1951 Chevrolet 3100

Description

If you're building a resto-mod pickup truck, feel free to use this 1950 Chevy 3100 as your guide for how to do it exactly right. An ideal blend of vintage looks with a smooth V8 powertrain give this truck an edge that embraces history and still delivers modern performance.

The color is actually pretty close to Windsor Blue, an original Chevy truck color in 1950, which probably explains why it looks so right. Of course, no working-class machine in 1950 was this nicely finished, else everyone would have been afraid to, you know, use them as trucks. The post-war "Advance Design" pickups are some of the most popular pickups ever built, and their fat-fendered look is downright gorgeous. Fit and finish are good, from a hood that fits well to the bed that's full of suitably weathered wood planks. The Windsor Blue paint has a nice shine and a bit of metallic, and thanks to a recent respray with modern paints, it should look good for years to come with only moderate care. Note the neatly chromed grille, the custom rear roll pan with built-in taillights, and running boards finished with spray-on bedliner material so you can actually use them. In back, there's a nicely finished oak bed with stainless rub strips, a traditional way to make your truck look like a million bucks.

Part of an old truck's charm is the no-nonsense interior, but this pickup is the exception. The original bench seat is gone, replaced by a pair of late-model leather buckets that fit rather well. The rest of the interior has been trimmed to match, with black carpets and door panels. The original dash remains in place, painted to match the body, but with big Dolphin gauges nestled into the original gauge pods for a very finished look. There's also a tilt steering column with a handsome three-spoke steering wheel that evokes the banjo-style wheels of the past. The original 3-speed manual transmission is long gone, supplanted by a TH350 3-speed automatic unit, which is controlled by a floor-mounted Lokar shifter. Perched up high in the dash, an AM/FM radio from Retrosound looks like it was born there, and with all new weather seals, it sounds pretty darned good, too.

Simple is often the best choice, so a Chevy 305 was neatly installed in the 3100's engine bay. With ample power, a great V8 soundtrack, and the same reliability that was built into the truck when it was new, it's an excellent choice. Dressed very traditionally with Chevy Orange paint, finned valve covers, and an matching air cleaner, it has a hot rod look that seems to work well with the truck's overall demeanor. Other upgrades include a chrome alternator, a giant aluminum radiator, and an Edelbrock intake manifold and 4-barrel carburetor up top. It has also been fitted with a Mustang II style front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, power front disc brakes, and a throaty dual exhaust system that offers a muted rumble that isn't annoying on the highway. Slick 15-inch wheels with an updated Torque Thrust look are a perfect fit in the truck's big wheel wells, and wear 215/60/15 front and 245/60/15 rear blackwall radials.

Built for the road, this truck is fully sorted and ready to enjoy, so if you appreciate original virtues with a few subtle modern upgrades, this is your truck. Call today!