1954 Chevrolet 3100 Restomod

Description

We see a lot of pretty cool pickups, but this 1954 Chevy 3100 might be the most elegant we've ever featured. And it's more than just pretty, because there's an LS2 powerplant underneath, a leather-lined interior, and a well-designed chassis that's built for the road.

This truck has already earned its share of kudos and shows just 58 miles on the build, with most of those probably coming while it was driving on and off the trailer. This beautiful hauler started as a standard 5-window Chevy 3100 pickup and was stripped bare and fully rebuilt using old-fashioned hot-rodding tricks and exceptional craftsmanship. Most notable is, of course, the paint job, which is sinister black with a high polish to make this blue-collar pickup look at home on Rodeo Drive. A few minor pieces of trim were shaved, but they kept the trademark grille and cool emblem on the nose, and sharp-eyed viewers will spot the LS2 badges added to the hood. At the same time, the bed got a full makeover that includes a fresh wood floor with dark stain, a custom rear roll pan, and blue dot taillights that look suitably old-fashioned. The overall workmanship is quite impressive, with a great gloss and smooth finish everywhere you look, and you'll be proud to show it off.

Black leather power buckets from a late model are a nice fit in the 3100 cab, and anchor an interior that is just as subtle and expertly done as the bodywork. New black carpets contrast with the custom-made gray door panels, and while the seats are wearing factory leather, they're in fantastic condition. Upgrades include a tilt column, A/C discreetly stashed under the instrument panel, power windows, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, all of which bring this vintage pickup into the 21st century. The original dash was painted to match the body and it really brightens up the cab, particularly with bright chrome on the central grille and glove box lid. Custom Omega gauges with neat old-school fonts really work well in the factory holes and there's a tach down on the center console that really looks cool. Entertainment comes from an AM/FM/iPod/Bluetooth stereo system that sounds fantastic, even with that LS2 running full-bore.

For powering your rod, it's pretty hard to beat a late-model LS2 V8. The all-aluminum powerplant was liberated from a late-model Corvette, and thanks to a fly-by-wire throttle body, the swap is pretty straightforward. Familiar Corvette coil covers dress up the all-black engine bay, and the potent V8 is a neat fit in the pickup's engine bay, so service access is still pretty good. It almost looks OEM. The front subframe is GM-based and brings power steering and power front disc brakes with it and a custom engine and transmission harness was used to get the LS2 and 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission talking to each other properly. A custom exhaust system offers OEM-style mufflers for a mellow sound that never gets annoying, and stays tucked up tightly under the bodywork, exiting under the rear fenders. A 10-bolt rear end handles the torque and the overdrive means this truck is a superlative highway cruiser and thanks to the chassis upgrades, it rides rather well for a pickup. Big American Racing polished aluminum wheels are a great choice on a rod like this and carry 255/45/18 front and giant 275/45/20 rear Continental rubber that fills the fenders perfectly.

Beautifully built and ready to cruise, this truck is ready to start collecting trophies or hammering the highways, all of which it does equally well. Call today!