Raymond Arsenault on Life and Business: Hemmings Find of the Day

The 1954 model year brought about a number of changes in Chevrolet’s Advance Design light trucks.

For instance, GMC first offered the Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission in 1953, but ’54 was the first year it was available in a Chevrolet. There weren’t as many takers for the automatics as there were for the two available three speed gearboxes and the four-speed manual that was offered, so these trucks are more unusual today.

The ’54 model year was also the first that the Thriftmaster 235 six-cylinder engine was standard issue, bringing with it insert bearings and full pressure oiling.

There was also a newly styled grille for ’54, with bold crosshairs replacing the rows of horizontal bars, a one-piece curved windshield replacing the two-piece glass, a redesigned rear bumper with a center drop to accommodate the license plate and round taillights in place of the earlier oblong lights.

Holdovers from the old days on these trucks included a torque tube driveline and six-volt electricals. An open drive shaft was used on the “first series” 1955 Advance Design trucks but the 12-volt system arrived with the “second-series” Task Force trucks.

This 1954 Chevrolet 3100 for sale on Hemmings.com has updated electricals with a one-wire alternator and, in addition to a factory automatic transmission, boasts the optional DeLuxe cab with rear corner windows.

From the seller’s description:

This truck has been my daily driver. Retirement is the reason for the sale of the truck.

I have a clear Florida title in my name. Maintenance records, factory build manual, factory maintenance manual and factory owners manual are available. New front disk brake kit with stainless brake line included. Original factory radiator and water pump also included.