2 Ridges (recessed in the middle)
Glass	Windshield only	Windshield only	Windshield and Side and Rear Windows
Trailer Hitch	Same as 1960	Same as 1960	Same as 1960
Decal
Decal Wording	Tonka (Block style) Mound, Minn	Tonka (Block style) Mound, Minn	Tonka Toys (Block style) Mound, Minn

Do you have Tonka Toys to sell? Please Contact me at ray@tonkatoys.com