Chevrolet pickups marked 100 years in 2018, and over 85 million trucks have been produced in the past century. Let’s take a look at some classic Chevrolet pickups to see their evolution over the years.
The Beginning of Chevrolet Pickup History
Superior Trucks: 1918-1929
Chevy released its first truck in 1918, the Chevy Model 490, and was inspired by vehicles used in plants to move parts and pieces across the facilities. The 1918 Series 490 was super primitive and was sold as a chassis with just a frame and a basic seat. The engine was a basic 2.8-liter 4-cylinder good for 30 horsepower or less.
A New Era: 1929-1936
In 1929 Chevrolet introduced its International Series LD. In 1931, Chevrolet started producing factory-built pickups. The Independence Series had four body styles available: a pickup, panel, sedan delivery, and canopy. In 1936, the first-generation pickups came to an end with the next engine update for Chevrolet trucks.
Post World War II: 1937-1946
In 1937, Chevrolet pickups were equipped with a 78-horsepower engine. In 1938 the company introduced the Chevrolet Half-Ton truck featuring a new redesigned vertical grille and front bumper along with swept fenders.
In 1946, after World War II, Chevy produced a full line of trucks ranging from light duty to heavy duty. However, these trucks were only in production until 1947, when Chevrolet launched a completely redesigned line of pickups known as the “Advance Design” trucks.
Advance Design Trucks: 1947-1954
Debuting in 1947, the Advance Design pickups sported a completely new look with a five-bar horizontal grille. Beneath the hood was a 216.5-cubic inch Thrift Master overhead-valve six-cylinder engine capable of producing 90 horsepower.
In 1954 the trucks featured a brand-new grille, steering wheel, instrument panel, parking lights, and a one-piece windshield. The engine increased to 235.5-cubic inches with 112 horsepower.
Task Force: 1955-1959
In 1955, Chevrolet released the new “Task Force” models that included a new small block V8 engine. The Chevrolet 3124 Series Cameo Carrier had a new power steering and power brakes, and a 12-volt electrical system. The small block V8 engine displaced 265 cubic inches and 162 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. The small block was enlarged to 283 cubic inches in 1957, with ratings starting at 185 horsepower.
Evolution Of Modern Trucks
Chevy C/K Series 1960-1966
The 1960 redesign marked the introduction of the C/K designations for Chevrolet. “C” was for 2-wheel drive models and “K” was for 4-wheel drive models. There was a more sophisticated suspension design providing a more car-like ride.
Chevy C/K Series: 1967-1972
The 1967-1972 Chevrolet and GMC trucks were named “Action Line.” Most pickup models in this generation were built with coil spring rear suspension. All the 1967-1972 four-wheel drive trucks had leaf springs on both axles.
Chevy C/K: 1973-1986
For the 1973 Chevrolet and GMC trucks, testing was done in a wind tunnel and designed for better aerodynamics. The wheelbase of these models was extended and a dual rear wheel option was offered on one-ton pickups.
Chevy C/K Series (GMT400): 1988-1998
From 1990-1993, a performance model called 454SS had a 454ci V8, a sport suspension, and quick ratio steering. A turbo-diesel was also made available beginning in 1992.
In 1995, Vortec V8s debuted with high-flow cylinder heads, roller valve lifters, new camshaft, and higher compression for increased power and efficiency.
Chevy Silverado (GMT800): 1999-2007
General Motors dropped the C/K designations for 1999. They chose Silverado for Chevrolet and Sierra for GMC, referring to the new platform as GMT800. Just before the next generation (GMT900) was released for the 2007 model year, GM began selling outgoing GMT800 models under the name “Silverado Classic.”
Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra (GMT900): 2007-2018
GMT900 series pickups are the most popular for businesses with employees that drive more than 100,000+ miles. These pickups are considered the most reliable Silverados and Sierras that GM has ever produced.
The series has two available V8 engines were equipped with Active Fuel Management (AFM). This is a feature that deactivated four cylinders when the engine wasn’t under load.
GMC Canyon & Colorado
Chevrolet also produced a smaller pickup truck called Colorado also known as the S10 before 2004. The GMC Canyon and Colorado became standalone trucks, with the first generation produced from 2004-2012.
In 2018, Chevrolet produced a Centennial Special Edition Colorado alongside the Silverado. The celebratory model featured a 3.6L DOHC V6 engine capable of producing 308 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque.
From the first Chevy truck in 1918 to the new 2018 Silverado and Colorado Centennial editions, Chevy has come a long way from where it started so many years ago and there is a continued popularity of its older designs.
