1954 Chevrolet 3100 5 Window

Description

This 1954 Chevrolet 3100 is looking for a job. Willing to put in long hours, carry heavy loads, and look good doing it. On the other hand, with its super-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.

Dark Hunter Green is always a great choice on a vintage pickup truck, and thanks to the wonders of modern paint finishes, this one looks far better than it did when it was new. It was refinished nearly 20 years ago, but thanks to expert care and maintenance, it still looks fantastic. 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 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 appear to be OEM. The bed's full of fresh lumber but it's painted black like they did it at the factory, not refinished like a dance floor. Simple painted bumpers bumpers add some contrast and this is one of the last vehicles to use factory-installed running boards, which are always a welcome feature. I don't know, maybe it's just too nice, but this truck still seems to want to work.

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 brown vinyl. All the original instruments work and have bright crisp markings inside two big round pods, 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 does have a heater/defroster unit which was likewise optional in 1954. 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 and seat belts for safety. It's not exactly luxurious, but it's a great place to experience life in the slow lane.

Chevy's 235 cubic inch "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. The industrial gray paint is correct, and the family resemblance to the "Blue Flame" six found in the Corvette is definitely there. It fires up quickly and idles well, and moves the stocky little truck easily, empty or loaded. Maintenance is easy, and keeping these running is never a chore, and the original equipment such as a generator, downdraft carburetor, and oil bath air cleaner make it authentic. On this one, the hoses, belts, plugs, wires, starter, and fuel pump appear to be recent, and the wiring harness was brand new when the truck was restored. It only has about 6200 miles on the rebuild, so it's fresh and runs strong. It's solid underneath, too, with painted floors, satin black suspension components, and 3.90 gears out back that make it a decent 60 MPH cruiser. Stock steel wheels with bias-ply blackwalls and dog dish hubcaps complete the blue-collar look.

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 and give this truck a job!