1947 to 1955 Chevrolet 3100The halt in civilian car production during World War II created a pent-up demand for new designs when the war ended. Although automakers never stopped producing trucks during the war (3.2 million military transport vehicles from 1939 through 1945), buyers of light trucks also yearned for new models with the return of peacetime.In 1947, GM introduced its new "Advance Design light-duty" post-war pickup truck, offering an attractive new style compared to pre-war models and many practical car-like features not found in the older models. Modifications included a redesigned hood that opened in the front rather than the traditional split hood, which improved engine access. A larger fixed glass windshield replaced the swing-out vented version, and the wipers were mounted on the cowl instead of hanging from up above. The door hinges were hidden and no longer visible from the outside of the pickup. Chevrolet also added a fresh-air combination heater and defroster system, which cycled outside air through the cab and out via rear cabin vents.However, the primitive haulers included just basic power output. The Chevy truck was equipped with a 216-cubic-inch, straight-six engine until 1954 when the automaker upgraded the mill to a 235 six-cylinder with full-pressure oiling and insert bearings. Chevrolet pickups were fitted with a standard three-speed synchromesh transmission or an optional four-speed. In 1954, the automaker included a heavy-duty three-speed and the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. No V8 models were available. Despite the new models offered by Chevrolet's Advanced Design, competitors offered better features for less money, such as Ford's new Overhead Valve V8 engine introduced in 1954.1957 Ford RancheroThe idea was creative: combine the comfort and features of an automobile with the utility and convenience of a pickup truck. While the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino are perhaps the best-known coupe utilities, the earliest combination car-truck appeared in 1934 with the Hudson Terraplane Pickup Express.Ford introduced the Ranchero in December 1956, promoting it as "More Than a Car, More Than a Truck!" The Ranchero is based on the 116-inch wheelbase, two-door Ford Ranch Wagon with the rear section of the roof removed and a bed liner placed over the floor pan. The design featured long doors, a built-in tailgate, and a 6-foot bed with a load capacity of 1,190 pounds that could carry more cargo than an F150 pickup. Ford offered the 1957 Ranchero with a 22-cubic-inch, six-cylinder engine or 272 and 292-cubic-inch OHV V-8s. In 1958, Ford removed the 272 option but added a 352-cubic-inch engine.One disadvantage of the Ranchero car-truck design is the cargo-bed removable panels which weaken as the body twists under heavy loads. When the Ranchero's cargo space is empty, the weight distribution is skewed toward the front resulting in oversteer, less downforce on the rear wheels, and less road grip. The car-truck handles better when the cargo area is loaded creating more downforce on the rear wheels, although the extra weight impacts acceleration.1961 to 1963 Ford Unibody F-SeriesToday, most new cars are built with a unibody construction, and many pickup trucks also use a unibody frame, such as the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline, and Ford Maverick. Ford employed the design early, building the F-series pickup trucks from 1961 to 1963 with the unibody design when most manufacturers used the traditional separate body and chassis configuration.Ford's unique version consisted of the pickup cab and bed built as a single entity mounted on a ladder frame. The automaker's decision to adopt the design was motivated by several factors. The manufacturing process required fewer welds and the one-piece stamping was more cost-effective than building the structure with several smaller pieces. The pickup was easier to build and paint, making assembly costs less expensive. The larger cargo loading area gave Ford promotional material to compete with other truck manufacturers.A standard 223-cubic-inch straight six producing 137 horsepower, connected to a three or four-speed manual transmission, powered the pickup trucks. Ford also offered an optional 292-cubic-inch V8 generating 186 horsepower and the three-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission. Ford included other new features in 1961 to 1963 F-Series trucks including wider-swinging cab doors, the removal of wrap-around windshields to improve cab entry and exit, and additional cab soundproofing.However, Ford experienced structural integrity problems with its exclusive design. Loaded with cargo, the pickup bodies would often distort excessively and occasionally split apart. The automaker discontinued the unibody design after only three years of production and returned to a more traditional body-on-frame configuration.