1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design Half-Ton Pickup

In early 1947, Chevrolet introduced its Advance-Design trucks, the first completely redesigned GM vehicles to appear following World War II. Owners of earlier pickup models had asked for a roomier, more comfortable cab with improved visibility, and a wider pickup box. They got all of that and much more.

Designers sought to make the Advance-Design truck's styling clean, brisk, and attractive. The headlamps were now set wide apart in the front fenders and five horizontal bars made up the grille. The design was produced with few major changes from 1947 through 1953, at which point it was continued with a new frontal appearance into early 1955.

During the Advance-Design trucks' run, there was a measurable shift among Chevrolet customers to trucks. Prior to World War II, the production ratio of the brand's cars to trucks had been about 4:1. By 1950--the year Chevrolet became the first brand to sell more than 2 million vehicles in a single year--the ratio of cars to trucks was closer to 2.5:1.

Today, the vintage Advance-Design models are favored by collectors, hot-rodders, and customizers. The classic look was echoed in the designs of the 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR