Vehicle Description
In the late '50s, Chevrolet trucks were unquestionably the
best-looking, most modern haulers you could buy. Today, trucks like
this 1959 Chevrolet 3100 have an undeniable appeal with lots of
chrome, wonderful styling, and a bunch of still-usable
functionality. This one also happens to offer a burly big block V8,
gorgeous paint, and a tastefully upgraded interior to go with it,
making for a truck that you can drive anywhere.
Any vehicle from the '50s is not going to be subtle, so you may as
well paint it red. The fact that the handsome maroon finish works
so well on the 3100 is a happy coincidence, but to be honest, these
trucks would look right in just about any color. The bodywork is in
excellent condition, showing not only quality workmanship but a
lifetime of pretty easy living because the thing fits together too
well to have ever been broken and abused. The stepside bed offers
practicality as well as a great look with those bulging rear
fenders, and the way they're artfully styled to match the bodywork
is more evidence that Chevy knew styling sold trucks as well as
cars. The beautiful finish only shows very minor signs of being
driven, so the overall look is quite appealing and it sure shines
up nicely. Details like chrome bumpers, the wide grille, and quad
headlights help strengthen the link between the passenger car line
and the trucks, and you'll note a set of Impala-looking taillights
hanging in the custom rear roll pan.
Using a buckets from a late-model Nissan means that climbing into
this vintage 3100 feels very familiar. It's easy to get comfortable
in the big overstuffed leather seats and with carpeted floors, it's
rather luxurious inside. A polished tilt column and a billet
steering wheel add comfort without removing style and the original
dashboard has been filled with a set of modern Dakota Digital
gauges in a smoked panel that fits like the original. There's an
Auto Meter tach and shift light mounted atop the dash, and that
center console was lifted from a late-model Camaro. An AM/FM/CD
stereo lives in the center stack so that the dash can keep its
mostly original configuration and thanks to the use of extensive
sound-deadening materials in the cab, it's reasonably quiet on the
road. This is one old pickup that doesn't feel like an old pickup
from behind the wheel.
A thumping 572 cubic inch V8 built by McKinney Motor Company
delivers four or five times as much power as the original engine
would have, so it's extremely entertaining on the road. It's fed by
a Holley EFI system for snappy throttle response and with that
oversized radiator and electric fan, this truck doesn't seem to
mind sitting in traffic. It was dyno tested at 638 horsepower and
an astounding 700 pounds of torque, so you'd better understand that
this sucker moves! A few polished dress-up pieces make it look tidy
under the hood and the long-tube headers snake out through the
fender wells to feed a rumbling Flowmaster dual exhaust system.
Thanks to a built TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, this truck
is wickedly fast but easy to drive and with the suspension lowered
four inches, it has a wonderfully aggressive look that doesn't seem
to compromise its ability to carry a load. A full tubular A-arm
front suspension with power rack-and-pinion steering plus
four-wheel disc brakes mean that it rides and handles like a far
younger truck and the low-key aluminum wheels with staggered
205/70/15 front and 31x16-15 rear tires are exactly the right
choice.
As handsome as ever and tastefully modified, this 3100 will become
your favorite way to move your stuff around. Call today!