54 Chevy 3100 PU Auto Transmission?

[jlabowski]

I'm looking for a pickup of this vintage. I saw one with an auto trans. Was the auto a factory option in 54? Thanks

[Guest BruceW]

A Hydra-Matic automatic transmission as an extra cost factory option in the light duty pickups in 1954.

An online copy of a document explaining 1954 Chevrolet Truck engineering features is located at the following URL:

http://www.cs.siena.edu/~lederman/truck/Documents/EngineeringFeatures/index.html

Click on the page 64 link in the table of contents for the page with a discription of the Hydra-Matic transmission for 1954. It is a scanned document and some of the text is difficult to read. There is also a cutaway side view drawing of the transmission.

A copy of a page from a 1954 Chevrolet truck sales brochure that shows the Hydra-Matic transmission option for light duty pickups is located at:

http://www.cs.siena.edu/~lederman/truck/Documents/SalesBooklet/slides/Page%208.html

The entire sales brochure is located at the following URL:

http://www.cs.siena.edu/~lederman/truck/Documents/SalesBooklet/index.html

Some differences between the automatic and manual transmission trucks that I found elsewhere are: frame cross-bar for rear mount on the transmission solenoid starter, automatic choke, different brake master cylinder and brake line routing, and push-button start on the dash (hole to the left of the guages).

Hope this helps.

[jlabowski]

Thanks Bruce. It's time for a test drive.

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Bruce,

They were also available in the 3/4 and 1 tons...

About 15 years ago, I was looking at a '54 Chevy 3600 (3/4 ton) with the Hydramatic AND the deluxe cab: not only five windows, but also two-tone inside and out(blue /white), with color-keyed nylon seat material... could've had it for $500... I'm still kicking myself for not buying it and I hope that it went to a restorer who knew what is was, and not some dumb rodster...

I believe GMC began offering the Hydramtic in '53.

[Guest 4budman]

I'm looking for a pickup of this vintage. I saw one with an auto trans. Was the auto a factory option in 54? Thanks

I just bought a basket case truck with a running inline 6 cyl and a hydro-matic tranny. Contemplating making a street rod so I could be open to selling origional parts....let me know!

4budman