Vehicle Description
This 1956 Chevrolet 3100 is one of those rare vintage trucks where
you can see the close attention to detail the second you cast your
eyes on it. Not merely assembled but built to make even the little
stuff look right, it's gorgeous and wonderful to drive. With a
high-powered 350 V8 under the hood, a cabin full of luxury options,
and a red-hot paint job that we like to call a 'neck-snapper' in
the hobby due to all the people that rubberneck to get a good look
at it. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!
This truck goes way beyond a simple hauler, and even back in the
'50s, Chevy revolutionized the industry with the crazy idea that
workmen wanted attractive vehicles, too. So, while a lot of 3100s
got worked right into the ground, this handsome pickup received a
full rejuvenation approximately 8-9 years ago that's transformed it
into the slick hauler you see before you today. That build included
a few skillfully shaved bits, a lowered stance, and a lot of hand
work to make it smooth and shiny. Fit and finish are quite good
overall, and the slick red paint has been well-cared for since it
was laid down several years back, with only minor signs of use and
a small handful of flaws to nitpick. In the industry, we call this
a strong driver - nice enough to take out on a Sunday morning and
impress your local car show but not so over-restored that you're
scared it might rain on the way home. A flashy chrome grille and
smooth one-piece bumpers were fitted at the ends, the body trim was
removed to let the paint job do all the talking, and a raked stance
set atop those oversized chrome wheels are the proverbial 'cherries
on the cake.' And who can argue with how cool this 3100 looks?
Although it could still likely pull half of Home Depot away with
you over a weekend, this Chevy's hauling days are likely over
because the inside of the bed is just too darn slick. Neatly
finished lightly stained oak wood, polished stainless rub rails, a
flush-mounted gas cap, and matching red paint on the inner walls
and tailgate mean it's more of a dance floor than a truck bed these
days, although there's still plenty of room for all your car show
goodies. Add in the accompanying brightwork like shiny door
handles, side mirrors, headlight surrounds, and even the wipers,
not to mention those teardrop taillights out back, and you have a
dialed-in vintage truck that creates a stir everywhere it goes.
With the original 3100s sporting vinyl, rubber, and steel interior
materials, the makeover gives it a much softer, friendlier
demeanor. A reshaped and very comfortable bench seat has been
wrapped in custom foam and smooth light tan upholstery, which uses
pleated inserts to replicate a 1950s vibe closely. Custom plush
carpets look great and help control noise and heat, and the door
panels are correctly finished with matching vinyl door cards,
body-colored paint on the sills, and shiny hardware. Even with the
restoration, it retains a '50s sensibility inside the cab. Still,
the modern materials will attract more than their fair share of
appreciative nods at shows and cruise-ins. The beautiful dash was
painted hot-red to match the exterior and uses a complete set of
pretty Classic Instruments gauges in a custom bezel designed to
mimic the original, just ahead of the trick, leather-wrapped billet
steering that's mounted atop a tilt column and anchors the cab. The
A/C system was cleverly installed in the center of the dash and
uses billet controls and retro-style eyelet vents. A JVC head unit
and CD changer were stashed underneath the seat, and power upgraded
speakers inside the trimmed kick panels, while the original pedals
were swapped for sporty units that better match the theme of the
build inside.
The engine is a powerful 350 cubic inch V8, with plenty of pop to
quickly move all that '50s sheet metal in and out of the corners.
Additions include a Holley Street Warrior 4-barrel atop a polished
Edelbrock intake, Hedman headers at the flanks, and that brightly
chromed Chevrolet valve covers and open-element air cleaner.
There's a big aluminum radiator up front to keep things cool, and
all the accessories tucked in close to the block are brightly
detailed and pop out from the smoothed red firewall and inner
fenders. Backed by a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and a
10-bolt rear end, it's a superlative cruiser that's still punchy
around town, aided tremendously by modern power steering and power
front disc brakes. The undercarriage is very solid and clean,
boasting an upgraded front clip, panhard bar out back, and newer
shocks throughout, while the throaty dual exhaust system provides a
throaty soundtrack that matches this truck's curb appeal perfectly.
Killer 17" and 18" Billet Specialties wrapped in staggered
225/50/17 front and 28x10x18 rear BFGoodrich performance radials
were stuffed inside the sculpted fenders and finish the look.
A gorgeous, dialed-in truck with loads of power and off-the-charts
curb appeal, this beautifully built Chevy 3100 delivers in just
about every sense of the word. Call today!
