1950 Chevrolet 3100 5 Window

Description

Keeping pickups in stock is a challenge for us at Streetside Classics. Trucks like this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 are extremely popular and with a surging aftermarket and great looks, they're among the biggest bangs for the buck in the old car hobby. Sticking close to the factory specifications, this one has a great old truck look with a few upgrades that make it totally usable in today's modern world.

The wheels and tires make this bright red pickup look a bit like a resto-mod, but under the skin it has that great vintage truck driving experience. When folks think of a classic truck, bright red is the color they picture more often than not, and with the wooden stake sides it looks quite authentic. The very desirable 5-window cab has never been off the frame and has never needed a complete restoration, so it surely wasn't worked to death in the field. Instead, someone treated it to a nice repaint a few years ago and it has a few marks on it, none of them diminish the appeal of this old hauler. Original sheetmetal throughout, including the fenders and bed, is more evidence that this truck lived a good life and there's new wood in the bed to give it a beautifully finished look. Bright chrome accents, including the grille and bumpers, gives it an upscale look that was uncommon back in the day but adds some much-appreciated sparkle today.

A commanding view and the feeling of a machine doing its thing makes the inside of this truck a great place to spend some free time. A fresh black vinyl seat cover wraps around the original bench and there are black carpets on the floor, which help control noise and heat a lot better than the primitive original mat, and both the headliner and door panels were recently replaced. The gauges are also new, and it's nice to see that they kept the original dials rather than throwing in some aftermarket pieces, and they've been upgraded to work with the 12-volt electrical system. Turn signals were added (even in 1950, they were not available from the factory) and the heater core and wiper motor are new. An accessory "suicide knob" on the steering wheel helps muscle the truck around without power steering, and you'll probably find that it's just not necessary. Tinted windows update the look a bit and help keep it cool inside on warm days.

A later 235 cubic inch inline-six provides a host of reliability upgrades without erasing the truck's authentic character. Wearing bright Chevy Orange paint, it has a nicely detailed look that you'll enjoy showing off at the local cruise nights. As I mentioned, it's been upgraded to 12-volt electrics, so the starter spins with real vigor when you hit the key and a new exhaust system gives it a great old-time grumble. Wiring, hoses, lines, and other soft parts are new and the stock cast iron exhaust manifolds have been coated to look good practically forever. The original 4-speed transmission was rebuilt and is linked to a modern 12-bolt rear end with more highway-friendly gears inside, so the truck is very usable in today's traffic. Those flashy Eagle alloy wheels aren't authentic, of course, but with 255/60/15 white-letter radials, it rides quite well.

It's pretty obvious why these trucks don't stick around long, and this one keeps all that's awesome and adds a few smart upgrades to make it a pleasure to own. Call today!