Vehicle Description
The all-new Chevrolet "Task Force" pickups were a hit with the
buying public when they were introduced in the latter part of 1955,
and they remain very popular in the 21st century. This dialed-in
1955 Chevrolet 3100 Big window truck has that classic look we all
love and adds 350 V8 power, a smooth-shifting 4-speed manual, and a
comfortable interior all wrapped in a slick teal package. Arguably
the best-looking truck of the period, super-clean Big Window
examples like this never last, so if you're seriously interested,
read fast because this beauty won't be with us long.
Pastel colors always work on old '50s era pickups, but this isn't
some faded old farm truck, as the Ocean Green finish on this big
hauler is quite the head turner. With that great curb appeal, this
one seems to have led an easy life showing off its crisp, clean
lines that are covered with layer upon layer of deep, shiny paint
that was applied not long ago. It's not a perfect show queen, and
it's not like you'd want that in a truck anyway, but rather a top
driver-quality rig with only minor imperfections that do nothing to
take away from the killer look of this 3100. It's easy to see why
these trucks were a hit the moment they were introduced, with the
forward-canted fenders that make it look fast even sitting still
(not that pickup trucks needed to be fast in 1955, but it's still a
great look) and a handsome egg crate chrome grille that linked
Chevy's truck line with their automotive offerings. The crease that
runs from the headlights to the back of the cab and is picked up
again in the rear fenders is sharp and well-defined and we
especially like the classic utilitarian look of the white accent
paint on the cab, badge insert on the front fenders, and the
'Chevrolet' script on the tailgate. As is customary with a vintage
pickup, the bed has been finished with what appear to be pine
boards (or possibly oak; sorry, we're not lumberjacks) and shiny
chrome rub strips to tie it all together. Glistening chrome bumpers
fore and aft look substantial and have been polished up along with
any badge work found throughout the truck. And for our money,
there's nothing better than the profile of a stepside Chevy 3100,
especially when the rake is set just right. Man, this is a
great-looking truck!
The interior sticks to the factory theme, with fresh dark gray
vinyl upholstery on the big, comfortable bench seat that brings
some style to the mix without being overwhelming. The color
combination is great inside the cabin, with white and Ocean Green
paint on the dash and door panels that matches the exterior, and
durable carpets and headliner to match the bench seat. Simple is
the rule here, too, as the dash includes clear instruments inside
the factory bezel, a big factory steering wheel, and little else to
interrupt the business of driving. That oversized steering wheel
makes it easy for the driver to get comfortable in the cockpit, and
there's a padded headliner above and plush black carpets below that
make it feel a bit sophisticated inside without changing the
personality of this vintage hauler. Options are sparse but you do
get an always exciting Hurst cue ball shifter jutting out from the
floorboard, and a Kenwood AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that was neatly
installed in the dash. Otherwise, it's all pretty much the way the
factory delivered it, from the all-metal door panels to the simple
dash that was as much function as style. Thankfully, it was all
restored and executed to a very high level, so the cabin is very a
comfortable place in which to spend some time.
You could certainly get a V8 in your 1955 Chevy, but the 350 cubic
incher that's in there now is a lot more powerful than anything
they were building back then. It is, however, dressed beautifully
with Chevy Orange enamel on the block, finned valve covers, and a
matching open-element air cleaner - all of which are popular period
modifications that really shine things up under the hood. A
performance intake manifold and Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor help
build power up top, and the ram's horn exhaust manifolds feed a set
of glasspack-style mufflers that give this old Chevy a fantastic
sound. A big stock-style radiator keeps the small block cool in all
conditions, and power brakes tucked underneath improve the driving
experience tremendously. The aforementioned 4-speed manual
transmission handles the added torque and power with ease, and it
spins a heavy-duty 10-bolt rear end out back that's darn near
bulletproof. Color-matched steelies adorned with chrome beauty
rings and 'dog dish' hubcaps look fantastic, and they're wrapped in
beefy 16-inch whitewall radials that put a punctuation mark on this
super cool 3100.
Look around and you won't find a whole lot of these trucks finished
to this level and still priced affordably. Popularity is
increasing, so make this one yours by calling today!
