Vehicle Description
Patina trucks look cool but most of them take the theme so far that
they're not only no fun to drive, they're also unsafe. Mismatched
wheels and tires, sketchy brakes, engines and transmissions pulled
from the Titanic, no thanks. Now, how about this cool 1950
Chevrolet 3100 5-window pickup with the maximum amount of badass
allowed by law AND a solid foundation? Yeah, sounds pretty good to
us, too.
Patina is what this truck is all about, and maybe calling it a "rat
rod" isn't quite right. It's updated but they left the exterior
alone, so it rides and handles like something newer but has a
fantastic used truck look. It's the perfect way to draw people in
and make them just a bit uncomfortable at the same time. On this
cool '50 it's everywhere from bumper to bumper and from roof to
running board. Trim wasn't a major part of these trucks when new,
and there are a few well-placed pieces here to add contrast. The
headlamp trim rings and the front and rear marker lights are shiny,
as are the door handles on a pair of mismatched doors. There's no
shiny paint, just a faded-looking gray primer that's purely
intentional and should outlast us all. The bed is functional with
weathered stake sides and a simple plywood floor, along with a
tailgate that's yet another color. The stance is perfect, dropped
but not in the weeds and with a perfect rake. This is an awesome
truck.
Inside, there aren't any vintage milk crates or stop signs, nor are
there any LED lit skulls or pinup girls. A comfortable vinyl bench
with a new reproduction seat cover is infinitely better for
cruising, and black rubber floor mats work well with the
working-class look. You're holding on to a thick rimmed late-model
steering wheel mounted to a modern GM tilt steering column, and
that's a great tradeoff for the original impale-O-matic column and
two foot diameter wheel. The original dash holds Auto Meter gauges
that look like they were born there, but precious little else. This
is still a simple machine, just one that's upgraded to make it
reliable and fast so you don't have to worry about actually putting
it on the road.
Pop the hood and you'll find a familiar 350 cubic inch Chevy V8, a
big upgrade over the original Stovebolt 6. With the usual upgrades
like a 4-barrel carburetor, HEI ignition, and a 12-volt electrical
system, it's ready to go anywhere, anytime. The idle is fantastic,
especially through the stock exhaust manifolds and glasspack-style
mufflers below. Power brakes with a dual master cylinder are far
safer than the original floor-mounted setup and most of the wiring
appears new. The chassis holds the biggest surprise thanks to a
late-model front clip that includes an independent front suspension
and disc brakes that all allow for a much better ride, a great
stance and reasonable stopping times, with replacement parts as
close as your nearest parts store. There's a TH350 3-speed
automatic transmission in the tunnel feeding power back to a
10-bolt axle. New shocks help ride quality quite a bit and while
it's not detailed for show underneath, you won't find any critical
issues that should make you worry about hitting the road. Fresh
steel wheels with baby moon hubcaps and trim rings hold fat
205/75/14 blackwall radials that still look like they belong on an
old truck.
Miles of attitude, power, comfort, classic lines and the rat rod
vibe, it's an awesome combination! Call today!
