The two earliest lines of Chevy pickup trucks were the Advance Design and the Task Force. The Advance Design Line ended in 1955, passing the torch to Task Force that same year. When being sold by GMC (remember, these companies have been linked for quite some time), it was called the Blue Chip series, though, as we know, branding doesn’t mean the vehicle underwent any design or mechanical changes.
The Task Force truck (or Blue Chip) had multiple options and packages available, including the first V8 engine, truck beds from 6 feet to 8 feet in length, and 12-volt electrical systems. The first generation of the Task Force is noted for being the first vehicle in the industry to have a “wraparound” windshield, with the option on the Deluxe version to include a “wraparound” back window. The GM Blue Chip version also had some firsts with the release of this particular truck: power steering and brakes.
They were manufactured all over the globe, including the United States, Canada, South Korea, Argentina, and England. The front engine truck had options for four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, with a 3-speed or 4-speed manual transmission. The wheelbase measured between 114-123 inches, and came with either an I6 or V8 engine. The Advance Design and Blue Chip were discontinued in 1960 and replaced by the C/K model.
