Something about the lead image on this truck’s classified ad lured me in. The lighting, the paint color, and a general curiosity about the details of this old Chevy truck were irresistible. I’m glad I dug a little deeper. Turns out, that brilliant finish which caught my eye requires “five coats of paint over epoxy sealer, finished in endless coats of clear,” according to the listing. No wonder it looks like liquid metal.
The Pick of the Day is a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Walpole, Massachusetts. (Click the link to view the listing)
The listing is comprised in bullet-point form and gives details about the ins and outs of the build, which, based on the description, was all-encompassing. In fact, it might be easier to talk about what wasn’t upgraded from the truck’s original equipment. First and foremost, the truck rides on a TCI boxed frame. In place of the original architecture, we find a set of Ridetech adjustable coilovers all the way around, and a four-link suspension in the rear.
For model year 1955, Chevrolet pickup trucks moved into what became known as the “Task Force” generation. Light-duty trucks were classified as model 3100 for shortbeds and 3200 for the longbed variants. One of the characteristic design elements that rolled out was an eggcrate grille to replace the slatted arrangement of the previous Advance Design trucks.
Momentum for this eye-catching ride comes from a GM Performance 383cid stroker V8 with an Edelbrock 750cfm carburetor, and momentum is transferred rearward through a TCI 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission and a nine-inch Currie rear end with a 3.93:1 gear ratio. Performance upgrades include a March polished pulley system and a Magnaflow stainless-steel exhaust system.
A lot of restomods have robust drivetrains, but many builders forget to give proper attention to braking systems which are equally important – if not more so. This truck comes with a set of Wilwood 12-inch drilled and slotted rotors with four-piston calipers and stainless-steel brake lines.
The capstone of this entire build (at least in my opinion) is that striking exterior appearance. “Flawless paint and body work, finished in a medium metallic gray,” the seller says. Even the bed’s tiger maple wood has been coated with four coats of clear. Shiny doesn’t even begin to describe it.
The asking price is lofty, but as the saying goes, “try building one for less.” The seller seeks $125,000.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, navigate to Pick of the Day.
That’s a nice build. Doesn’t take away from the trucks original classic look, while making improvements in the right areas. Well done.
Great truck but seems pricing on restomods has gone the road of sentimental pricing!!