1950 Chevrolet 3800

Description

The Advance Design Chevys are great-looking trucks, but if you want to stand out with one of them, you either have to go radical or go big. This 1950 Chevrolet 3800 pickup manages to do both, as it's a heavy-duty 1-ton version that'll haul anything with that giant 9-foot bed, and it packs 350 cubic inches of V8 power to get the job done.

Dark green is always the right choice on a vintage pickup, and the high-quality repaint this big guy wears looks appropriately vintage and quite stylish for something that was undoubtedly relegated to working-class status when it was new. Today, it's got a new lease on life with a gorgeous restoration and more attention to the quality than it ever had when it was new. It obviously lived and worked somewhere warm and dry, since the body is in outstanding shape and these remain some of the best-looking trucks ever made. Despite its upgrades, all the original trim and badges remain in place, since the goal was to leave the look alone and simply make it beautiful, and on that count, they've succeeded. It has the desirable five-window cab and the delicate chrome strips on the grille, bright bumpers, and twin taillights out back add just the right amount of jewelry. The massive 9-foot bed, of course, has been refinished with fresh oak planks, and it's big enough and rugged enough to still work as a truck on weekends when you head out to move, say, your buddy's entire apartment.

The interior isn't too far removed from stock, either, with a comfortable vinyl-covered bench seat, a modified 2-spoke steering wheel that makes it easy to guide the big rig, and a stock dashboard painted to match the body. It has carpets instead of rubber mats, but they lend a practical look to the interior that's easy to maintain. The original gauges are still in place to monitor the warmed-over 350 crate motor under the hood, and A/C has been discreetly added under the dash. There is no radio, which it probably didn't have originally, but there is a long 4-speed shifter with a cue ball knob, which suggests that onlookers take a closer look at what's under the skin. Like all great resto-mods, the upgrades blend seamlessly into the original pieces creating something that still feels old but works like its new. Cool.

For a big hauler, you can't expect a puny small block to carry the load, so they installed a 350 cubic inch crate motor to get it all moving. Fresh out of the box, it provides effortless torque that can move the truck with real authority. An Edelbrock intake and carburetor add even more power, as well as a set of shorty exhaust headers and a Flowmaster dual exhaust system. A 4-speed manual transmission is certainly durable enough, as is the 10-bolt rear end that's been geared to be more highway-friendly than the original. However, the original suspension remains, augmented with power steering and front disc brakes giving it an authentic feel on the road but greater performance and safety. Custom steel wheels are a bit fatter than stock and carry baby moon hubcaps and fat whitewall radials for a period look and modern performance.

With over $63,000 worth of restoration work, this big Chevy is comfortable and smooth and has come a long way from its heavy-duty past. Call today!