When Chevrolet came out with the Advanced Design pickup trucks in the second half of 1947, nobody had any idea that this truck would hang out until the first half of 1955 with relatively few changes.  Yet this classically beautiful design also accomplished something quite remarkable in the marketplace.  These trucks, built in half, three-quarter, and full-ton capacities, were also the best-selling trucks from 1947 through 1955.  Why?  Chevrolet came to the table with a good-looking, thoughtfully laid out truck with a solid, if uninspiring, drivetrain delivered at a competitive price.  Even today, thousands of Advanced Design trucks are still running around like this 1947 Chevrolet 3100 pickup for sale in Staunton, Illinois.

The truck you see here is a 3100, which was the designation for a half-ton Advance Design truck.  3600 was the designation for three-quarter-ton trucks, and 3800 was for one-ton trucks.  This one is also a five-window.  While we are used to large expanses of glass in our vehicles today, this was not always the case.  Forming glass in anything other than flat shapes consistently for manufacturing was an art still in its infancy in 1947.  The technology was there to make a smaller piece of curved glass, which is what we see in the upper corners of the cab above.  Having the additional two pieces of curved glass in that area was a big improvement for safety and simple peace of mind when turning or merging.

This 3100 has all the appearances of fulfilling the requirements to be a “good old truck.”  Painted in what the seller calls “patina green” with a black vinyl interior, it is hard to determine if this truck has been repainted or if this is the original finish.  There are plenty of nicks, scratches, and chips that reveal the primer underneath.  The bumpers, which may have been chrome plated at one time, are finished in a matte silver.  The new owner would also have to replace the wood in the bed and the metal trim that holds it in.  We are told that the previous owner of this truck had it in their possession for 40 years and that it is a barn find.

We can also see that the wheels have been repainted and it appears that the truck rides on a fresh set of tires.  We are told that it runs and drives.  However, the seller does allude to a bit more work being needed to make sure everything is working properly due to its barn-find status.  Parts shouldn’t be a problem due to the strong aftermarket support that these trucks enjoy and the simple drivetrain.

While we sadly don’t get a look under the hood, the dealership that is selling the car has provided an exhaustive number of pictures of the body and undercarriage in the ad.  If the truck is still equipped with the factory engine, it should be a 216 cubic inch Thrift Master inline six-cylinder engine putting out 90 horsepower.  The transmission is also likely to be a three-speed manual, but a four-speed was optional.  These “Stovebolt Six” engines were first introduced in 1932 and used in Chevrolets in the United States until 1962.  Then, production was shifted to Brazil for use down there until 1979.  One thing to remember is that these engines did not get insert bearings and full-pressure oiling systems until 1954.  If you are serious about this truck you might want to find out if the block has been changed to a later one.

Inside the truck looks to be a bit beaten down.  The thick vinyl seat cover has been polished by many a posterior slide yet is still free from tears.  The dash has some surface rust, and the radio is missing, as is one door panel.  We do see a rubber mat in the truck.  The story was that GM was working hard to make these vehicles more user-friendly when they were redesigned.  There was more sound insulation for the cab and the seat, and its back was designed to slide forward together at a slight incline.  This was to assist shorter drivers in both moving forward and up enough to see over the dash.  It was little things like this that sold a lot of trucks for GM.

Overall, this looks to be a solid truck that, with a little work, could still be up to day-to-day tasks in a small-town environment.  It is a bit rough around the edges, but this isn’t the kind of truck you want to fully restore.  Just fix and ride and repeat the cycle again and again.

If you are interested, this 1947 Chevrolet 3100 pickup is for sale on eBay in Staunton, Illinois.  The current bid on it is $7,100 with one day to go.  As of now, it has not hit the reserve price.