1955 GMC 3100

Description

You can tell at a glance that this stunning 1955 GMC 3100 pickup is used to winning trophies. But it's also a fantastic driver that's ready to hit the road and loaded with features that make it a pleasure to drive. If you're taking notes at home, this is a prime example of how to do it right.

When you build a truck like this, there's really no need for subtlety, so go ahead and paint it screaming Chrome Yellow. The dramatic GMC lines were ground-breaking in 1955 and have aged well over the past five or six decades, so it looks right at home on today's highways. Paint and bodywork were done to professional standards, and since it was built from the ground up to be a take-no-prisoners machine, the workmanship is impressive. Note the laser-straight crease that runs from the headlights all the way to the rear of the cab, the flush-fitting hood, and beautifully finished tailgate with highly stylized GMC lettering. The chrome grille and bumpers on these trucks are a big part of what make them so handsome, neatly bridging commercial vehicles and passenger cars with their design, and a good-sized stack of cash went into making the shiny bits look this good. The bed was finished with the usual new wood and stainless rub strips, with the fuel filler neatly stashed under a little metal cap that hides in plain sight. A light tint on the windows adds to the updated look.

The interior is the same mix of old and new, with a beautifully sculpted bench seat doing the job of the original unit. Tan tweed upholstery is both durable and comfortable and shows very little wear, a testament to the quality of the workmanship. Contrasting carpets give it an upscale feel, and thanks to liberal use of hush mat throughout the cab, it no longer clatters and bangs down the road like an old pickup. A billet aluminum instrument panel holds cream-colored gauges from Classic Instruments, all surrounded by a custom leather-wrapped wheel that clearly took its inspiration from other '50s GM products. A polished tilt column, cold A/C, power windows, and new weather-stripping add to the modern feel when you're motoring down the road. There is no radio, but that's on purpose and not an omission, and you won't miss it once you hear that cackling small block under the hood.

That small block is a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 fortified with goodies like an Edelbrock intake and 4-barrel carburetor, HEI distributor, and a custom side-exit exhaust system. Framed by a custom smoothed firewall and body-colored inner fenders, you can see that there was a pro at work here. The plumbing and electrical systems were neatly hidden to give it a beautiful, clean look, and there's a great deal of polished aluminum and chrome, ranging from the air cleaner to the serpentine belt setup. Even the fans on the big aluminum radiator have chrome housings. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission powers a 9-inch rear end hanging on a coil-over suspension. Up front, it has A-arms and power rack-and-pinion steering with disc brakes, so it feels quite modern from behind the wheel. Classic Torque Thrust wheels and fat 225/70/15 radials fit neatly in the wheelwells, even with that slammed stance.

Featured in magazines, this is a show truck that's ready to join the next Power Tour and cruise anywhere in comfort. Call today!