What is the name of the 1947–1955 truck style?
The 1947–1955 Chevrolet and GMC light- and medium-duty pickups are known as the “Advance-Design” series. Produced from mid-1947 through early 1955 (the 1955 First Series), these postwar trucks marked General Motors’ first all-new redesign after World War II, preceding the 1955 “Task Force” Second Series that followed later that year.
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What “Advance-Design” refers to
Advance-Design was General Motors’ marketing name for its postwar Chevrolet and GMC trucks, introduced to signal a comprehensive leap in size, comfort, and styling. Compared with prewar models, these trucks offered a larger cab, improved driver ergonomics, better visibility, and more modern, integrated body lines. The design quickly became a staple of American roads and remains one of the most recognizable classic pickup silhouettes.
Production timeline and scope
Advance-Design trucks debuted in May 1947 and ran through the 1955 First Series, which ended in March 1955. In the spring of 1955, GM launched the 1955 Second Series under the new “Task Force” banner. While both Chevrolet and GMC wore the Advance-Design styling, each brand used distinct grilles, badging, and engine offerings, with Chevrolet typically using 216/235 inline-sixes and GMC offering its own inline-sixes of different displacements.
How to identify an Advance-Design truck
Collectors and enthusiasts often rely on several visual and mechanical cues to identify an Advance-Design model and to distinguish specific years within the series. The following points highlight common identifiers found on these trucks.
- Cab and glass: 1947–1953 models feature a two-piece split windshield; 1954–1955 First Series move to a one-piece curved windshield.
- Grille design: Early years use multi-horizontal-bar grilles; 1954–1955 First Series feature a more massive one-piece “bullnose” style grille with a broader center bar.
- Door hardware and vents: Early models have turn-down exterior door handles and no vent windows; later trucks add vent windows and, by the early 1950s, push-button exterior handles (timing varies by brand and trim).
- Cab options: The “Deluxe” or “5-window” cab with corner rear windows was available, improving visibility and now highly prized by collectors.
- Fuel filler and tank: The fuel filler typically emerges on the passenger-side cab corner, feeding an in-cab tank behind the seat.
- Driveline and engines: Chevrolet moved from the 216-ci babbitt-bearing engine in early years to the 235-ci with full-pressure lubrication by 1954; open driveshafts replaced torque-tube setups on most light-duty models by 1954.
- Badging and series codes: Chevy models are commonly denoted 3100 (1/2-ton), 3600 (3/4-ton), and 3800 (1-ton), with year-specific emblem styles.
Taken together, these features help pinpoint both the Advance-Design era and, with closer inspection, the specific model year and configuration.
Year-by-year highlights
While the overall shape remained consistent, GM introduced incremental changes throughout the Advance-Design run. The highlights below outline key shifts enthusiasts commonly use when evaluating originality and correctness.
- 1947 (mid-year launch): All-new postwar design with a larger cab, split windshield, and integrated fenders; new 3100/3600/3800 series naming in Chevrolet.
- 1948–1950: Running refinements to trim, interior details, and minor mechanical updates; core styling remains the same as 1947.
- 1951–1952: Addition of door vent windows and the shift to push-button exterior door handles on many models; incremental interior and trim revisions.
- 1953: Final year for the two-piece windshield on Chevrolet/GMC Advance-Design trucks; subtle grille and emblem updates.
- 1954: Significant refresh with a one-piece windshield, a redesigned grille, updated dash and interior, and the widespread adoption of the 235-ci full-pressure engine (Chevrolet) and an open driveshaft on most light-duty models.
- 1955 First Series: Largely a continuation of 1954 styling and mechanicals, ending in March 1955, before the midyear switchover to the new “Task Force” Second Series.
These changes help date trucks within the series and explain why 1954 and 1955 First Series examples often command particular attention among restorers.
Because GM and other automakers used a variety of period marketing names, the Advance-Design label is sometimes confused with other eras. The following clarifications can help keep terms straight.
- Task Force (Chevrolet/GMC): 1955 Second Series through 1959; a distinct, later design with wraparound windshields on some models and more pronounced fins and chrome.
- Art Deco (Chevrolet/GMC): Informal name for 1941–1946 GM trucks with prewar styling; predates Advance-Design.
- Bonus-Built (Ford): 1948–1952 Ford trucks; occasionally mistaken as a cross-brand term but specific to Ford.
- Pilot-House (Dodge): 1948–1953 Dodge trucks; again, a separate brand identity from GM’s Advance-Design.
Using the correct terminology not only clarifies conversations among enthusiasts but also helps when sourcing parts, documentation, and valuation information.
Legacy and market perspective
Advance-Design trucks blend classic styling with practical usability, making them popular choices for both stock restorations and tasteful restomod builds. Their broad parts support, straightforward mechanicals, and iconic presence keep values robust, with originality, body style (notably 5-window cabs), and late-series features (like the 1954 updates) often driving premiums.
Why it still matters
As symbols of America’s postwar boom, Advance-Design trucks encapsulate a functional yet stylish approach to work vehicles. Their enduring popularity reflects not just nostalgia but also the timeless appeal of clean design and durable engineering.
Summary
The 1947–1955 GM truck style is called “Advance-Design.” Built from mid-1947 through the 1955 First Series, it introduced GM’s first postwar pickup redesign and set the stage for the later “Task Force” models. Hallmarks include the split (later one-piece) windshield, wider cabs, distinctive grilles, and robust inline-six power, making Advance-Design one of the most beloved and recognizable classic truck families.
What is the name of the 47-’55 truck style?
The new post war Chevy truck that came to market in 1947 was called the Advance Design and was a top-selling truck.
What is a 1955 Chevy truck called?
The Chevrolet Task Force (or in some cases, Task-Force) is a light-duty (3100-short bed & 3200-long bed) and medium-duty (3600) truck series by Chevrolet introduced in 1955, its first major redesign since 1947.
What was a 1954 Chevy truck called?
1954 Chevrolet Series 3100 Half-Ton
1954 Chevrolet Series 3100 Half-Ton Pickups. The design cycle of the 1954 Chevrolet Series 3100 half-ton pickups spanned less than two years, making the trucks relatively rare today.
What was the name of the 1947 Chevy truck?
Chevrolet Advance Design
| Chevrolet Advance-Design Series | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Chevrolet (General Motors) |
| Also called | Chevrolet 3100 (1⁄2-ton) Chevrolet 3600 ( 3⁄4-ton) Chevrolet 3800 (1-ton) Chevrolet Loadmaster Chevrolet Thriftmaster GMC New Design |
| Production | 1947–1955 |
