1948 Chevrolet 3100 5 Window

Description

Customs are at their best when the lines get a little blurry. Take this 1948 Chevy 3100 pickup for instance. At first glance, it's easy to see what it is. But when you look a little longer, it becomes something unique, from the peaked front fenders to the late-model bed seamlessly grafted onto the original chassis. It's not nearly as stock as it looks.

Where to start with something that's been this extensively tweaked, modified, and smoothed? Well, the front end has been expertly formed, keeping the original elements of the grille and hood, but cleaning them up a bit. Hooded headlights add a retro look that seems to suit the old pickup just fine, and yes, a lot of the chrome and trim, including the door handles and mirrors, has been shaved. Perhaps the most significant modification is the late-model pickup bed, which has been extensively modified to not only fit on the early truck's chassis, but also to accommodate a set of early Chevy truck fenders to complete the look. It's a bit longer than stock (the fenders and running boards were stretched), a little lower (it's been channeled three inches), but most of that is invisible until you have a stock one parked next to it. The sizzling red paint is pure eye candy, professionally laid down over some super-straight bodywork that must have taken hundreds of hours to finish. A custom rear roll pan, little LED taillights, and factory-style fender welting only enhance the illusion.

Gray cloth buckets were borrowed from a late-model and extensively reworked as well, then wrapped in OEM-looking materials that are durable as well as comfortable. A 1960 Impala donated its dashboard to the build and the way it fits in the old truck makes you think it was born there. A factory speedometer and simple Sunpro gauges fit in the original holes exactly, and with a color-matched tilt column, it's easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. Hidden A/C keeps temperatures reasonable inside, and entertainment comes from an AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that's been nicely integrated into the dash. Full cloth door panels help control noise and heat, and there's now carpeting on the floors for the same reason.

The coolest thing is that under the skin, this is a 1991 Chevy C10 pickup, from the 305 cubic inch V8 to the independent front suspension and the frame itself. It's a nice fit for the old pickup, and the engine obviously fits without any issues, accessories and all. A big Walker radiator keeps it cool, and plenty of chrome makes it nice to look at. It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and the donor truck's original 2.73-geared rear end. The lowered stance looks right but doesn't compromise the way it rides and handles, which is quite modern in execution, and there's plenty of evidence that the builders took their time and got all the details right. UPgraded components include the gas tank, drive shaft, and a custom Flowmaster exhaust system that sounds great without being overbearing. Classic Torque Thrusts with 205/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear tires gives it exactly the right stance.

Ready to show or cruise, this impressive truck is one of the best customs we've seen, if only because it does everything so well. Call today!