Hot Wheels: Chevrolet Forum Names Chevy’s Best Trucks
We zero in on the most iconic Chevy trucks over the past 100 years.
The 100-year anniversary for any company is something that most can appreciate, because it’s such a huge accomplishment. However, when that centennial mark is tied to something as iconic and American as Chevy trucks, it’s even more special. Of course, the best thing about Chevrolet truck’s 100th anniversary is that it officially allows us to weigh in on our favorites from over the years. So, in honor of the long line of memorable pickups and SUVs that have worn the Chevrolet badge, here are 10 we think are most iconic Chevy trucks of all time.
1. 1947 Chevy 3100 Series
For diehard classic truck fans, the 1947 3100 Series ranks as a must-include on any top Chevy list. In fact, Rich Scheer, director of Exterior Design for Chevy Trucks, describes the truck from the “Advanced Design” lineage as, “one of the most iconic designs in automotive history.” Of course, we’d never simply take an auto exec’s word when compiling a “best of” list, but you can’t dispute that the 3100 Series was groundbreaking, and the first pickup to sport Chevy’s badass five-bar horizontal grille.
2. Chevy Apache NAPCO
More than your typical firewood hauler, the Apache NAPCO (Northwestern Auto Parts Company) is arguably one of the coolests pickups to ever wear a Chevy badge. Sure, early on, the Northwestern Auto Parts Company name was also tied to companies like Ford, GMC, and Studebaker. However, it was Chevrolet that made its four-wheel-drive chassis popular.
3. Chevy ‘Task Force’
Who knows, maybe it’s the name that makes this one so intriguing. After all, it isn’t every day that you come across a vehicle officially called “Task Force.” It makes it seem like you’re on some kind of covert mission, which gives the pickup a rather sinister mystique. Of course, true performance buffs will quickly point to the fact that the “Task Force” was also the first regular pickup with a small block V8 under the hood. That’s good enough to earn it a spot on a lot of lists.
4. First Generation C/K
They say there’s nothing like your first love. Well, for a generation of Chevy fans, that first love came in the ’60s, wrapped as the first-generation Chevy C/K. Sure, there are a gang of hot C/K based trucks you could pick for a list like this, but we tend to be big on groundbreaking models here at Chevrolet Forum. That puts the first-gen C/K in a class of its own, as the truck that inspired a lot of the other models on our list.
5. 1973 Chevy Suburban
Of all the trucks Chevrolet has produced over the past 100 years, the Suburban stands as one of the most longstanding still in production. That, alone, makes the extended family hauler noteworthy. However, the thing that really makes the ’73 model special to us is the fact that it was the first Suburban to feature four doors. Prior to that, the driver’s side of the Chevy Suburban only had one door. We consider that pretty groundbreaking as well.
6. 1967 Chevy C10
No vehicle captures the clean, classic appeal of Chevy trucks better than the second-generation C/K, produced from 1967 to 1972. Picking a favorite from the period isn’t easy, but if forced to narrow it down to one, the ‘67 C10 Fleetside definitely tops our list. It really speaks to what made the second-gen special, with unique styling elements like the slight wheel flare and tapering rear end.
7. 1973 C30 One-Ton Dually
Ah, the beauty of the Chevy Dually. You knew that at least one of those would end up on our list, right? Of course, there are a few in the Chevy bunch that have been notable over the years, but one of the most historic is the 1973 C30 One-Ton. It was the first Chevy crew cab to feature the double rear-wheel set-up. The ’73 C30 Dually is also credited with helping to usher in the era of so-called “Heavy Duty Trucks.”
8. 1976 C10 Chevy Spirit of 76 Commemorative Edition
The 1976 C10 Chevy Spirit of 76 Commemorative Edition is pretty much a shoo-in, given its bicentennial roots. C’mon, how could it not be? Sure, we admit that it’s not the hottest pickup Chevy’s made. However, anything honored with the beloved “Spirit of 76” tag certainly deserves recognition on a list like this one.
9. Chevy 454 SS
Any talk about great Chevy trucks is pretty null and void if doesn’t include the 454 SS. Among those who truly bleed Chevy, it’s widely regarded as one of the most iconic pickups ever built. Why? Well, perhaps the most impressive aspect is that it features a growling big-block V8 neatly packed into a short-box C1500.
10. Chevy TrailBlazer SS
There wasn’t a truck on the planet in the late 2000s that satisfied our craving for speed like the TrailBlazer SS. In fact, you could argue that the SUV helped pave the way for a lot of the high-performance trucks found today. And its latest inception is totally badass. Of course, a production SUV equipped with the same 6.0-Liter V8 as a Corvette doesn’t really need to be compared to anything else. It pretty much stands on its own merits.