Close your eyes. What do you see when I say “pickup truck?” Is it a new King Ranch F-150? Or is it something more akin to this 1953 Chevrolet “Advance Design” pickup, which is now up for a no-reserve auction on Cars and Bids in Allendale, Michigan? If you’re of my mind and saw a mental image of an old Chevy, read on.
The 1953 Chevrolet trucks in the 3100, 3600, and 3800 Series had one available engine, the good old 216.5-cubic-inch “Stovebolt” six with “four-way lubrication.” Horsepower stood at 92 (85 net), while torque was 176 lb-ft from 1000-2000 rpm. The standard transmission, featured in this truck, was a three-speed on the column, and the rear axle ratio was 4.11:1, which is tall enough with any set of tall old truck tires to maintain a reasonable speed on our two-lane highways. Just keep it off the expressway.
The seller has posted several videos of the truck in action, and it cold starts well on its manual choke, doesn’t make any untoward noises, and seems to drive down the road as well as you can expect from a 73-year-old workhorse. The truck does have an electric fuel pump in place of the standard mechanical unit, and since no mention has been made of a 12-volt conversion, we’ll assume that it’s a 6-volt unit.
The general vibe is one of a truck that was given a home makeover at some time in the past, including a carpet where a rubber mat would once have been, and a reupholstery job that is fairly industrial. Honestly, that’s exactly how I’d want my Advance Design truck to be; these have long been popular, and many of them have that aged look that looks so good on them.
The pickup bed seems to be made of plywood, and underneath it is one of the few modifications to be found on this 3100, a fuel cell. Tanks are available for about $220, so the new owner could put the truck back to stock if they so desire.
The undercarriage looks solid but scaly, so it’s basically perfect.
I love these little bits and pieces of nostalgia, including this dealer badge for “Jennings Chevrolet” in Palmyra, Illinois (still around as “Smoky Jennings Chevrolet”). The badge is mounted right up on the driver’s fender, which would have made me a little upset if this were my truck back in 1953. By the way, Palmyra is not very far at all from the St. Louis assembly plant where this ’53 was assembled.
The only downside to the truck that I can see is that it needs new tires, but I expect that with anything I buy. Additionally, and this isn’t really a problem in my opinion, the truck is titled as a “Rebuilt Salvage,” which might turn some buyers off it it were a 2021 Silverado, but not so much as a 1953 model. The paint is aged (the original shade was Juniper Green), and there’s just enough wear that you can use the truck regularly without worrying about it. It’s the essence of an American pickup.
Related Reading
CC Vintage: Old Truck Ads by the Old Masters (by Paul N)
IMHO, the best looking pickup ever made.
I love these old AD Chevys and still have the ’49 that was my daily driver in the late ’70s/early ’80s. The 216 with the 4.11 will cruise 45 all day long, that was the speed at the time and what they were designed for. Looks like it still has the generator so 6v, most 12v converts use an alternator. The sheet of plywood is 48″ wide, the bed is 50″ wide, so you end up with a 1″ gap on each side as pictured. For those that have never driven a “kick start” vehicle, these are easy, turn the key on, pull the choke out, ball of youir foot on the starter button, heal on the throttle pedal and push. I also prefer the 3 window cab, that way when I put my rifle in the cab corner the barrel can’t be seen in the “nu-view” corner window! I’m hoping my 49 will be this winters project.
My favorite old truck. The undercarriage looks a lot like my F-100’s
There are still several of these, mostly Chevy but one or two GMC, in “working” condition that I see regularly driving around my town. More than any Ford or Dodge of that era. But I see more 1960-75 Ford’s than similar vintage Chevys; I wonder if that will be the case 10-25 years from now.
I’ve been really liking Fords from roughly 1970-1975 lately for some reason; they have a good look. You really can’t go wrong with almost any vintage truck though.
Memories of Pennsylvania summer camp in the 60’s and a truck just like this taking us into town for ice cream.
I can smell that interior from here.
Driven by a WW 2 survivor who trembled and could not speak due to shellshock. Chief was at once
the scariest and kindest man you could imagine. His hands were like wrenches. Snapped off your bottle
cap with his thumb.
I can’t imagine kids climbing into a pick up like that today or a camp having a scary man around.
I’m laughing Rich — That must have been the standard plan for 1960’s summer camps —
At our camp in Massachusetts, Rush was the scary-kindly maintenance man —
Weather-beaten tough, he was rumored to have been voted, in younger days, “best-looking man,” in that remote town in the Berkshires.
(Summer camps, of course, thrived on such legends & tales)
Each summer, the Director invested in a clunker pickup for on-campus use only.
My favorites were:
— A ’49 Packard sedan, with the rear chopped into pick-up bed.
— A ’40 Ford pick-up, that never made it past 2nd gear on those gravelled hilly roads.
Grandpa had the 3600 version in red. That interior sure brings back memories. It had the same added-on turn signal switch on the steering column. Note that the starter was engaged with the round pedal next to the gas pedal. There was a manual throttle knob as well as choke. Fast idle, or for a Power Take Off?. The first stick I drove and had to learn to come to a complete stop to engage first.
A nice old survivor .
I bet that paint would give a good shine with some serious elbow grease .
Truly these are sturdy, simple and dead nuts reliable work horses .
At times I miss my old ’49 3100 series shop truck .
-Nate
Interesting to note then the 3100 pick-up got a second life in Brazil.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ifhp97/6305140754/
The final 1963 Brazilian “Advance Design” got a “Task Force” front end inspired from the 1958-59 US models.
https://ateliedocarro.com.br/carro/chevrolet-brasil-3100-1963-restaurada-nos-padroes-originais-lindissima/
An honest, hardworking truck. 🛻 It reminds me of my 2003 Chevrolet S-10. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
“Close your eyes. What do you see when I say “pickup truck?””
Funny thing is all the “rustic” decor my wife buys that have pickups on them (pillows, rugs, garden flags, etc.) has an older “pontoon fender” pickup on them. Many look like this truck.
Great truck. If you asked me to imagine a 50’s GM pick up this is pretty much exactly what I’d see in my mind. It definitely could use a new wood kit for the bed and of course decent tires but otherwise it is perfect as is.
my dad had one like this, when trucks rode like trucks..LOL, very reliable.
It’s a shame this truck wouldn’t be a practical purchase for me at this time. I like it…a lot.