Chevrolet’s “Advance Design” trucks were hugely successful from a sales perspective. They were produced beginning in June 1947, and they rolled out of an impressive 11 different assembly plants around the country for about the next eight years. Featured on AutoHunter is one of these trucks, this 1954 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup. It is being sold by a dealer in Gladstone, Oregon, with the auction ending on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (MST).
While true to its original shape, the truck was reimagined from front to back, inside and out, during a body-off restoration. The blue and silver two-tone paint job is stunning, and exterior features include a “bull nose” grille and one-piece windshield (both of which were new for 1954). The truck’s sharp, lowered stance is made possible by a custom suspension with Ridetech adjustable front coilovers and tubular control arms. The Rally-look 17-inch wheels give the truck a retro look but with modern-day dimensions.
“Whatever or wherever you haul or deliver, you’ll find the most trustworthy truck on any job with the completely new 1954 Chevrolet,” proclaimed a television commercial from the period. The advertisement was only partially true—the 1954 Chevy truck was not “completely new,” although it did feature a number of new features. The ad discussed some of the newly-available engines, a new automatic transmission, and the truck’s enhanced ruggedness and durability. “These great new trucks are engineered to do your work faster, more efficiently, and more economically,” it said.
The interior of the cab for this restomod pickup was enhanced with power-adjustable bucket seats, power steering, aftermarket steering wheel, Vintage Air A/C, and modernized instrumentation. The digital odometer reads 7,442 miles, although true mileage is unknown. The engine is a fuel-injected Vortec 5.3-liter V8 mated to a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end. Equipment-wise, the listing says that performance headers have been added, and the custom dual exhaust system sports a pair of polished outlets cleanly integrated into the rollpan at the rear.
Today, Advance Design trucks have a special place in the collector-car marketplace. The 1954 model, manufactured during the twilight of the series, is a particularly unique part of Chevrolet’s truck history. Add modern niceties like air conditioning, power steering, and four-wheel disc brakes, and you have a classic ride with both form and function.
The auction for this 1954 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup ends Friday, November 7, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. (MST).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery