1950 Chevrolet 3100 3 Window

Description

With patina being all the rage today, taking something that looks old and filling it with fresh mechanicals is an awesome way to have your cake and eat it, too. The bodywork on this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 3-Window pickup looks like it's been working the 'back 40' for decades, but the slammed stance, updated running gear, performance suspension, and shiny chrome all suggest that it's been working out in its spare time.

The bodywork is 'patina', which is to say, it hasn't been treated to a shiny coat of new paint in a long time but rather sports something closer to its original color, aged by time and the sealed forever under shiny clearcoat. The combination of brown, tan, and black paint, surface rust, chips, and scratches accrued for decades gives it a look of great age, and if this one was out in a field with the weeds growing around it, it wouldn't look out of place. But that isn't to say that it looks bad, as this truck was purposely curated for its character, and then a sizeable investment was spent on clearcoat and new chrome and stainless to combine into an absolutely killer look. Looking closely, you'll see that the well-loved 'paint' hides nothing, but the panel gaps are fairly good, meaning someone spent some time intentionally making it look this way, and other than the rear bumper nothing major has been shaved, trimmed, or altered off of the original 3-window design. Instead, you get a look that will draw a crowd better than any restoration and a no worries finish that means this truck can go anywhere, any time without a second thought. Setting the 'new-meets-old' theme starts with all that flash up front, including a chrome horizontal-bar grille, bright headlight surrounds, hood trim and badging, and shiny bumper below, plus you also get bright side mirrors, door handles, taillight housings, and those oversized alloys stuffed into the fat fenders. There's also a real wood pickup bed out back, albeit with a cleverly raised floor to clear the air-ride suspension, but nevertheless the original stepside and running-board set-up of the truck is still intact and we absolutely love the look.

The comfortable yet basic interior has been partially restored but not excessively modified, adding function without losing all that's great about these trucks. The original bench seat was swapped for an '80s-'90s model Silverado bench wrapped in comfortable tan cloth, and the patina metal dashboard and door panels give it a function-over-form look that we love. The dashboard includes upgraded Dolphin gauges that keep an eye on the modern 5.3L V8 under the hood, an auxiliary gauge and controls for the air-ride system, and even a pair of industrial-style cupholders that were fitted to match the accent chrome on the glove box door. We love that they left the original steering wheel and column to give the truck an authentic feel out on the road, although it's much easier to handle with modern power steering behind it, and that simple black handle jutting out from the floorboard manages the upgraded 4L60E automatic transmission below. Other updates include modern foot pedals, a remote control for the air-ride suspension to adjust the truck's ride height, and a Kenwood AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo in the center of the dash.

As is the tradition with many resto-mod pickup builds, this 3100 was given a new 5.3L Vortec V8 heart, which is a big step up over the original Stovebolt Six that likely lived there in 1950. With 706 heads and all the modern components and conveniences that come with a modern motor (including ease of accessibility and universal service), it's running great and strong as can be, and with the slick-black Vortec engine cover and cold-air intake system up front, it has a dressed-up look that doesn't upset its work-ready demeanor. Power steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes with slotted rotors were added during the build, both of which likely came with the modern subframe that was grafted on to work in unison with the custom air-bagged suspension that sets the truck's wicked stance. A 4L60E 4-speed automatic is rugged and reliable, giving this truck the ability to still haul some gear and cruise at high speeds on the highway, and the 10-bolt rear end has friendly, highway-ready gears inside. A dual exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers sounds racy and it's been fitted with a later Nova-style front end with a big sway bar and tube-style shocks and a 4-link out back so the ride is a lot less truck-like than you'd expect from something of this vintage. 20-inch Foose wheels enhance any vintage hauler and staggered 255/35/20 front and 275/35/20 rear radials give it the perfect stance.

An incredible illusion or just an incredible truck? How about both? If you want to attract attention, forget bright red paint and flathead engines, this patina-covered restomod pickup is the hot ticket. Call today!