Late 1947

• First production date: Saturday June 28, 1947.
• GM introduced the new "Advanced Design" (AD) truck.
• Also referred to as the 1947 Second Series.
• Bed has 9 wood boards.
• Vacuum windshield wiper motor has been mounted under the dash.
• Gas tank was mounted under the bed & fills through a hole in the passenger bed side.
• 3-speed/4-speed non-synchromesh transmission was floor shift for all models.
• Door handles are turn down type.
• Three speed transmission uses floor shift.
• Windshield was a two piece, non-movable type.
• Windlace around door opening was held in place with a screw-on metal retainer.
• Headliner center bow was screwed into cab roof.
• One piece door glass, no vent windows in door.
• Hood side emblem says "CHEVROLET" & "THRIFTMASTER".
• Shock absorbers where lever-action type.
• Radio was available an in-dash option.
• Cab corner windows where introduced.
• Fresh air heater/defroster introduced.
• Hand-operated emergency brake handle was on the right-hand side of the floor shifter.
• Serial numbers:
  EP = 1/2 ton
  ER = 3/4 ton
  ES = l ton

1948

• Synchromesh transmission was introduced.
• 3-speed transmission uses column shift linkage.
• Emergency brake was foot-operated & had been moved to the left side of steering column.
• Both 1947 & 1948 models had red guage needles.
• Serial numbers:
  FP = 1/2 ton
  FR = 3/4 ton
  FS = 1 ton

Early 1949

• Gas tank has been relocated inside cab, behind the seat.
• Serial numbers:
  GP = 1/2 ton
  GR = 3/4 ton
  GS = l ton

Late 1949

• New style cab windlace fits in metal track around door opening.
• Cab windlace goes from black to gray/tan & slides into track.
• Headliner center bow was "floating type" & was not screwed to the roof of cab.
• Hood side emblem says "CHEVROLET", no longer says "THRIFTMASTER".
• Series designation emblems also on the side of hood:
  3100 = 1/2 ton
  3600 = 3/4 ton
  3800 = 1 ton...etc
• Serial numbers:
  GP = 1/2 ton
  GR = 3/4 ton
  GS = l ton

1950

• Lever-action type shocks have been replaced by modern tubular type shock absorbers.
• Driver's side cowl vent handle is flat steel, maroon plastic knob as in previous years.
• Last year for driver's side cowl ventilator.
• Windshield wiper knob was chrome plated steel.
• Serial numbers:
  HP = 1/2 ton
  HR = 3/4 ton
  HS = 1 ton

1951

• Door vent windows where introduced.
• Outside door handles where still turn-down type.
• Only year with vent windows & turn-down handles.
• Mid-year changed from 9 board bed to 8 board bed.
• Last year for 80 MPH speedometer.
• Last year for chrome window handle knobs & chrome wiper knob.
• Front bumper was standard & rear bumper was an option.
• Only the top cowl ventilator was offered. Driver's side ventilator was discontinued.
• Serial numbers:
  JP = 1/2 ton
  JR = 3/4 ton
  JS = l ton

1952

• Outside door handles where push button type.
• Speedometer maximum speed of 90 MPH.
• Horizontal trim above & below radio speaker grill & glove box door where painted steel, not stainless steel as in prior years.
• All beds where 8 board type.
• In mid year, GM stopped using 3100, 3600, 3800 emblems on side of hood. However, "CHEVROLET" emblems are used the entire year.
• Inside window handle knobs & wiper knob where maroon.
• No rear bumper offered.
• Hubcaps change from chrome to gray painted steel with black block letters.
• Bumpers where gray painted steel & no longer chromed.
• Serial numbers:
  KP = 1/2 ton
  KR = 3/4 ton
  KS = l ton

1953

• Last year for 216 cu.in. babbit bearing type engine.
• Hood side emblem changed to large 3100, 3600, 3800, etc only, no "CHEVROLET" emblem on side.
• Door post ID plate was blue & silver, prior years were black & silver.
• Last year that wood blocks where used under bed.
• Last year for split windshield.
• Front hood emblem was stainless steel.
• First year for optional side-mounted spare.
• Rear bumper reintroduced.
• Windshield wiper knob was maroon plastic, as in 1952.
• Serial numbers:
  H = 1/2 ton
  J = 3/4 ton
  L = l ton

1954

• One piece curved windshield introduced.
• New design "bull nose" grille introduced.
• Completely redesigned bed.
• Top of bed sides where flat, not angled as in previous years.
• Newly designed dash.
• New insert bearing high-pressure 235 cubic inch 112-horsepower engine introduced.
• 261 cubic inch engine was introduced for larger trucks.
• Tail lights where round.
• Hubcaps had the same shape as previous years but only have the "Bowtie" emblem on them.
• Full wheel covers available as an option.
• First year for parking lights.
• Rear bumper had notch in the center for the license plate.
• First year Hydra-Matic transmission was available.
• First year two-tone cabs where available, as an option, only with white tops & on deluxe cabs.
• Serial numbers:
  H = 1/2 ton
  J = 3/4 ton
  L = l ton

Early 1955

• Also referred to as 1955 1st Series.
• Almost identical to 1954, except different hood side emblems.
• Driveline was changed from previous enclosed torque tube type to the new open driveshaft design.
• Last year for 6-volt electrical system.
• The new "Task Force" truck design was introduced in the Spring of 1955 & marked the end of the "Advanced Design" era of the Chevrolet trucks.
• Serial numbers:
  H = 1/2ton
  J = 3/4 ton
  L = l ton

• 1947 - 1950 trucks had standard front & rear chrome bumpers.
• 1947 - 1949 trucks had large fuse block on firewall.
• 1947 - 1950 trucks had driver's side vent.
• 1947 - 1949 trucks had lever-action shocks.
• 1947 to mid-year 1949, cab opening windlace seal attached to cab with a metal retainer. Mid-year 1949, GM installed a track with a new style windlace that slid into the track.
• On 1955 and earlier trucks, the raised letters on the tailgate were not a contrasting color, but were body color. Bed planks were hard yellow pine & were painted black.
• Prior to 1955, dark green was the standard paint color, with other colors available as a non-cost option.
• During 1947 - 1948, the Chevrolet painted grille bars & "back splash" bars were body color. In addition, the leading edge of each painted outer bar had a horizontal stripe matching the cab stripe.
• For 1949 - 1951 Chevrolets, with a painted grille, the "back splash" bar was white. For 1952 - 1953, this changed to light gray to match the hubcaps & bumpers. For chrome grilles, only the outer bar was plated. The "back splash" bar was as the painted grille.

Chevrolet & GMC Truck Era Alias