1954 Trucks: Ford vs. Chevy - Which to Choose for Your Restoration Project

Everyone has that classic car or truck that means something to them. But some people simply like a project. If you're looking to take on a restoration project of a classic pickup, two favorites are the 1954 Ford F-100 and the 1954 Chevy 3100.

Ford and Chevrolet were the top two car manufacturers in 1954. They had both introduced their own redesigned pickup truck in the late 1940s featuring a significant upgrade from pre-war pickup trucks. As the 1950s wore on, updates to the design and the parts kept the two brands neck and neck in sales. They became a standard on farms, at worksites, and on highways as an iconic American automobile.

Today, both Ford and Chevy pickup trucks are popular with vintage truck enthusiasts, collectors, and hotrodders. The appeal of a pickup truck with its ample storage and towing capabilities is as attractive today as it was in 1954. But the mid-1950s pickup trucks also have those curving fenders, dramatic grille styles, chrome accents, and so much more that makes for a nostalgic piece of Americana that is also fun to drive.

If your priority is to restore a vintage American-made truck and you don’t have brand loyalty to either Chevy or Ford, you are in luck. Both pickup trucks are relatively easy to find and require similar effort and costs to restore. But to really get into the right model truck for your garage, read on to learn more about the differences between these two classic vehicles.

The Ford “Bonus Built” Pickup Truck

Ford upgraded its original pickup trucks, built along the same lines as their Model T and Model A cars, to the F-Series in 1948s. They spent over $1 million on research to create a line of trucks that were comfortable to drive and brought intense power.

The F-Series, often referred to as Ford Bonus Built trucks, included several different models. By 1954, the F100, Ford’s ½ ton pickup truck, was the best seller as everything from a daily driver to a utility vehicle.

Chevy’s Advance-Design Trucks

GM got in on the post-WWII truck market with the Chevrolet Advance-Design line, debuting the first models in 1947. Like Ford, they created a range of different models for different work. The Chevy 3100 pickup truck was the ½ ton truck made for the average consumer.

1954 saw design changes for the Chevy 3100 as the truck became more streamlined, used the now-iconic bullnose grille, and switched to a single curved piece of glass for the windshield in imitation of Ford. Because GM discontinued the Advance-Design series after the 1955 model year, this particular look was only in production for two years, making it more in demand with collectors.

Comparing the Style and Parts of Vintage Ford’s and Chevy’s

Since the 3100 was Chevy’s answer to the Ford F100 and vice versa, both models of trucks had many of the same design features and technical details. The trucks evolved alongside each other, and Ford and Chevy each answered consumers’ demands for high powered trucks, comfortable and roomy cabs, and curved styling.

A few of the main body design differences that make Fords identifiable include:

• 2 Bar Front Grille - Ford pickups used a grille with 2 horizontal bars that incorporated the V8 logo.
• Headlights on the Grille - Whereas Chevy placed the headlights on the fenders, Ford trucks incorporated them into the grille.

Notable stylistic elements of the Chevy 3100 included:

• 3 Bar Front Grille - This was a redesign for 1954 using 3 horizontal bars in the bullnose style. It was available in chrome, which is rare to find today, and painted.
• Curved Windshield - Also new for 1954, Chevy replaced the divided windshield with a single, curved piece of glass similar to the Ford trucks.

Because the body style for the 1954 Chevy was only produced for 2 years, it can sometimes be more difficult to get replacement parts. Stock grilles and windshields for Chevys are a bit harder to find than Ford trucks with a longer production time, but it is not impossible. You will simply need a little more time and effort to locate the parts to restore a Chevy 3100 to its original look.

Of course, you may not want to restore a vintage Ford or Chevy pickup to its stock look. Both of these cars are ideal for conversion to hot rods or rat rods. The lower cost of a project body and replacement parts for a pickup make them fun cars to customize, and a variety of aftermarket parts give you additional options for a one of a kind look.

Under the hood, the Ford pickup had the V8 Y-Block engine with up to 130 HP, the first model to replace the older flathead engine. The Chevy had a 6 cylinder, 112 HP engine, and was the first year to have the Hydramatic automatic transmission as an optional feature.

Like parts of the body and accessories, many people will replace or upgrade parts during the restoration process. The first reason for this is that these trucks were originally designed as utility vehicles. They worked hard and put a lot of stress on the original parts. Additionally, many project trucks have sat in barns and fields for decades, rusting away.

Restoration of either a Chevy or Ford pickup truck to get it back to running condition often requires replacing a majority of the vintage car parts. You may also wish to upgrade existing parts, working or not, for high performance aftermarket pickup truck parts to make the truck a more comfortable daily driver or a better racer.

Value of a Vintage Pickup Truck

If you are restoring a classic pickup truck with a goal of selling, both trucks from 1954 are a good choice with values on the rise as more buyers add classic trucks to their collection. A fully restored vintage truck can often sell for approximately $30,000 to $60,000.

The unrestored project cars often come in around the same price as well depending on the state of the frame. Expect to pay between $5000 and $10,000 for an unrestored vehicle. There are hundreds of these vintage pickups in existence, and most are in a non-operable, but ready to be restored condition, so it is often possible to find a deal on one if you look.

What About Other Model Years?

While design and technical specifications changed somewhat from year to year, the restoration process for Ford and Chevy pickup trucks from this time period is going to be largely similar. In fact, we consider any the second generation of the Ford F-Series, made from 1953 to 1956, and any of the Advance-Design series from Chevrolet, made from 1947 to 1955, to be the best classic trucks to restore.

Finding Parts for Ford Pickups and Chevrolet Pickups

Chevy and Ford pickup trucks were extremely popular in the 1950s with probably around 75,000 or more of each produced in 1954 alone. This leaves hundreds of OEM parts in existence, making it possible to find original parts if you want to keep your classic truck stock.

But you also have the option to swap out for compatible parts, and here you have nearly endless choices. The Chevy pickup and Ford pickup will work with the majority of parts. Vintage car parts from other vehicles or new parts manufactured with modern materials will all fit inside one of these classic pickups. For instance, a Ford pickup truck engine and a Chevy pickup truck engine can be swapped for almost any motor you like. That goes for many of the other parts as well.

They are both 12 volt vehicles, giving you a range of aftermarket accessories and parts to choose from. You can add radios, new lights, new starters, power steering, a more powerful ignition coil, and more. The wide availability of parts enables you to prioritize performance, durability, or affordability in your restoration.

If you are in the process of remodeling a 1954 pickup truck or you are looking for your next project, we have all the vintage car parts you need here at Vintage Auto Garage, making it easy and affordable to rebuild your classic truck from the ground up - or simply make a repair if you already have a restored Ford or Chevy pickup.

With vintage truck parts readily available at reasonable prices, you really cannot go wrong with either a Ford F100 or Chevy 3100 pickup truck as your project car. And if you are just getting started with vintage car restoration or want an easy project, these are two of the best models to choose from. In general, they are going to be easier to restore and repair than most vintage cars, and at a better price.

Whichever vehicle you choose, or if you have one already sitting out in your garage, you will be able to turn it into a great truck to drive, show, or sell.