Vehicle Description
This award-winning, professionally restored 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Big
Window pickup is one of those builds where you can see a high level
of attention to detail in every single component. Not merely
assembled, but rather built with an eye towards making even the
little stuff look right, this sinister-looking classic is gorgeous
to look at and wonderful to drive. If you're looking for the
toughest Task Force Series pickup in town, you just found it.
Dark shades always look great on well-built classic pickups, and
this 3100 is certainly no faded old farm truck. That modern Dark
Gray basecoat/clearcoat finish is quite the head turner,
wonderfully complemented by the blacked-out accents and trim found
throughout. With all that curb appeal, this one seems to have
always led a good life before it was ever restored, showing off
crisp, clean lines, laser-straight panels, and numerous coats of
shiny, lustrous, strong driver-quality paint. Finished recently,
it's obvious that this was an expensive restoration that got all
the details right, and although it isn't some perfect trailer
queen, any flaws are minimal and would most likely be eradicated
with a buff-and-wax detail. The paint and bodywork look great in
person, and because this high-end driver was finished to such a
strong level, it feels right at home just about anywhere. It's easy
to see why these trucks were a hit in their day, with the
forward-canted fenders that make it look fast even sitting still
and a handsome blacked-out egg crate grille that linked Chevy's
truck line with their automotive offerings. The profile 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 utilitarian look of the black accent paint on
the front grille, hood badge, side mirrors and door handles,
windshield trim, and the 'Chevrolet' script on the tailgate. As is
customary with a vintage pickup build the bed has been finished
with beautiful dark wood boards and black rub strips that tie them
together, and with smoothed bed walls and tailgate that were
treated with black bedliner, a relocated gas cap, and several coats
of dark stain on the wood, the bed looks like a traveling dance
floor. Blacked-out bumpers fore and aft look substantial and match
the other blacked-out accents, although the shiny bright windshield
wipers, taillight light surrounds, and Torque Thrust alloys do a
great job to off-set the dark theme while adding some much-needed
bling.
Open those big doors and you'll quickly see that everything was
updated inside, with the original bench seat replaced by sculpted
bucket seats swapped-in from a late-model. Wrapped in gorgeous
black vinyl upholstery punctuated with light gray tweed inserts,
the seats are virtually unmarked, as are the custom matching door
panels that flank them. There's also a custom-made center console
that was finished to look like it always belonged there, and it
adds the practicality of a pair of cup holders, a place for a pair
of booming speakers, and extra storage. Even with the restoration
the cab retains a '50s sensibility inside thanks to the original
dash that was painted to match the exterior, but the modern
components like the Dakota Digital gauges and AutoMeter tachometer
will definitely attract plenty of appreciative nods at shows. Black
spray-in bedliner protects the floors and cleans-up easily, while
the headliner was finished in the same tweed found in the seats. A
chrome leather-wrapped steering wheel mounted atop a tilt column
anchors the cabin, with the super-cool Jack Daniels knob on the
shifter is a great conversation piece. The modern JVC head unit in
the center of the dash powers the aforementioned BOSS speakers in
the console, and that bright red push-button starter lets everyone
know this truck is ready to launch at a moment's notice. The curved
big rear window and matching front windshield give the truck a
fishbowl feel that's simply awesome, although the dark tint adds
plenty of privacy for the occupants.
The 327 V8 that powers this 3100 is a lot more powerful than
anything you could get in '55, and that's a good thing. Swapped-in
from a moid-'60s Chevrolet and built right, this 3100 now runs and
drives like a much faster truck, with lots of power and torque at
the ready. With so few miles reported on the build it's turn-key
and ready to dominate for years, fed through dual Holley 4-barrel
carburetors and a high-rise Weiand aluminum intake up top. Black
inner fenders and a matching firewall continue the truck's color
scheme, the block itself was coated in Chevy Orange enamel, and
brightly polished valve covers and a trick, blower-style air
breather add a touch of flash under the hood. Block-hugging,
long-tube headers feed into a stainless dual exhaust system that
features booming glasspack-style mufflers and turn-down before the
rear axle, so don't expect to sneak up on anyone, while the giant
aluminum radiator keeps the whole show nice and cool. The TH350
3-speed automatic transmission handles the small block's power with
ease, as does the heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end out back. Underneath
you'll find a very clean presentation that features newer shocks
all-around and an upgraded front clip, and power steering and power
front disc brakes joined the party as well - meaning this truck has
pretty much everything it needs to be a dependable, fun, and
spirited driver. American Racing Torque Thrust wheels elevate
almost any classic, and they look especially clean wrapped in
245/60/15 front and 255/60/15 Cooper Cobra white-letter
radials.
Look around and you won't find a whole lot of these trucks that
look this slick hanging around. Popularity of the 3100 is
increasing, and builds like this are leading the way. Call
today!
