1954 Chevrolet 3100

Description

This 1954 Chevrolet 3100 is ready for show or go. Willing to put in long hours, carry heavy loads, and look good doing it, it can still be used as a truck but is also nice enough to show. On the other hand, with a nice restoration, this is also a great-driving vehicle with a comfortable ride and reasonable power in addition to those timeless good looks. Capture the best of both worlds with a hobby vehicle that you can use as Chevrolet intended without worry, and still drive it to the local cruise night where it'll draw a crowd.

Bright red is always a great choice on a vintage pickup truck, and thanks to the wonders of modern paint finishes, this one looks like it just rolled out of the showroom. The Advance Design pickups are a favorite among truck enthusiasts, and they were one of the first trucks to take into account that just maybe all those farmers and carpenters wanted something that was stylish and comfortable as well as durable and versatile. Fit and finish are quite good and unlike so many of these trucks, it managed to keep all its original-style trim for that old-school simplicity that is a big part of the truck's charm. Up front there's a painted grille that's in great shape, and all the body panels look great. The bed's full of fresh lumber and shiny stainless rub strips, which works well with the look of the rest of the truck. Chrome bumpers add some flash and the side-mounted spare is a utilitarian feature that many restorers delete for some reason. I don't know, maybe it's just too nice to take to work after all!

The interior covers the basics, and that's part of the truck's charm. The bench seat will accommodate three, and has been reupholstered in tan vinyl. All the original instruments work, assisted by an Auto Meter dial under the dash, and the steel dashboard is a handsome design that's functional, too. Like many trucks of this era, there was no radio when it was new, but it now sports a modern AM/FM stereo setup with neatly integrated speakers in the kick panels. Three-on-the-tree shifting is easy thanks to the large diameter steering wheel, and there's an aftermarket turn signal unit mounted on the column for safety. It's not exactly luxurious, but it's a great place to experience life in the slow lane.

Chevy's "Stovebolt Six" is under the hood doing its job, and if you've ever driven a vehicle with one of these engines, you know they're smooth and torquey. It fires up easily and idles well, and moves the stocky little truck easily, empty or loaded. Maintenance is easy, and keeping these running is never a chore. On this one, the hoses, belts, plugs, wires, starter, and fuel pump appear to be recent, and the wiring harness is brand new. Dual exhaust gives it a throaty sound and maybe frees up a few extra ponies, although speed is not this truck's primary mission. It's solid underneath, too, with a freshly rebuilt steering box, and a set of recent whitewall radials mounted to the original steel rims with simple hubcaps and trim rings.

Fun hobby vehicles don't get much more attractive than this, and when they're also useful the argument is easy to make. Call today!