Saturday June 28, 1947... GM introduced the new "Advance Design" (AD) truck. Gas tank mounted under the bed and fills through the hole in passenger side of the bed. 3-speed tranny (non-synchromesh) is floor shift on all models - three and 4-speed alike. Doors have one-piece glass with no vent window, and door handles are turn-down type. Windshield is 2-piece. Hood side emblem says CHEVROLET and THRIFTMASTER. Cab 'corner windows' introduced for first time. Hand-operated emergency brake handle is located on the right-hand side of the floor shifter. Fresh air heater/defroster introduced. Radio available as an in-dash option for first time. Headliner center bow is screwed to roof of cab.
Shifter for tranny moved to the column ("three on the tree"), and the synchromesh transmission was introduced. Emergency brake moved to far left side of steering column and was changed to a foot-operated mechanism. 1947 and 1948 models had red needles on the gauges.
Hood side emblems now have CHEVROLET along with the series designation (3100, 3600, etc.) THRIFTMASTER on hood side emblems discontinued. Gas tank moved to inside the cab behind seat. Mid-year 1949, cab windlace goes from black to gray/tan and slides into track. Headliner center bow is changed to "floating" type and not screwed to roof of cab as before.
Lever-action shocks are replaced by modern tubular shocks. This is the last year for the driver-side vent. Handle for side cowl vent is flat steel, not maroon plastic as it was previously. Wiper knob is chrome plated steel.
One-piece door glass gives way to two-piece glass with vent windows. During the year, Chevy changed the bed from a 9-board to an 8-board pattern. Front bumper was standard, and rear bumper was an option. Only top cowl vent offered; driver-side vent discontinued. Only year with vent windows AND pull-down exterior door handles. Last year for chrome inside window handle knobs and chrome wiper knob.
Exterior door handles are now push button type. Speedometer changed from a max of 80 mph to 90 mph. Half way through the year, GM stopped using 3100, 3600, 3800 emblems on side of hood whereas CHEVROLET kept them all year. No rear bumper offered. Horizonal strips below and above radio speaker grille plus glove box door changes to painted steel and not stainless steel as in previous years. Hubcaps change from chrome to gray painted steel with black block letters, but stamping and shape remain the same as prior years. Bumpers are no longer chrome, but gray painted steel.
Last year for the 216 cubic inch engine. Hood front emblem now stainless steel, and hood side emblems lose the CHEVROLET but keep the series numbers (3100, 3600, etc.) First year a side-mounted spare is offered as an option. Rear bumper reintroduced. Last year for wood blocks under bed. Wiper knob is maroon plastic, as in 1952. First year for blue and silver ID door plate (prior years were black and silver.)
High-pressure 235 cubic inch 112-horsepower engine introduced for pickups, and 261 ci engine introduced for larger trucks. Hubcaps are same shape as previous models, but now have only the "Bowtie" emblem. Old horizontal grille gives way to new bull-nose grille. First year for parking lights... introduced with new grille. The two-piece windshield is replaced with modern one-piece curved glass. Dash instruments and steering wheel changed to modern design. Bed redesigned, and top rails are now flat, not sloped like previous models. Taillights are now round. Rear bumper now has "notch" in center for license plate. Hydra-Matic transmission available in trucks for first time. Two-tone cabs available for first time as an option, but only with white top and only on more deluxe cabs. Full wheel covers now available as an option.
First year for open drive shaft on pickup and panel truck. Final year for 6-volt system.
| Chevrolet Year and Series Identification, 1947-1955 | ||
| Series | Wheelbase(in) | Vehicle Type |
| 1947 | ||
| EP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| ER | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| ES | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| 1948 | ||
| FP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| FR | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| FT | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| FS | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| FU | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1949 | ||
| GP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| GR | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| GT | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| GS | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| GU | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1950 | ||
| HP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| HR | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| HT | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| HS | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| HU | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1951 | ||
| JP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| JR | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| JT | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| JS | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| JU | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1952 | ||
| KP | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| KR | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| KT | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| KS | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| KU | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1953-1955 First Series | ||
| H 3100 | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| J 3600 | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| K 3700 | 125 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| L 3800 | 137 | 1-Ton Truck |
| M 3900 | 137 | 1-Ton Forward Control Delivery |
| 1955 Second Series | ||
| H 3100 | 116 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| H 3124 | 114 | Cameo Carrier 1/2-Ton Truck |
| M 3200 | 123 1/4 | 1/2-Ton Truck |
| F 3400 | 104 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| G 3500 | 125 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| J 3600 | 123 1/4 | 3/4-Ton Truck |
| K 3700 | 137 | 3/4-Ton ForwardControl Delivery |
| L 3800 | 135 | 1-Ton Truck |