When a classic vehicle comes onto the market, its bidding history can offer a clear insight into its desirability. That is certainly the case with this 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup. These are a highly-sought classic, and the 69 bids submitted so far are graphic proof of this. It is a project that has stalled early, and it needs someone with the vision to see it through to completion. If you believe that you are that person, you will find the Pickup located in Great Bend, Kansas, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $5,200 in what is a No Reserve auction.
The 3100 rolled off the production line wearing Swift Red paint, but most of this is now a distant memory. It sports a consistent coating of surface corrosion, so if the buyer is seeking the ideal candidate for a rat rod project, this could be it. The panels are remarkably straight, with no significant dings and dents to tackle. Penetrating rust is also quite limited. There are some spots in a couple of lower cab corners and small spots in the lower fenders and kick panels. One of the great strengths of these old Chevy pickups as project vehicles is the ready availability and affordability of rust repair patches. For example, a complete inner and outer lower cab corner will only cost around $80, and a lower fender patch will cost about the same. The frame wears surface corrosion that matches the body, but it appears to be structurally sound. The back window is cracked, but the rest of the glass looks to be in good order. It seems that virtually all of the chrome is present, and it is all in a restorable state.
It isn’t clear what the specifications are, but the Pickup’s engine bay now houses a 350ci small-block and a TH-400 automatic transmission. These components hale from the 1980s, and while power figures are unknown, you can guarantee that they would be far higher than the 92hp that was pumped out by the 216.5ci six that initially called this truck home. The engine and transmission have been bolted in nicely, but there is no driveshaft. There is also a potential problem with the 350. A previous owner installed it, and it ran fine before it was removed from the donor truck. However, when that owner fired it up in the 3100, it showed low oil pressure. He shut it down immediately, and it hasn’t been started since. The engine still turns freely, so it might only be something pretty trivial that is causing the problem. However, if the problem is more severe and the motor needs to be pulled, that would be a perfect opportunity to repaint and detail the engine bay to a high standard. If I were to buy this truck and I was leaving the 350 under the hood, I would probably look at upgrading the brakes. They were adequate in 1949, but in 2021 with a V8 under the hood, they will leave plenty to be desired. Complete kits are available to swap the front drums for 11″ discs, and these kits sell for less than $320. To me, that would be money well spent.
The Pickup’s interior is virtually complete, and how the buyer tackles this would depend on their vision for the vehicle. The new seat cover is an excellent addition, and it does add a touch of class to the interior. Its color combination means that it would be feasible to apply a fresh coat of paint to all of the interior steel surfaces in either Swift Red or the Mariner Blue that you see here. Either color would create an impact, and this is a part of the restoration that most owners could perform in their own workshop. The radio blanking plate is missing, but if the buyer isn’t planning on bolting in some form of radio, replacement plates can be found for $70. The latch for the glovebox is missing, but reproduction locks cost less than $30. If I were to buy this old Chevy and I was going to follow the path of a rat rod build, I’d refresh the paint, replace the few parts that I’ve mentioned, restore the existing wheel and the chrome interior trim, and spend $120 on a new rubber mat for the floors. That should have the interior presenting nicely and would provide a striking contrast to the aged exterior appearance. One other job that I would tackle would be to do something about the shifter. It is way too short to be practical, so I’d probably investigate whether a B&M or a Hurst shifter would work better in this environment.
This 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup is dripping with potential, and it’s easy to see why it has attracted such intense bidding action. A tidy and original example will easily attract $20,000 any day of the week, while pristine ones regularly top $40,000. This one isn’t pristine, and if the buyer chooses to continue down the path that has already been forged, it isn’t going to be original either. That means that it will ultimately be worth what someone is willing to pay, and that could still be the sorts of figures that I’ve just mentioned. Regular readers will probably be surprised by this, but this is one project where I’m not advocating for a faithful restoration. I know a good thing when I see one, and what I see in this Pickup is a perfect rat rod project. With the interior and engine bay nicely restored and detailed, and with a coat of clear satin over the exterior corrosion, this would be a striking vehicle. Anyway, that’s the way that I would go. What about you?
Adam, the number of bids can be misleading. There are 69 bids, but they come from 10 bidders. The total bids so far are due to a low starting bid and small bid increments. Just as the number of watchers sometimes reflects the curiosity seekers who want to see if anyone actually pays the ridiculous price.
I see rusted cab corners front and rear. The rears are an easier fix than the front (cowl). No mention is made of the rear end. I don’t see a torque tube in the only pic of the underside, so maybe it has been updated. The rear wheels are 6 lug so it has pickup rear end. Hopefully it is geared for a V8 auto and not for a 6 and a 3.
Sort the SBC and drivetrain, sell the TH400, hook the left pedal back up, throw in some under-dash AC, and put it back on the road. I would leave the body as-is and straight pipe it just to piss off my HOA.
Or I might chassis swap it and set it up to pull my ’67 Airstream Overlander. I have a buddy with the identical trailer who tows it with a (slightly modified) similar vintage Chevy milk truck.
Adam, I guess it’s true that great minds think alike. I recently bought a ’58 GMC with about the same paint condition as this, with smallblock too. I have the same plan to make the interior pleasant and clean up under the hood.
And to think i bought my 1950 3100 for a $150 back in 1978.biggest rust hole was the size of a 50 cent piece! Those were the good old days…