1955 Chevrolet 3100

Description

The all-new 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup was as big a revolution as its automotive siblings, which is perhaps why they make such awesome rods. This truck keeps all its original design features, and enhances them with a beautiful two-tone paint job, an inviting interior, and plenty of horsepower under the hood, making for a very tidy package indeed.

The 3100 rolled out of the showroom looking like a custom truck, so it doesn't take a lot of cutting and welding to make it look this good. In fact, most of the original stuff remains in place and as the factory intended, from the hooded headlights to the forward-canted rear fenders that imply motion even when it's standing still. Sure, a subtle de-chroming has given this particular truck a slick look and that blue-over-silver paint is about a mile deep, but all the cool stuff is vintage 1955. The emblems were trimmed, the hood was nosed, and the outside mirrors were removed and replaced with units a little more delicate, so it has a slick look that doesn't remove the truck's character. There's also that nicely finished bed with a heavy-duty rubber mat, so it becomes a show truck that doesn't mind being a truck. Bright chrome bumpers and a beautifully restored grille highlight some of the truck's best features and you'll note that the tailgate has been neatly smoothed to give it all a very clean look.

Two-tone bucket seats look far more upscale than whatever was there originally. The interior shows few signs of use, and with gray carpets on the floor, it's quiet and comfortable inside. You'll note that the dash has been painted blue to match the bodywork, as have the doors, but the details are gray, so it really works. Just that single splash of color makes a big difference without being overbearing. A GM tilt column topped by a great-looking 3-spoke steering wheel makes this truck more comfortable for modern drivers than the original, the windows are power-actuated, and the A/C is chilly. Factory gauges are gone, replaced by a set of vintage Auto Meter units in a panel that looks very true to the originals. An AM/FM/CD stereo sounds great in the well-insulated cabin and tinted windows help keep it looking and feeling cool.

The 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood is a direct descendant of the original 265, but it makes a lot more power thanks to a Holley 4-barrel carburetor atop an aluminum intake. A finned aluminum air cleaner looks period-correct but ever so much more cool than the usual aftermarket stuff and there's just enough chrome on the engine to remind you this isn't a stocker, but not so much that it looks over done. The front suspension is upgraded with a GM subframe featuring power steering and power front disc brakes, while the rear end sits on a 4-link with coil-overs so it rides well. A 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission is flanked by a custom dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers, and it's detailed well enough to let you know it was carefully built but this is no trailer queen. The wheels are 17-inch Budnik billet aluminum pieces that go well with the truck's high-tech look, and they're wrapped with 255/40/17 performance radials.

Nicely built, this truck only seems to emphasize everything that was great about the original design while adding a big dose of reliable performance. Call today!