Chevy Truck Body Style Years [1947-2022]: The Transformation of Chevrolet Trucks

Are you curious about the transformations of Chevy trucks body style years? It is only natural for an automotive enthusiast to want to know more about the glorious history and different features and body styles of the infamous Chevrolet trucks.

If we talk about popularity, Chevrolet trucks have always made their position among the top brands. People rely on Chevy trucks, reflecting the success and confidence they have earned over more than 100 years.

In these long years of progress, Chevy trucks continued to thrive towards the betterment of technology and service. To do that, they have gone through endless transformations over the years.

Keep going to know the details about different Chevy truck body styles that were presented from 1947 till now.

Chevy Truck Body Style Years

During the long journey of over 100 years, Chevy has brought countless changes to their truck, both in features and body style.

From the first ever truck model, Model 490 to the recent Silverado 1500, let’s find out the evolution of Chevy trucks.

The Beginning: old Chevy truck models (1918-1947)

1918 Chevy Truck

The journey began in 1918 with Chevrolet’s first-ever truck, known as the One-ton Truck. Another available model was the Half-ton Truck.

Chevrolet introduced these two models as the chassis, where the users had the choice to customize the truck with a cargo box or cabin as per their need.

1929 AC Light Delivery Truck

The next one is Chevy International Series AC Light Delivery, which created quite a stir in the motor industry in 1929. A box-shaped, two-seater truck with cargo space in the back. Powered by a 194ci (3.2L) engine, it had 46 hp and 125 lb-ft torque. This model set the path of success for Chevy trucks.

Chevy Master Truck

Chevrolet Master truck was available from 1933 to 1942. Chevy Master trucks had different body styles. There was two-door coupe rumble seat, a two-door cabriolet rumbles seat. Later on, there was four-door sedan and 2 door pickup truck. This model had the roll-down window feature.

Chevy AK Series

Chevy AK Series came with different types of body styles. Produced from 1941 to 1947, this model had the same design for trucks and passenger cars. It was available as a two-door pickup truck, three-door panel truck, two-door cab over engine, three-door combination bus, two-door midsize SUV (Suburban), and two-door coupe utility.

Chevrolet Advanced Design (1947-1955)

Chevy truck body types had a prominent change with the Chevrolet Advanced Design trucks. They were bigger than their predecessors and had a smarter and finer outlook.

With the rounded-edge look, the models include a two-door truck, two-door panel truck, and two-door station wagon (Suburban).

The models produced during this time caught the eye of the world with their unique horizontal bar grille and spacious cabs. The Chevy 3100 Series is one of the most famous models.

• 1947-1953: The models available during this period had the horizontal bar grille design. The windshields came as two different pieces. The outlook was sleeker, and the edges were rounded. The bedsides of the large cab were angle topped.
• 1950: In the 1950 models, the modern tubular shocks were included.
• 1951: Door vent windows were added to the 1951 models of the advanced design Chevy trucks.
• 1954-1955: Single-piece windshield was introduced through this year’s models. The horizontal bar grille was replaced by the crosstype bull nose grille. The dashboard and bed were also modified.

Chevrolet Task Force (1955-1959)

Chevy task force has a huge difference in design from the earlier models. The new additions and features also affected the outlook and distinguished them from the previous ones.

• Came as two-door truck.
• In 1955 for the first time, small block V8 engine was presented through this model.
• Wraparound windshield was seen in the 1955 2^nd series models.
• Chevrolet Cameo had the rare fiberglass bed, which was in high demand. They were produced between 195-1958.
• Dual headlamps were featured in 1958 Chevy trucks.

Chevrolet C/K Series

First Generation (1960-1966)

Chevy C/K series was produced from 1960-1966. ‘C’ indicates the two-wheel-drive models, and the ‘K’ stands for the four-wheel-drive trucks.

C10 and C20 models were available from 1960. C14 and C15 debuted in 1964, and their production continued till 1973. The first-generation C series trucks were available with a standard wheelbase as well as SWB and LWB.

K10 Apache, K20, and Apache Crewcab are four-wheel-drive models that are produced from 1960-1966.

• The C/K series had a lower cab due to the coil spring suspension.
• Upgraded look and comfortable seats.
• The 1963 models had front and rear coil spring suspension.
• 1964-1966 models had a flat windshield.
• Some 1966 models had the 372ci V8 engine and turbo-hydramatic transmission.

Second Generation (1967-1973)

The second Generation C/K series had various body style and performance upgrades. This generation of trucks was able to attract more people to buy Chevy and made the others interested. It had a more subtle look than the previous models.

C10, C14/C15, C20, K10, and K20 are the second-generation C/K series models. The C model Chevy truck body styles include two-door short box, two-door long box, two-door longhorn fleetside, and two-door longhorn stepside.

On the other hand, the K model truck can be found as a two-door standard cab pickup truck, four-door crew cab pickup truck, and two-door chassis cab.

• The four-wheel trucks had all axle leaf springs.
• 1968 models had a white-gold-white paint scheme to make them stand out for Chevrolet’s 50^th anniversary.
• In 1968, the Longhorn ¾-ton trucks had 6” extra long beds.
• K5 Blazer with a short wheelbase was launched in 1969.
• 1970 models had 402ci V8 engines. Still mentioned as 396ci in the market.
• Front disc brakes were available in 1971 truck models.

Third Generation (1973-1991)

C/K Series models, produced from 1973 to 1991, are known as the third generation C/K series. The models were somewhat square-edged and sharp looking. It’s also a bit bigger looking than the previous generation.

C10, C20, C30, K10, and K20 were the third-generation C/K series models. They had improvement in body style, capacity, and performance.

• 1973 models had crew cab options, 3/2 seating arrangement for six people or rear storage unit.
• Improved aerodynamics and extended wheelbase
• Carbon-steel ladder frame with drop center
• Better fuel capacity after placing the fuel tank under the cab floor
• 1977 models offered power window options
• 1978 models were upgraded with diesel engine
• C/K was changed to R/V to separate them from upcoming first-generation trucks in 1987.

Fourth Generation, GMT400 (1988-2000)

Officially GMT400, also known as the OBS (Old Boy Style) came to the market as the perfect-looking pickup truck with outstanding performance.

C1500, C2500, C3500, K1500, K2500, K3500, 454SS, and W/T1500 are the fourth generation C/K series trucks that were produced during the period of 1988 to 2000. The models were improved inside-out to provide a more enjoyable and refined driving experience.

• They came as four-wheel drive full-size pickups with independent front suspension.
• New design dash and switchgear.
• Upgraded frame rails and headlights.
• In 1990, 454SS was introduced as the fastest truck. It had 454ci V8 engine, quick steering, unique seats, and a center console.
• Dual exhaust design, four-speed automatic with 4.10:1 gear ratio was introduced in 1991 models.
• Some 1992 models featured turbo-diesel engines.
• ZR2 debuted in 1994. This model was bigger in size, and its axles were larger than average.
• 1995 Chevy trucks came with a Vortec V8 engine. It was capable of a power-packed performance for the high-flow cylinder heads, higher compression ratio, new camshafts, and roller valve lifters.

Chevrolet Silverado, GMT800 (1999-2007)

Chevy GMT800 was introduced in 1999, referred to as the Silverado. It is also known as the NSB (new style body), one of the Chevy truck body style nicknames, among the truck lovers for its new and unique body style.

1500, 1500HD, 2500, 2500HD, and 3500HD were the GMT800 models sold as ‘Silverado Classic’ before the new generation trucks hit the market.

• In 2001, the Silverado came with an upscale trim level.
• Upgraded tail lamps and new fascia were included in 2003.
• 2001-2005 models had a Quadrasteer four-wheel option.
• A high-performance pickup, Silverado SS, was introduced in 2003. Intimidator SS was available in 2006.
• Gasoline/electric hybrid trucks were introduced in 2004.

Chevy Silverado, GMT900 (2007-2013)

GMT900 Silverado is considered the most popular Chevy truck body style for its insane popularity. The second generation Silverado was improved with better aerodynamics and other features to make it better than the first generation Silverado.

• An increased rake of the windshield, and tight panel gaps. This improved the airflow and fuel efficiency.
• Available in two-door regular cabs, four-door crew cabs, and four-door extended cabs. The models came with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive options.
• GMT900 had increased power for the generation four small-block V8 engine.
• In 2009, 6.8L V8 engine was made available for Silverado 1500.
• The upgraded suspension system and axle design provide a better driving experience.
• Boxed body frame with 3 inch wide front track and 1 inch wide rear track.
• Comfortable, spacious, and advanced interior.

Silverado 1500, 2500HD, and 3500HD are the second-generation Silverado models.

It is only natural that a few models will do an excellent job in attracting the truck enthusiast among all the models. In the case of Silverado, the 2500HD model is the one people mostly put their trust on.

Silverado 2500HD has improved throughout the generation and has become one of the most reliable Chevy pickup trucks.

We’ll have a closer look at the four generations of Silverado 2500 and 2500HD models.

Chevy 2500 Body Styles by Year

Since the launch of Silverado in 1999, there have been four generations of the most sought-after 2500HD model. Although this model was not famous from the very Beginning, the upgrades that came with each new generation made it one of the most reliable pickup trucks.

The consumer report shows that Chevy 2500HD has secured 78/100 score. It also bagged the 9^th position with a reliability rating of 3 out of 5. The reason behind this high score can be explained by its heavy-duty characteristics.

As a heavy-duty pickup truck, Silverado 2500HD is more durable with a strong build, huge capacity, and wonderful performance. It can be used for light-duty activities but will stand longer than a light-duty pickup.

First Generation Chevy Silverado 2500HD (GMT800)

The first generation Silverado 2500HD was in production from 2001 to 2006. It was introduced with a powerful Duramax V8 engine, and enormous hauling and towing capacity. Buyers can choose between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.

It comes with regular cabs, extended cabs, and crew cabs. There are options for a 6 by ½ foot short bed or an 8-foot long bed.

However, the first-generation Silverado 2500HD didn’t have the best quality when it came to interior designs and materials.

Second Generation Chevy Silverado 2500HD (GMT900)

Chevy Silverado 2500HD that was manufactured from 2007-2014 are known as the second generation 2500HD. It has a 353 hp 6L V8 engine with the option of a 365hp 6.6L turbo-diesel engine. It also has regular, extended, and crew cabs.

The second-generation 2500HD has gone through a drastic interior and exterior change. The design completely changed the outlook from the previous Silverado. New grille, hood, and fenders were added. The door-pull handles were larger in size.

Third Generation Chevy Silverado 2500HD (GMTK2XX)

Produced from 2015 to 2019, GMTK2XX is the third generation of Chevy Silverado 2500HD. Its strong 6L V8 engine compliments the macho-looking exterior. Motor enthusiasts loved the strong and sturdy body with six-speed automatic transmission. It comes with the options of rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.

The luxurious interior changed the idea of cramped and uncomfortable pickup truck seats.

Fourth Generation Chevy Silverado 2500HD (GMTT1XX)

Chevy Silverado 2500HD models produced from 2020 till now fall in the fourth generation. GMTT1XX Silverado 2500HD is popular among the recent Chevy truck models 2021. Powered by the 6.6L V8 turbo-diesel engine, it also offers the optional 6.6L V8 gas engine. With ten-speed automatic and six-speed automatic, the buyer is also given the options of rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. There are regular, double, and crew cabs. You can choose between the standard and the long bed.

The sleek-looking exterior is matched with the comfortable and high-in-tech interior of the truck. The seats are cozy enough to sleep on them. In a word, the new generation Silverado Chevy truck models 2022 are a mind-blowing total package.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Wrap Up

Chevrolet has come a long way, making history with its outstanding trucks. Over all these years, they have continued their endless efforts to improve the Chevy trucks in every aspect.

In this journey of evolution for betterment, changes came to Chevy truck body style years. Undoubtedly, the changes were always for better performance, durability, and reliability. From the first generation truck in 1918 to the newest Silverado, all of them are packed with the best features of their age.

Starting with the old body style (OBS) and continuing with the new body style (NBS), Chevy has always been successful to catch the eye of the automotive admirers.

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Sadeek Matt

Sadeek Matt, “The Human Truckopedia”, has dealt with all types of trucks for 6 years with another 2 years of experience in the automobile industry. He is one of our key team members who solve truck-related problems for Vehicle Bro’s content team to come up with answers to readers’ queries.

He loves scuba diving apart from handling trucks and according to team members, he’s a guy with a great sense of humor who loves living life to the fullest.