1949 Chevrolet 3100

Description

This beautifully restored 1949 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck represents the best of the Advance Design, and judging by the market, these trucks are becoming increasingly popular. There was a time when any farm had one of these rusting away behind a barn or still working out in the fields, but today, they are highly sought collector's items.

Refinished in traditional bright red, this truck looks highly authentic sitting on the blackwall tires with those shiny chrome wheels. The Advance Design trucks debuted in 1948, the first post-war trucks to hit the market, and they were a huge success. With car-like hood and fenders, they were some of the first trucks to actually spend time in a design studio instead of the engineering department. The bodywork on this one has been well executed with good panel fit and alignment, and signs that a considerable amount of time was spent getting everything straight before the paint was sprayed. The finish is appropriate and looks great on this vintage hauler, showing a few signs of age and use, but it's really quite minor. The bed has been refinished with fresh wood planks and stainless steel strips and looks absolutely gorgeous. Up front, there's a chrome grille, which was an upgrade on the 3100, and the chrome bumpers were options that were available from the dealer. A single tail lamp was also standard equipment, but this one sports a proper pair for highway safety in today's driving environment.

Utilitarian is the best way to describe the interior of the 3100. As I said, these were tools, not daily drivers, so while they are comfortable, they're also spartan, which is part of their charm. The burgundy bench seat sports a recent seat cover, the door panels are simple fiberboard cards, and the headliner is the same stuff stretched over the steel body skin. The dash, however, is very similar to those in Chevy cars of the period, and there's a complete array of gauges keeping an eye on the Stovebolt under the hood. Painted a contrasting dark gray, the interior panels formalize the inside of the truck, and the big steering wheel makes it easy to wheel this one around, even in tight parking lots. Radios were optional, as were heaters, so this one is bare bones, but that's not really a demerit as these trucks are renowned for their simplicity and you'll never get tired of driving it.

If you do choose to use it daily, however, you'll have to content yourself with a leisurely pace. The 1956-vintage 235 cubic inch inline-six under the hood is as tough and reliable as an anvil, but these trucks were never built for speed. The engine itself has been rebuilt, and bathed in the correct shade of corporate turquoise engine enamel and a few dress-up pieces. A pair of Weber carbs hang off a vintage Offenhauser intake manifold, there's a finned rocker cover up top, and a pair of air cleaners give it a '50s performance vibe. A pair of Fenton exhaust manifolds dump into a true dual exhaust with glasspack-style mufflers for a traditional soundtrack and surely adds a few horsepower, too. Upgrades include a 12-volt electrical system and an HEI distributor to light the fires. The transmission is a 4-speed manual that shifts with your fingertips. It rides on the original suspension, although it has been upgraded with a 2-inch lowering kit from Patrick's and it rolls on 225/75/15 Uniroyal blackwall radials.

Look around, but you probably won't find many trucks nicer than this, and the market is clearly on the move. Two years from now, this price will probably seem like a bargain. Call now!