1951 Chevrolet Model 3100

Sold for $33,000 at 2012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla.
In the Post-War era, civilian vehicle production resumed and light-duty trucks were no exception. Dodge and Ford rolled out new designs for 1948, and Studebaker followed a year later. General Motors had beaten them all to market with the May 1947 release of its new designs. The GMC and its Chevrolet sibling featured smooth styling, 'Unisteel Battleship' construction, and improved visibility. The trucks had three inches more shoulder space, had larger cabs that were eight inches wider, and measured a foot longer than before.

This 'five window' truck has been given a complete body-off-frame restoration. The all-steel body is finished in factory-correct Seacrest Green with varnished wooden cargo bed lining. Other features include chrome-plated front and rear bumpers, dual front bumper guards, a fully-chromed grille, dual chrome mirrors, and 16-inch body-color wheels with white striping, chrome trim rings and hubcaps, shod with period style Firestone bias-ply blackwall tires.

The 235 cubic-inch overhead valve six-cylinder engine has a single-barrel carburetor and 92 horsepower. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and a three-speed manual transmission. The electrical system has been upgraded to 12 volts, a new wiring harness was installed, and a new aluminized exhaust system and a recent tune-up round out the mechanicals.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2012

The Chevrolet 3100 Pickup, or the Advance Design series, was General Motors' first major redesign following World War II. Delivering a design that was rougher and tougher and more durable than previous designs, the 3100 was much more updated. Launched in June of 1947, these trucks continued in production until March 1955. The Task Force Series trucks replaced the Advance Design model. From 1947 through 1955 Chevrolet trucks were ranked number one in sales in the U.S. The 3100 Pickup came in three sizes, the half, three-quarter, and full ton capacities in both long and short wheelbases.

The first year it arrived, the 3100 pickup had hood side emblems that read 'Chevrolet' with 'Thriftmaster' or 'Loadmaster' under it. There weren't any vent windows in the doors and the gas tank filler neck was on the passenger side of the truck bed. For 1948 the manual transmission shifter was relocated to a mounted column rather than the floor. The following year the gas tank was moved to a mounted upright area behind the seat inside the cab, filler neck aft of passenger door handle. Another big update for this year were the new designations of 3100 on ½ ton, 3600 on ¾ tons and 3800 on 1 ton which designated cargo capacity and took the place of the 'Thriftmaster' or 'Loadmaster' hood side emblems.

In 1950 the 3100 Pickup received telescopic shock absorbers, which replaced the previous lever-action type. 1950 would be the final year for the driver's side cowl vent, and the handle was no longer the maroon knob but flat steel. New serial number codes this year were HP ½ top, HR ¾ ton, and HS 1 ton. The following year vent windows were finally added to the doors. Halfway through 1951, the 9-board bed was replaced with eight boards per bed. This would be the final year for chrome window handle knobs and wiper knobs. The 80 MPH speedometer would also be removed. For 1951 the new serial number codes were JP ½ ton, JR ¾ ton and JS 1 ton.

1954 would be the year for big design updates for the 3100 pickup. No longer using a center vertical dividing strip, the windshield was now a curved one-piece glass shield. Interior changes included an updated dashboard and steering wheel. On the outside, the taillights were made round rather than rectangular and the cargo bed rails, which had been angled, were now horizontal. Dubbed a 'bull nose' grille, the 3100 grille went from five horizontal slats to crossbar design like modern Dodge truck grills. Parking lights were incorporated into the grille and the grille could be ordered in chrome for an additional price, an option that was rarely ordered. For the first time Hydramatic automatic transmission was now available as an added option and torque tub drive still remained. Powering the 3100 was the new 235 in³ straight-6 engine with higher compression, insert bearings, and high-pressure lubrication. The engine had first been introduced on Powerglide-equipped passenger cars in 1953. Serial number codes remained the same this year.

The only changes in 1955 were updated hood-side emblems and the enclosed torque tube replaced with a modern open driveshaft. Serial number continued the same as before.

Sources:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1954-chevrolet-series-3100-half-ton-pickups.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Advance_Design

By Jessica Donaldson