Vehicle Description
You can sum up this 1955 Chevrolet 3100 5-Window pickup in just one
word: vivid. Glowing Purple paint with hints of metallic and pearl
inside, painted trim and bumpers, a comfortable leather and A/C
interior, and a fresh 350 V8 crate motor under the hood give this
hauler the right credentials to qualify for the slickest truck
we've seen in a long time.
Getting attention has never been difficult for these trucks, but
the brilliant Purple paint on this 5-Window will have folks
stopping in their tracks. Finished less than 3k miles ago, it's
still looks so fresh that you'll be tempted to touch it to see if
that finish is still wet, and the shine from the deep layers of
clearcoat on top almost make you avert your eyes under direct
sunlight. The first half of 1955 was the last hurrah of the
uber-popular Advance-Design pickups (aka known as the 1955 First
Series), and they signaled the end of a design era that catapulted
Chevrolet to the top of the American carmaker landscape. Although
still a utilitarian pickup, GM knew the market wanted a more
civilized machine, and the First Series trucks were the first step
toward the complete overhaul resulting in the Task Force trucks
that came along in the latter half of the year. As a result,
customs like this look especially smooth, thanks to their
curvaceous fenders, iconic grille, and long hood. This build
obviously took some liberties with the original look, but they were
mostly aesthetic, not structural, so there's no chopped roof, no
shaved doors, and no deleted running boards. You do however get a
minimal amount of trim, and almost all of the original bright stuff
that was left behind was painted a slick gray color to match the
grille and running boards. Out back, the rear bumper was swapped
out for a Corvette-style, quad-light roll pan, and the tailgate
above it was smoothed and painted to match. And inside that bed
you'll find a custom floor, toolbox, and spare tire cover that work
great with the rest of the build. Workmanship is quite good, with
great fit and finish throughout, and with only 2,830 miles and very
minor signs of use on the truck it's ready to last the test of
time. Great prep gives the paint an ideal surface and even with
that high-visibility paint, the details tend to stand out as the
light plays over the truck's many intricate design elements. Man,
this is great-looking rig!
Things get even better inside, where an elegant split-back leather
bench seat takes the place of the original vinyl-covered unit this
truck was likely born with. Soft black leather matches the original
black door panels and black vinyl floor, and the fold-down arm rest
seems to make the cabin even more spacious. Other details include
an aluminum tilt steering column and adjoining Grant GT steering
wheel, making it easy to get comfortable in that replacement seat,
and the original metal dash was painted the same dark gray found on
the trimwork outside. A set of Classic Instruments gauges have a
retro look and work well perfectly inside the chrome bezels that
pay more than a passing resemblance to the original. Aftermarket
A/C controls and vents were neatly installed under the dash to
preserve its originality, and although there's no stereo in the
cab, one could easily be added and stashed away inside the glove
compartment. The headliner was finished off back to stock, and all
the weather gaskets are newer, so the cabin seals up nicely to keep
things quiet out on the road.
The engine is a powerful 350 cubic inch V8 crate motor that's been
barely broken in since the build, and it performs beautifully in
this truck with plenty of horsepower and torque on tap whenever
needed. Additions include a performance intake manifold and a big
Holley 4-barrel carburetor, long-tube headers, and, of course, the
chromed and finned valve covers and open-element air cleaner up
top. There's a big Be Cool aluminum radiator up front to keep
things cool and the accessories are tucked in close to the block
and spun by a serpentine belt setup. Backed by a 700R4 4-speed
automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear with cruiser-friendly
gears inside, it's a superlative highway runner that's still punchy
around town. Up front there's an independent suspension with
tubular control arms, coilovers, and power rack-and-pinion
steering, there's a set coilovers and 4-link out back, and with
power 4-wheel disc brakes the truck stops on a dime. A custom
H-pipe dual exhaust system with throaty Xlerator mufflers sounds
suitably performance-oriented, and the entire undercarriage is very
nicely presented. That lowered stance is just about perfect, with a
lot of the credit going to the black Ridler wheels and
fender-filling rubber around them.
Smooth, powerful, fast, and loaded with creature comforts, this is
the truck you'll want for your next long-distance haul. Give us a
call today!
