The 1955 Chevrolet pickups were split into two distinctly different trucks with different designs. This 1955 Chevrolet 3100 is from the previous Advance Design series of trucks, dating back to 1947, whereas the second half of 1955 saw the arrival of Task Force trucks. The seller has this one listed here on eBay and it’s located in Elmira, New York. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $9,600.
Selling both trucks in a single model year was a gutsy move for Chevrolet. It’s been done before, of course, but a total redesign of a vehicle usually doesn’t happen for a single model year, but that’s what occurred with the Advance Design and Task Force trucks from Chevy in 1955. Can you think of another dramatic design change and two different-looking vehicles being offered in the same model year?
The Advance Design trucks were made from 1947 through the first half of 1955 and they were the first new pickups from Chevy after WWII. This last-year model is known as the First Series, although First Half may have been a better name in my opinion. The second half of 1955 brought the very cool and much more modern-looking Task Force design.
The seller says that they bought this truck in 2012 after it had been sitting in a garage for 16 years. They drove it until 2018 and it’s been sitting ever since. They say that it has “no rust” but some rust is highlighted in one of the photos, so I’m guessing they mean very little rust or no structural rust? Overall, this truck indeed looks rock solid and very, very nice, even underneath. The seat needs some help but that’s easy. The rest of the interior looks as nice as the exterior does, and the box/bed also shows very well.
Despite the checked paint on the inner fender areas, the engine compartment gives the appearance of a truck that has been restored at some point in its history, because it has been. The previous owner is said to have restored it and it’s held up pretty well over the last decade or two. The engine is Chevrolet’s 235-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 90 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. It sends that power through a three-speed manual to the rear wheels. This one needs some work due to sitting for a while, but what a fun project to goof around with on weekends. If you had to choose just one Chevy pickup from 1955, would it be an Advance Design like this one or the newer style Task Force?
Fix the seat, get the glass fuel filter away from the exhaust manifold, get in it and drive it. Nice truck!
An engineer friend has one exactly like this now-kinda.He found a desert rat, took it home and took 3 (4?) years renovating it, painting it exactly as this one. However, asit had no engine/transmission (removed to run the irrigation well at the ranch-and still in use 57 year later) he installed the engine he had taken from his 2005 V8 Trailblazer and mated to a 5 speed manual box via homebuilt tech…
The one off cab actually went to Brazil and ran until at least 1960. I have pictures showing that same basic cab with a much different doghouse on it. I’d love to have one because they look very unique. I’ve seen some offered in the US before. Nice truck!
The two models, Advanced Design and Task Force, were, IIRC, not made at the same time. It was a mid-year changeover – understandable, as Chevrolet had its hands full with the new Tri-Fives, the Corvette, Corvair planning.
Trucks back then were a low-volume item, and with no Federal regulations specifying model-year requirements, they could change the line over, whenever they felt like it.
There were surely a lot of Advanced Design trucks in the pipeline – dealers’ lots, fleet-sales channels, aftermarket body builders…as the Task Force trucks were rolled out.
Plymouth of the year 1949 consisted of 2 very distinct designs. Early 49s are basically 48s.
I bet a few of the early 55 buyers were p/o’d when the new style came out.
Few individual buyers owned them; and those who did, mostly didn’t care about style.
The Advanced Design had a lot going for it. Easier fender replacement, for one. No dogleg on the door at the A-post, for another.
If you cared about style, you bought a car – even if it was your second set of wheels.
I like them both but if I have to choose one it would be the Task Force 1955-57 models.
In 1999 you could buy buy a 99 classic or all new 99 GMC or Chevy pickup
2004 Ford F 150. You get the heritage edition (looked like a 2003 and earlier) or you could get the new body style (2004 to 2008).
That’s because, first, Ford had multiple plants making pickups, by that time
AND
everyone at Ford was unsure how the Aero trucks would be accepted.
Cost, because of at least one plant continuing the old product, would have been minimal – and even use up parts inventory.
Back in these years, I don’t think Chevrolet had more than one North American plant making pickups. I know Wikipedia has a long list, but pickups were NOT popular vehicles back then. I cannot find production figures, but we all remember what we saw on the roads as kids. Not like today when it’s the most-common vehicle layout.
I love the five window style so I have to go with the Advanced Design.
Auction update: this one sold for $16,500.
This truck is a 54 not a 55 . 55 was a body style change I own a 54 and in was the same truck
Steve