09/26/2026
The 1949 Chevrolet 3100 was the half-ton member of Chevrolet’s Advance-Design truck family. Introduced after World War II, the Advance-Design range represented Chevrolet’s first major postwar truck redesign and established a shape that remained central to the company’s light-duty lineup through the mid-1950s.
Chevrolet’s light-duty range was divided into the half-ton 3100, three-quarter-ton 3600 and one-ton 3800 series. The 3100 pickup rode on a 116-inch wheelbase and combined a compact cargo bed with a larger, more comfortable cab than the Chevrolet trucks it replaced.
Power came from Chevrolet’s 216.5-cubic-inch Thriftmaster overhead-valve inline-six. The engine produced approximately 90 gross horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. A three-speed manual transmission was standard on the half-ton model, while a four-speed manual was available for buyers requiring lower gearing for heavier work.
The Advance-Design cab was approximately eight inches wider and seven inches taller than its predecessor, creating enough space for three occupants on a single bench seat. Its broad windshield, rounded hood, separate front fenders and wide horizontal grille gave the truck an instantly recognizable appearance.
For 1949, Chevrolet repositioned the fuel tank vertically behind the cab seat. During the model year, hood-side identification also transitioned to numerical series badges, with “3100” identifying the half-ton model.
Designed primarily as a working vehicle for farms, businesses and tradespeople across the USA, the 1949 Chevrolet 3100 later became one of America’s most recognizable and widely restored classic pickup trucks.