Vehicle Description
This dialed-in 1954 Chevrolet 3100 3-Window pickup is looking for a
job. Willing to put in long hours, carry heavy loads, and look good
while doing it, it can still be used as a truck. On the other hand,
with its quality restoration, this is also a great-driving pickup
that's got a comfortable ride and solid power to go with those
timeless good looks. Capture the best of both worlds with this
bright orange truck that you can use as a workhorse like Chevy
intended, and also drive to the cruise night to draw big crowds
every time out.
Bright paint colors are always a great choice on a vintage pickup,
and thanks to the wonders of modern paint, this vivid Orange 3100
looks far more appealing than it did when it was new. It was
refinished a few years ago to a very solid driver-quality standard,
and thanks to expert care and maintenance, it still looks great
with only minor signs of use and age. The Advance Design pickups
are a favorite among truck enthusiasts, and they were one of the
first trucks to take into account that just maybe all those farmers
and carpenters wanted something that was stylish and comfortable as
well as durable and versatile. Fit and finish are quite good and
unlike so many of these trucks, it managed to keep a good bit of
its original trim for that old-school simplicity that is a large
part of the 3100's charm. Up front there's a chromed grille that's
in great shape, the shiny running boards are brightly polished, and
the chrome bumpers fore and aft serve as perfect endcaps to the
already vivid exterior. The bed's full of stylish lumber that was
nicely stained and glazed, with chrome slats holding them together
for a finish as a slick as a dance floor. But don't worry, if you
still want to use this 3100 like a pickup, it's more than capable
of hauling half of Home Depot away for you - and with this familiar
color scheme they might just want to park it out front as a
marketing piece. All the extra bright bits like the handles,
mirrors, and badges provide great contrast against the vivid orange
finish, and this is one of the last vehicles to use
factory-installed running boards so where glad they've been
highlighted with a bright finish.
The two-tone tan-and-brown interior covers the basics with a little
added style, and that's part of the truck's Blue-Collar charm. The
bench seat will accommodate three in a pinch, and has been
reupholstered in durable vinyl with a lovely two-tone design. The
original instruments are in place and have bright crisp markings
inside two big round pods, and the brown steel dashboard with tan
accents is a handsome design that's functional, too. The door
panels match the pattern on the bench seat, as does the covered
headliner above, and a thick rubber floormat helps insulate the cab
and is a cinch to clean up. Like many trucks of the era there was
no radio when it was new, so a Kenwood AM/FM/Cassette head unit was
added in the center of the dash, and beyond a factory heater there
aren't any other creature comforts to speak of. But that's not
really what buying one of these vintage haulers is about, as
listening to the torque build up as the Inline-6 shifts through
gears is all the entertainment you should ever really need.
Steering is made easier thanks to the large diameter 3-spoke
steering wheel with a wrapped rim, and there's an aftermarket turn
signal stalk unit mounted on the column and a set of lap belts for
safety. It's not exactly luxurious, but it's a great place to
experience life in the slow lane.
Chevy's 235 cubic inch "Thriftmaster" is under the hood doing a
great job, and if you've ever driven a vehicle with one of these
engines, you know they're smooth and torquey. This particular
Straight 6 fires up with ease and has been readied for work, and
the presentation under the hood is very close to stock - with Ford
Blue enamel on the valve cover and engine block and a single barrel
carburetor and oil-bath style air cleaner helping it breathe. A set
of headers were added for a little additional snarl, and the
spirited Straight 6 moves the stock little truck easily - empty or
loaded. Maintenance is a breeze, and keeping these running is never
a chore, especially with upgraded components like the 12-volt
electrical system. On this one, the hoses, belts, plugs, wires, and
fuel pump appear to have been attended to not long ago, further
proof of a life lived under the care of conscientious ownership.
The torquey motor is managed by a smooth-shifting 3-speed manual
transmission and spins an upgraded 10-bolt rear end with 3.55 gears
inside according to the differential cover. It's very solid
underneath, too, with stock components throughout and a throaty
dual exhaust system that adds a little rumble to the Thriftmaster's
soundtrack. Upgraded Ralley wheels were painted bright orange to
match the body and outfitted with chrome beauty rings and matching
'Chevrolet' Baby Moon hubcaps for some final flash, and then
wrapped with thick 215/70/15 Kumho radials to finish the look.
Fun hobby pickups don't get much cooler than this, and when they're
also useful the argument is easy to make. Call today and give this
truck a job!
