Chevrolet 3100
The "Advance Design" pickup — rounded fenders and a face that defines the classic American truck look.
The 3100 was the half-ton model in Chevrolet's first fully redesigned postwar truck line, known collectively as "Advance Design." Its rounded fenders, five-bar horizontal grille, and wide, low-set headlights gave it an instantly recognizable look that remains one of the most popular vintage-truck restoration and hot-rod platforms today.
History
Introduced in 1947 as Chevrolet's first all-new postwar truck design, the Advance Design line replaced the prewar-based AK Series. The 3100 (half-ton) sat below the 3600 (3/4-ton) and 3800 (1-ton) in the lineup, sharing the same basic cab and styling.
A one-piece curved windshield replaced the earlier two-piece flat design starting in 1954, and a wraparound rear window became optional the same year — both changes are commonly used to help date a truck when records are incomplete. Production continued through 1955's "first series" before the all-new Task Force generation replaced it.
Notable Versions
1954–55 One-Piece Windshield
The final "first series" trucks with the curved one-piece windshield and optional wraparound rear glass — the most refined and often most desirable Advance Design years.
5-Window Cab
A rear-quarter-window cab option offering better visibility, more desirable to collectors than the standard 3-window cab.
What to Look for When Buying
Key inspection points from experienced collectors.
Wood bed floors need close inspection
Original bed floors were wood strips over steel crossmembers; rot and rusted-through crossmembers underneath are common and not always visible from above.
Cab corners, rockers, and floor pans rust extensively
These trucks are 70+ years old and were rarely garaged as work vehicles — budget for sheet metal work on most unrestored examples.
Many are LS-swapped or otherwise modified
The 3100 is a hugely popular resto-mod platform; confirm whether you're buying an original driveline or a modernized build, since this significantly affects value and market.
Verify the cab and bed are numbers-correct for the year
Cabs, beds, and grilles were shared and swapped across the 1947–55 run — a mixed-year truck is common and not necessarily a problem, but affects originality-focused value.
Quick Specs
- Engine
- 216.5 cu in "Thriftmaster" I6 (later 235 cu in "Loadmaster" I6)
- Horsepower
- 90–92 hp
- Wheelbase
- 116 in
- Payload
- ~1,000 lbs (half-ton rating)
- Transmission
- 3-spd or 4-spd manual (column or floor shift)
- Brakes
- Hydraulic drum, 4-wheel
Market Price Guide
Approximate USA asking prices
Shop Parts
Find Chevrolet 3100 parts on eBay
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Bring These to Your Inspection
A few inexpensive tools that catch what a walk-around alone won't
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Compression Tester Kit
Checks cylinder compression to catch worn rings or valve issues before you buy.
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OBD2 Code Reader
Reads check-engine codes the seller may not have mentioned — plug in before you even pop the hood.
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Magnetic Paint Thickness Tester
A magnet pulls weaker over filler/bondo than bare metal — a quick way to spot hidden bodywork.
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Telescoping Inspection Mirror & Light Set
See up into wheel wells and behind components without crawling underneath.
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Chevrolet 3100 For Sale
17 listings currently available
