Chevrolet Series 3000 / 4000 / 6000 ‘1948

1948—1953

1948 became the last year, when Chevrolet’s pre-war styling was used for passenger cars. In a real surprise move the Chevrolet trucks were completely redesigned. So the trucks, not the cars, led the corporation into the “modern” world of post-war automotive design.

The styling was a total break from the previous trucks, with even the bumper being changed. Rounded fenders had the headlights as integral units, with the parking lights recessed into the grille. The grille itself was a painted unit consisting of five heavy horizontal bars, extending laterally to within a few inches of the headlights, and vertically from the bumper to the front lip of the hood. The hood was now of the alligator type, hinged at the cowl and no longer having removable side panels.

The cab was also more rounded, with larger interior dimensions and only a small embossed belt line trim at the window sill. The windshield was still a 2-piece type, but was now fixed in place, and could not be opened. Windshield wipers were cowl mounted, rather than being in the windshield header. Vent louvers were located on the right side of the cowl, while a vent panel was on the left. A large stainless steel stamping proclaimed “Chevrolet” in block letters across the hood face, while smaller block letters on the hood sides said “Chevrolet” and proclaimed the series.

Under the hood, things remained practically the same as before, with the light trucks housing in standard Chevrolet Six of 216 cubic inches and 90 horsepower, while the heavy duty models had the exclusive truck engine of 235 cubic inches and 93 horsepower. There is a new series 6500 with 179-inch wheelbase of 16,000 pounds were available from 1950.

Since 1951 all heavy-duty trucks received 105 hp engine, 4-speed manual transmission and many of them used 2-speed rear axles. The new indexation remained a little difficult. Each model has not only 4 digital numeric index for model, but also alpha-numeric index for series.

1948. FR-125 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (models 3602 to 3632). FS-137 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (models 3802 to 3832). RJ-137 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (models 4102 to 4132). RK-161 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (models 4402 to 4432). RV-137 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (models 6102 to 6132). RW-161 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (models 6402 to 6432).

1949. GR-125 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (series 3600). GS-137 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 3800). SJ-137 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 4100). SK-161 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 4400). SV-137 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 6100). SW-161 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 6400).

1950. HR-125 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (series 3600). HS-137 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 3800). HJ-137 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 4100). HK-161 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 4400). TV-137 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 6100). TW-161 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 6400). TY-179 – 2-ton truck with 179-inch wheelbase (series 6500).

1951. JR-125 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (series 3600). JS-137 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 3800). UJ-137 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 4100). UK-161 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 4400). UV-137 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 6100). UW-161 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 6400). UY-179 – 2-ton truck with 179-inch wheelbase (series 6500).

1952. KR-125 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (series 3600). KS-137 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 3800). VJ-137 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 4100). VK-161 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 4400). VV-137 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 6100). VW-161 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 6400). VY-179 – 2-ton truck with 179-inch wheelbase (series 6500).

1953. From this year the system of identification was changed. The first letter indicates the series, and the numeric code “53”, “54”, etc. means the Model Year. H-53 – 3/4-ton truck with 125-inch wheelbase (series 3600). L-53 – 1-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 3800). N-53 – 1.5-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 4100). P-53 – 1.5-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 4400). V-53 – 2-ton truck with 137-inch wheelbase (series 6100). W-53 – 2-ton truck with 161-inch wheelbase (series 6400). X-53 – 2-ton truck with 179-inch wheelbase (series 6500).

1954—1955

New nomenclature included the year designation 54 following the prefix letter, the addition of a new and rather unique grille to the otherwise unchanged sheetmetal, and some additional engine options, all based on the standard 6-cylinder block. New one-piece curved windshield gives increased visibility. The trucks also got new, more convenient instrument panel. New parking lights are positioned to indicate the full width of the truck.

Buyers of trucks up through the 1.5-ton Series 4500 had a choice of the Thriftmaster or the Loadmaster engines. The Thriftmaster developed 112 horsepower at 3700 RPM, and the Loadmaster, used as an option on the Series 4100, 4400 and 4500, developed the same characteristics. The other option was the Jobmaster engine, which had 261 cubic inches and produced 135 horsepower at 4000 RPM.

The ’54 model year trucks received bigger bodies – new pickup bodies have deeper sides, and new stake bodies are wider and longer. And they’re set lower to the ground for faster, easier loading and unloading. Bigger, more durable clutches, stronger frames on all models and heavier axle shafts on 2-ton trucks. The proved automatic Hydra-Matic transmission was offered not only on 1/2 and 3/4-ton trucks, but on 1-ton models, too.

Predecessor: Chevrolet Series A / Y, B / M, C / O, D / P
Successor: Chevrolet Series 3600 / 3800 ‘1955, Chevrolet Series 4000 / 6000 / 8000 / 10000 ‘1955

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