The race to see which automaker could design the first all-new postwar pickup truck was won by GM. GM introduced the Chevrolet “Advance Design” line of pickup trucks in June 1947 as a half-year model update to the previous pre-war carryover design, the AK series (GMC, Chevrolet’s corporate cousin, revealed similarly styled “New Design” trucks at the same time). Their design beat out everyone else’s to market by at least 6 months, as Ford’s “Bonus Built” line and Dodge’s “B-series” line weren’t introduced until the following year. This Advance design, available here on Craigslist in Great Bend, Kansas, for $9,500, is a 1949 model, largely unchanged from its 1947 counterpart.
The Advance Design line of trucks remained largely unchanged cosmetically from their 1947 introduction until 1953; they then received a slight facelift in 1954, which carried over for the first half of 1955 as well. Some minor fettling was done throughout its run, like moving the fuel tank from under the bed into the cab in 1949, adding door vent windows in 1951, and changing to push-button door handles in 1952. This meant that not only was Chevrolet the first to introduce their postwar truck line, but it was also the last to do a mid-series facelift, as Ford redesigned their grilles in 1951 and Dodge had followed suit in 1952. The minuscule changes from year to year make it difficult to know exactly what year Advance Design you are looking at, especially if parts from different years end up on the truck, which is not uncommon.
Based on the features shown on this truck, it is definitely a 1949, and likely an all-original one, as well. However, there is one feature that is not correct for this year of truck: the engine. Though the Chevrolet “Stovebolt Six” engine was the only engine available for the Advance design trucks, the 1949 would have had the 216 cubic inch variant under the hood, denoted by its two center valve cover fasteners and stamped reinforcing ribs across the top. This truck sports a later 235 cubic inch Stovebolt, which would have been used from 1954-1962 (not to be confused with the earlier 235 that was available in 1 ton and larger trucks starting in 1947; that 235 would still have the 216-style valve cover, whereas this one has 4 side bolts and a Chevrolet script valve cover). This obviously isn’t the original engine for the truck, but in this instance, that’s actually a positive thing; the 216 still used poured Babbitt engine bearings, and the 235 installed here uses more modern insert bearings, not to mention the increased displacement and horsepower.
This particular truck has seen a long, useful life. It’s got a healthy amount of surface rust, typical of any midwestern pickup that spent a lot of its service life outside. There is the slightest amount of cancerous rust in the cab corners, but this being a central Kansas truck means it has been spared most of the harsh winter conditions that eat most northern pickups alive from the bottom up. The truck appears mostly complete, missing only a spare tire (aftermarket wheels are fitted) and the radio delete plate (or radio) that would live in the center of the dash. The seller indicates the truck runs well, the three-speed column-mounted manual transmission shifts well, and it stops well. All in all, this is an incredibly solid driver-quality pickup that can be enjoyed as-is for years to come, or, should it behoove the next owner, Advance Design trucks are an incredibly popular donor vessel for LS swaps, S10 suspension conversions, and endless other customization options. I personally like my trucks to retain their “work clothes”, as this one does; but with a pretty steep asking price of $9,500, can this truck be rescued to drive another day?
Great write up, can’t add much. The AD, and GMC ND seem to be the standard of what most younger folks deem an “old truck”, and literally thousands of renditions, limited only by the builders imagination,,,and pocketbook, of course.
Be that as it may, the “other” trucks sold just as many, and as you zip along our highways today, all those farms, practically guaranteed these are still in a corner. It’s always great to see one that hasn’t been modified.
Again, all about application. Surely something you don’t drag a 40 ft. Airstream with, but I’ve long been toying with the idea of another old truck, just like this. Mostly for my weekly jaunt to Walmart, or downtown, nothing I’d venture out of the county with. It will do 55mph, hammer down. My main objective in all that, is a giant middle finger to the modern automobile society today. It doesn’t get any simpler than this. I have neighbors on Social Security that struggle with modern auto repair, these mechanics want $200 AN HOUR!!! Devastates their savings, if any. I don’t know man, obviously, ’49 Chevys won’t work for many that sadly have to rely on modern vehicles, they are a huge part of their lives, but I have the option, luxury if you will, to be able to shut that out of my life, and an old truck seems to tell the world just how you feel. Amen.
Nice old truck. Only change I’d make in one is getting the fuel tank out of the passenger compartment.