This 1956 Chevrolet 3200 Custom Pickup is a well-executed street truck with a traditional small-block Chevrolet drivetrain, a properly lowered stance, and upgrades aimed at making it considerably more enjoyable to drive than a stock Task Force-era pickup.
Power comes from a Chevrolet 383 Stroker backed by a TH350 automatic transmission. The engine is topped with a dual-quad carburetor setup that gives the truck a decidedly old-school hot rod character, while a dual side-exit exhaust exits just ahead of the rear tires on either side.
The chassis has been updated with aftermarket upper and lower front control arms and a coilover front suspension, with the rear retaining a conventional leaf-spring arrangement. Polished U.S. Mags five-spoke wheels fill out the lowered stance, with 245/45R20 tires up front and 275/40R20s at the rear.
Finished in deep black, the truck presents as a very nice driver rather than an untouchable showpiece. The black-on-black interior features a custom bolstered bench seat and air conditioning, while LED headlights and taillights provide improved visibility without substantially changing the truck's appearance.
The bed is particularly well finished, with a real wood floor separated by polished metal strips. The original behind-the-seat fuel tank has been eliminated and replaced by a frame-mounted tank between the rear rails, with the filler neatly incorporated into the bed floor.
This is a truck that was clearly built to be driven. The modifications are straightforward, useful, and consistent with the traditional street-truck character of the build, while the black finish, polished wheels, wood bed, and lowered stance give it plenty of presence.
Technical Specifications
VIN: 3B56A00180
Model: Chevrolet 3200 Custom Pickup
Engine & Drivetrain
Chevrolet 383 Stroker
Dual-quad carburetor setup
TH350 3-speed automatic transmission
Dual side-exit exhaust ahead of rear wheels
Chassis & Suspension
Lowered suspension
Aftermarket upper and lower front control arms
Aftermarket front coilover suspension
Rear leaf-spring suspension
Fuel tank relocated between rear frame rails
Wheels & Tires
Polished U.S. Mags five-spoke wheels
245/45R20 front tires
275/40R20 rear tires
Exterior
Black finish
LED headlights
LED taillights
Real wood bed floor
Polished metal bed strips
Fuel filler incorporated into bed floor
Interior
Custom black-on-black interior
Bolstered custom bench seat
Air conditioning
Floor-mounted cup holder
Historical Overview
Chevrolet introduced its completely redesigned Task Force truck line for 1955, replacing the Advance Design pickups that had been in production since the late 1940s. The new trucks brought substantially more modern styling, including a wraparound windshield, integrated front fenders, a wider grille, and a more passenger-car-like cab.
For 1956, Chevrolet revised the front-end treatment with a distinctive wider hood emblem and other detail changes while retaining the basic Task Force body introduced the previous year.
The 3200 was Chevrolet's longer-wheelbase light-duty pickup, positioned alongside the shorter 3100. These trucks have since become popular foundations for custom builds because their straightforward chassis construction and unmistakable mid-century Chevrolet styling lend themselves particularly well to upgraded small-block drivetrains, improved suspension, and contemporary wheels and tires.
This example follows that formula without losing sight of what makes the original truck appealing: simple mechanicals, clean body lines, and a build intended to be used rather than simply displayed.
