Gypsy Red 1955 Chevy 3100 Pickup Headed To Oklahoma Auction

General Motors redesigned its pickups after fulfilling its duties in World War II. The new Chevy trucks were known as the Advance Design series, while GMC called its new trucks the New Design. The light-duty pickups had a cleaner and more robust design than the outgoing AK series. The Advance Design and New Design were applied to Chevy and GMC Suburbans, panel trucks, cabovers, and pickups. Bowing in late June of 1947, Chevrolet’s new half-ton pickup was called the Chevy 3100.

A number of changes came to the Chevy 3100 over the course of the model run. In 1948, manual transmission shifters moved from the floor to the steering column. The gas tank moved to inside the cab directly behind the seat. The filler neck was mounted behind the outside door handle. Later in the model year, emblems were changed to “3100,” indicating a half-ton truck, and keeping with the numerical model scheme of the larger Chevy trucks. Telescopic shocks debuted for the 1950 model year, and vent windows bowed for 1951. Pushbutton door handles were introduced for 1952, replacing the previous year’s turning handles. The windshield became a single curved piece for 1954, instead of the previous two-piece design with a center strip. Also in 1954, the 3100 got a new dash, steering wheel, grille and horizontal bed rails, while round taillights replaced the previous rectangular units. New inline-six cylinder engines were available in 235 and 261 cubic-inch displacements, along with the Hydramatic automatic transmission.

The 1955 model year brought all-new styling for the Chevy 3100 light-duty trucks. With a new egg-crate grille and headlights with pronounced brows that gave the front a scowling, menacing look, the new “Task Force” trucks bowed to positive reviews. Running boards were replaced with in-cab steps, and a step between the cab and bed aided access to the cargo area. Windshields were a wraparound design, and the Deluxe cab models came with a wraparound rear window. Power steering, power brakes, and V8 power options were all available for the first time. A column-mounted three-speed manual was standard equipment, but floor-mounted automatic or four-speed manual transmissions were optional.

Our feature 1955 Chevy 3100 has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration in Gypsy Red with a Medium Silver roof over a red vinyl interior. It is powered by a 235 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine backed by a three-speed manual transmission. The bed is made of oak with polished stainless steel ribs, and the bed sides feature wooden rails with Texaco signage. Many of the components are new including the exhaust system, fuel sending unit, brake master cylinder and lines, chrome bumpers, headlights, taillights, turn signals, and battery. The 3100 rides on the original painted steel wheels with trim rings and hub caps, shod in new reproduction Goodyear wide whitewall bias-ply tires.

This sharp 1955 Chevy 3100 pickup will cross the Mecum Auctions block at its Tulsa, Oklahoma event Saturday, June 7^th.