Chevrolet 3100 1951
In the Post-War era, civilian vehicle production resumed and light-duty trucks were no exception. Dodge and Ford rolled out new designs for 1948, and Studebaker followed a year later. General Motors had beaten them all to market with the May 1947 release of its new designs. The GMC and its Chevrolet sibling featured smooth styling, 'Unisteel Battleship' construction, and improved visibility. The trucks had three inches more shoulder space, had larger cabs that were eight inches wider, and measured a foot longer than before.
This 'five window' truck has been given a complete body-off-frame restoration. The all-steel body is finished in factory-correct Seacrest Green with varnished wooden cargo bed lining. Other features include chrome-plated front and rear bumpers, dual front bumper guards, a fully-chromed grille, dual chrome mirrors, and 16-inch body-color wheels with white striping, chrome trim rings and hubcaps, shod with period style Firestone bias-ply blackwall tires. The 235 cubic-inch overhead valve six-cylinder engine has a single-barrel carburetor and 92 horsepower. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and a three-speed manual transmission. The electrical system has been upgraded to 12 volts, a new wiring harness was installed, and a new aluminized exhaust system and a recent tune-up round out the mechanicals.
The Chevrolet 3100 Pickup, or the Advance Design series, was General Motors' first major redesign following World War II. Delivering a design that was rougher and tougher and more durable than previous designs, the 3100 was much more updated. Launched in June of 1947, these trucks continued in production until March 1955. The Task Force Series trucks replaced the Advance Design model. From 1947 through 1955 Chevrolet trucks were ranked number one in sales in the U.S. The 3100 Pickup came in three sizes, the half, three-quarter, and full ton capacities in both long and short wheelbases.
The first year it arrived, the 3100 pickup had hood side emblems that read 'Chevrolet' with 'Thriftmaster' or 'Loadmaster' under it. There weren't any vent windows in the doors and the gas tank filler neck was on the passenger side of the truck bed. For 1948 the manual transmission shifter was relocated to a mounted column rather than the floor. The following year the gas tank was moved to a mounted upright area behind the seat inside the cab, filler neck aft of passenger door handle. Another big update for this year were the new designations of 3100 on ton, 3600 on tons and 3800 on 1 ton which designated cargo capacity and took the place of the 'Thriftmaster' or 'Loadmaster' hood side emblems.
In 1950 the 3100 Pickup received telescopic shock absorbers, which replaced the previous lever-action type. 1950 would be the final year for the driver's side cowl vent, and the handle was no longer the maroon knob but flat steel. New serial number codes this year were HP top, HR ton, and HS 1 ton. The following year vent windows were finally added to the doors. Halfway through 1951, the 9-board bed was replaced with eight boards per bed. This would be the final year for chrome window handle knobs and wiper knobs. The 80 MPH speedometer would also be removed. For 1951 the new serial number codes were JP ton, JR ton and JS 1 ton.
For 1952 the outer door handles became the push button type instead of the turn-down style previously. The earlier 80 mph speedometer was replaced with a 90 mph one. Other changes this year included new dashboard trim instead of chrome and maroon wiper and window knobs. Chevrolet dropped the 3100-6400 designations on the hoods and new serial number codes were KP ton, KR ton, & KS 1 ton. 1953 would be the year the hood side emblems read only '3100' '3600', '3800', '4400', or '6400' in large prints. It was also the final year for the 216 in inline-six engine and wood blocks as bed supports. The door post ID plate was now blue with silver letters instead of black with silver letters. The new serial number codes for 1953 were H ton, J ton, & L 1 ton.
1954 would be the year for big design updates for the 3100 pickup. No longer using a center vertical dividing strip, the windshield was now a curved one-piece glass shield. Interior changes included an updated dashboard and steering wheel. On the outside, the taillights were made round rather than rectangular and the cargo bed rails, which had been angled, were now horizontal. Dubbed a 'bull nose' grille, the 3100 grille went from five horizontal slats to crossbar design like modern Dodge truck grills. Parking lights were incorporated into the grille and the grille could be ordered in chrome for an additional price, an option that was rarely ordered. For the first time Hydramatic automatic transmission was now available as an added option and torque tub drive still remained. Powering the 3100 was the new 235 in straight-6 engine with higher compression, insert bearings, and high-pressure lubrication. The engine had first been introduced on Powerglide-equipped passenger cars in 1953. Serial number codes remained the same this year.
The only changes in 1955 were updated hood-side emblems and the enclosed torque tube replaced with a modern open driveshaft. Serial number continued the same as before.
The Chevy 3100 Series, first made available in 1947, is one of the most iconic vehicles designs in history and is still seen on screen today. This Chevrolet model was the top-selling truck in the United States until it was discontinued in 1955. It was one of the first vehicles to be released under the Advance Design style launched after World War II, known for its rounder, sleeker look than preceding trucks. The 3100 Series was a half-ton truck and underwent several refreshes over its production, including the movement of the gasoline tank from the passenger side of the bed to upright, the addition of vent windows, a change in door handles, and moving the transmission shifter from the floor to the steering column. The 3100 Series offered a full three-person seat as well as a radio located in the dashboard, with a 3.5L I-6 engine and 170 lb-ft torque. The 3100 series can still be seen on the road today as a desirable and well-respected vintage truck.
The closest to the modern truck lines, the C/K 1500 series was manufactured from 1960 until the 2002 model year. The truck was designed in the Extended Cab style, and its fourth generation bears the closest resemblance to current trucks on the market. Unlike the 3100 series, the C/K 1500 was squarer and was initially designed as full-size pickups and chassis cabs for more effective towing and trailering. Its interior and exterior design were influential for generations to come as the first Chevrolet truck that was engineered to respond to the aerodynamics of the road, with a more modern appearance for the dashboard buttons to control the locks and windows. Similarly to current vehicles, the C/K came in half-ton, three-quarters, and one-ton models in later generations. The C/K series was discontinued in 2000 and was replaced by two new model lines, the GMT800 for the GM brand and the Chevrolet Silverado, which is still manufactured today.
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