'55 Chevy 3100 Panel Truck - Hot Wheels Garage

A panel truck in U.S. and Canadian usage is a small delivery truck with a fully enclosed body. It typically has no rear windows in the rear cargo area and is a van built on a truck chassis.

A body design that appeared very early in history of light-duty trucking was the "delivery car or van was actually the first type of panel truck." A panel truck is similar in function to its smaller cousin the sedan delivery, a station wagon with no backseat and no side windows aft of the front doors. Both types of vehicles are frequently used as delivery vehicles.

Panel trucks are often used by construction and maintenance contractors and were sometimes configured for ambulance and hearse roles. Other variations include canopy express models, which have open display areas behind the driver's seat primarily used by farmers for selling fruits and vegetables. The evolution of sport utility vehicles can be traced to panel trucks, as the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon, as well as the International Harvester Travelall were passenger versions of these trucks. In modern times minivans have been adapted to some of these functions.

The 2001 to 2010 model year Chrysler PT Cruiser is a compact hatchback wagon whose "design that is reminiscent of panel trucks of the past." The 2007 to 2011 Chevrolet HHR panel model was inspired by the Chevrolet Suburban panel truck, although the HHR is also a compact crossover utility vehicle instead of a full-size truck like the Suburban.

Panel trucks were traditionally purchased by commercial users with specific needs, for which a full-size truck was too large, a station wagon too small and a pickup truck too exposed. Most panel trucks lived hard lives, driven until the cost of repair could no longer be justified before being hauled off to the local scrapyard. This 1955 Chevrolet 3100 panel truck for sale on Hemmings.com is the exception to the rule. Used to haul turkeys between buildings on a turkey farm, this mostly original truck sports the 235.5-cu.in. inline six-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed column-shift manual transmission. It isn’t clear if the truck’s 34,463 miles are legitimate, or if the odometer has been rolled, but it appears to be remarkably well preserved for a vintage truck with a 20-year old “minor restoration.” It even comes complete with turkey cages, turkey decoys and other in-period memorabilia, meaning that the next owner can kick off a collection that includes more than just a vintage truck.

'53 Chevrolet 3100 (Custom) (Welly series)

'53 Chevrolet 3100 (Custom) (Welly series)

The 1948-1953 Chevrolet Series 3100 half-ton pickups benefited from a redesign that took Chevy trucks into a new era of comfort, convenience, and style.
Chevy's restyled "Advance-Design" trucks were introduced in 1947, well ahead of its first new postwar cars, and little changed in appearance through 1953. The basic intent was to provide more room and comfort for occupants.
Classic Truck Image Gallery
All Advance-Design pickups had a new bench seat accommodating three persons, instead of the old separate seats -- and for the first time the seat was adjustable for leg reach.
The cab, described as "Unisteel Battleship" construction, was larger in every direction. New extra-wide doors swung open on concealed hinges and extended down to cover the sills. Glass area grew considerably via a wider windshield, side windows, and backlight -- Chevy called the result "Observation Car Vision."

Features of the 1948-1950 Chevrolet Series 3100 half-ton pickup included advances such as interior door locks, better steering, and a roomier cab.
Interiors were more colorful than ever before on a commercial Chevrolet, and the dashboard was functional and more glittery.
Mechanical conveniences included interior door locks, a large steering wheel, new steering geometry for less effort, more conveniently positioned foot pedals, an accessory radio, roomy glovebox, and full needle instrumentation.
The 1948-1953 Chevrolet Series 3100 half-ton pickups also featured "four-fold ventilation" through the easy-crank-down side windows, cowl-top ventilator, foot-operated floor vent, and a fresh-air inlet on the curb side of the cowl.
Light-duty trucks in 1947-1949 came only with a 216.5-cid six; later ones may be 235.5-cid, formerly used in heavier trucks. For 1950, the 235.5-cid engine got a redesigned cylinder head, to become the "105 Hi-Torque" six.

The 1948-1953 Chevrolet Deluxe Cab Series 3100 half-ton pickup had rear-corner windows that increased visibility. Pictured here is a 1953 model.
Changes through the period included gray (instead of body-color) inner grille bars for 1949; vent wings, a lower rear-view mirror, and elimination of left-hand cowl vents for 1951; pushbutton (instead of rotating) door handles for 1952; and a slimmer hood nameplate for 1953.

Note. Customized by me with wheels and decals.