No. 069 of 207
The Advance-Design is a light and medium duty truck series by Chevrolet, their first major redesign after WWII. Its GMC counterpart was the GMC New Design. It was billed as a larger, stronger, and sleeker design in comparison to the earlier AK Series. First available on Saturday, June 28, 1947, these trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until March 25, 1955, when the Task Force Series trucks replaced the Advance-Design model.
The same basic design family was used for all of its trucks including the Suburban, panel trucks, canopy express, and cab overs. The cab overs used the same basic cab configuration and similar grille but used a shorter and taller hood and different fenders. The unique cab over fenders and hood required a custom cowl area which makes the cab over engine cabs and normal truck cabs incompatible with one another while all truck cabs of all weights interchange.
From 1947 until 1955, Chevrolet trucks were number one in sales in the United States, with rebranded versions sold at GMC locations.
While General Motors used this front-end sheet metal, and to a slightly lesser extent the cab, on all of its trucks except for the cab overs, there are three main sizes of this truck: the half-, three-quarter-, and full-ton capacities in short and long wheelbase.
With the truck proving to be very popular in the United States, the same "Advance-Design" styling was used on other trucks made overseas by General Motors' divisions such as Opel and Vauxhall. Both the redesigned 1952 Opel Blitz and 1953 Bedford A-Type were stylistically heavily based on the Advance Design truck.
Early 1949 - Gasoline tank now mounted upright behind seat in cab; filler neck aft of passenger door handle. New serial number codes: GP 1⁄2 ton, GR 3⁄4 ton, & GS 1 ton.
Late 1949 - Hood side emblems no longer read "Thriftmaster" or "Loadmaster", but are now numbers that designate cargo capacity: 3100 on 1⁄2 ton, 3600 on 3⁄4 ton, 3800 on 1 ton. Serial number codes remain the same as on early 1949.
During the retro-craze of the 2000s, the style of the Advance Design was used for the Chevrolet SSR roadster pickup and later for the Chevrolet HHR crossover SUV, the latter of which lasted in production until 2012.
This particular example has been significantly modified and customized. The original 216 cubic-inch inline 6-cylinder engine rated for 92 horsepower has been replaced with an LS1 V-8 Corvette engine that produces approximately 350 horsepower.
This custom truck also has Corvette rear suspension and wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, a Ford Ranger truck bed, and a custom interior that includes Corvette seats, a tilt steering column, and after-market air conditioning.
347 cubic-inch LS1 V-8 engine
Approximately 350 horsepower
3-speed automatic transmission
116-inch wheelbase
Original cost of $1,253
Post-War & Chrome / 1946–1959
More from the collection.
1946 Ford Super De Luxe 2-Door Convertible
1946 Mercury Eight Coupe Custom
1947 Chrysler Town & Country Sedan
1947 Ford Super Deluxe Fordor
1947 McCormick Farmall BN Culti-Vision Tractor
1948 Buick Super Convertible
1948 Cadillac Series 62 2-Door Fastback
1948 Crosley CC Convertible
1948 Crosley Super Sedan
1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sedan
