Vehicle Description
What if you could have a truck that looks like a vintage 1957 model
but drives like a 2021? Well, here's the answer to your question: a
spectacular 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Restomod pickup with a modern 5.3L
V8 under the hood, a smooth-shifting modern 4L70E managing the
shifts, a comfortable A/C interior in the cab, and a sizzling
Hugger Orange paint job that wraps it all up. Vintage look, classic
feel, modern performance and solid economy. Talk about having your
cake and eating it too!
Painted in a vivid shade of Hugger Orange, Chevrolet 'Task Force'
pickups like this one were some of the first trucks that were
actually styled by designers rather than merely engineered. As a
result, they carry a lot of automotive-inspired design cues, and if
you see a little bit of Shoebox Chevy in the design, the
coincidence is purely intentional. Of course, the fact that this
one was finished to borderline show standards certainly helps, and
there's nary a ripple, pockmark or dent anywhere on the beautiful
straight surface of this truck. The paint is about a mile deep, and
has been rubbed and buffed to a great shine that looks awesome out
in the sun and in our photo booth. Sure, it's been driven and
enjoyed since the work was completed a few years back, and after
3,678 miles on the build a couple signs of use can be found, but
there very minor. In fact, a professional cut-and-buff would easily
bring this truck back up a notch, although it's so nice as it sits
now, most people will be more than happy to show off this
above-driver quality presentation. Enhancing the upscale look is a
neatly finished mid-length bed with polished maple planks and
stainless strips that tie in with the bright chrome bumper up
front, although most of the other factory shiny stuff was deleted
so the paint could do most of the talking. None of the original
sheetmetal was heavily modified, although a few emblems were shaved
and the door handles were removed, and that should tell you
something about how right the original design really was. It also
features a louvered tailgate and a matching custom rear roll pan,
along with custom bed rails finished to match, finishing a very
clean look on this dazzling 3100.
Black-and-orange is the dominant theme inside the cab, with the
original bench seat upholstered in black leather hides punctuated
with orange piping, offering all-day comfort on the supple wide
surface. Plain steel door panels were covered in matching black
pleated trim, and we love the seamless way the doors wrap into the
curvaceous Hugger Orange dash. The instrument panel uses a custom
Dakota Digital VHX digital/analog gauge system in the original
V-shaped housing, and retro-style radio in the dash works in
concert with a CD player hidden under the seat - both of which
power the speakers in the kick panels and 6x9s behind the seat. A
new A/C system was cleverly installed under the dash, and with
R134a refrigerant and a modern compressor under the hood, it blows
ice cold air throughout the cabin for all-day comfort. An
aftermarket tilt steering column houses a beefy 3-spoke wood-rimmed
steering wheel that is exactly appropriate for the truck's
personality and plush carpets keep it cool and quiet inside,
matching the stock-style headliner above.
Underneath all that beautiful Hugger Orange sheetmetal, you'll find
a very clean-looking chassis that was detailed and coated for
durability during the restoration. Up front there's a 5.3 liter
Vortec V8 from a late-model Chevy Silverado that looks ready to
rock with OEM levels of fit and finish, packing 300 horsepower that
moves the vintage truck around with ease. Instead of too much
flash, you get function and reliability, along with easy
serviceability, plus plenty of horsepower thanks to OEM fuel
injection and computer controls. The engine bay is beautifully
finished and the wiring was expertly hidden out of sight, making
the Vortec V8 look as if it were born there in between finished
Hugger Orange firewall and matching inner fenders. A big aluminum
radiator with electric fans has no problem keeping it cool and all
the stock Vortec accessories are spinning on the front of the block
via serpentine belt system. A 4L70E 4-speed automatic overdrive
transmission clicks through the gears, feeding a Ford 9-inch rear
end with 3.50 gears inside, so it's a fantastic highway cruiser.
Power steering and power front disc brakes ensure a great ride
every time out, and a wonderful soundtrack is provided via the
long-tube headers that feed into a 2.5-inch stainless exhaust
system to give it just a little bit of rumble, without intruding on
the neighbors. Chrome American Racing Torque Thrust wheels always
look great and these wear staggered 225/70/15 front and 235/70/15
rear BFGoodrich white-letter rubber to finish off the look
perfectly.
This is a no-compromises vintage truck built to very high
standards, and you'll be proud to call it your own. Call today!
