There is something incredibly appealing about a rusty, trusty, old American pickup. This 1950 Chevrolet 3100 fits all of those attributes and has a Buy-It-Now price of $10,700. That could be lower than the reserve price, so you can take your chances on a bid price, currently at $1,026. The truck is located in Audubon, Minnesota and has a clear title, VIN listed, and 74,337 miles. You can find it here on eBay.
One of the best attributes about this truck is the fact that it does run and drive. Unfortunately the seller does not indicate which inline six-cylinder engine powers the truck, nor do they list which transmission is in it. While the listing says that the brakes do have a new master cylinder, they don’t quite stop without some pumping. That information really isn’t that necessary or bad, but the asking price might be a lot for it.
Inside, the front bench seat does appear to be reupholstered. The floors have some surface rust, but nothing significant. The dash could use some cleaning, but for an otherwise functional truck that might be used for more work than pleasure, it looks as it should for that work. It is always nice to see split windshield trucks. This one has a Fulton sun visor to assist keeping glare out of your eyes.
One of the photos shows that there seems to be new boards in the bed, so that will be one less task you will have to complete. The sellers say that they haven’t driven it on a highway, but they are confident it could do so after some minor maintenance. After being found in a barn a number of years ago, it is amazing how straight and solid this short box truck is. Hopefully someone will buy it and enjoy it.
Just a few years ago, seeing something like this cool ol’ rusty truck being for sale for $10K(!!!) might’ve gotten someone a quick trip to the “Cracker Factory” to visit with the elves who told the seller it was worth that much..nowadays it’s typical rather than atypical.
It’s a grand old truck, but I’m not sure it’s a $10K truck with the 6pot and it’s current location..
If it wasn’t for the surface rust on the hood and front fenders I’d be tempted to shine this up the best I could and put it to work. You could still do that but it would be wise to plan on painting it in the near future. It will go a long way as is as long as you’re not in too much of a hurry. I would like something like this but it’s completely out of my budget.
At least it’s a metal fuel filter sitting over the exhaust manifold… This old guy needs paint, moving the rubber gas lines away from the exhaust, and a split exhaust manifold to get those great split six sounds.
`MATER!! My `ol buddy!! There you are!!!
The visor most definitely cut down on glare…but being that I’m over six feet tall, I worry it would hang right into my line of sight! Suspect brakes are a great opportunity to get rid of the single-piston master cylinder, if the truck retains it. (I’ve had a single-piston master cylinder go south on me before. The switch to a dual-piston master cylinder is something I consider absolutely necessary for any vintage vehicle that isn’t a Hudson.)
Millions and I mean a lot ofmillons of automobiles were equipped with single cylinder master cylinders. Failures were rare and caused by a maintance issue not s design flaw. Not a big thing with me.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the master cylinder that can have a failure. Anything in the brake system can fail and you have no brakes. While in college, I had a ’65 Malibu coupe as a winter beater. One cold night I was exiting on a freeway ramp, burst a rubber brake hose and blew through a red light at the end of the ramp. Happened in downtown Minneapolis, can’t believe I didn’t hit anyone/anything. Since then I have converted all of my old cars to dual reservoir systems.
Is it me, or have you guys and gals noticed that ALL the old Chevy Trucks are this color green?
Must have been very popular. I remember my uncle had 2 early 1950’s Chevy cars this same color.
And the custodian at my elementary school even had one this color. He traded it in 1968 for a 66 Ford pickup
I just know “Lawrence” is spinning in his grave. His truck didn’t have so much surface rust, and he only got $100 trade in allowance.
I’ve wondered about the green paint myself. It was like Ford, painting his cars black. Both my old Ford pickups are green. There must have been a surplus of green which lasted through the Korean War.
I must have a Unicorn my 51 is an off white kind of a cream color. Found the original color under the window gasket, someone painted it snow white years ago. I haven’t seen many that aren’t green.
This is a handsome old machine. The BIN is, er, optimistic, but who knows? Someone out there is itching to have a truck just like this.
I have a ’54 Chevy 3100. It’s banged about a bit, its red paint faded to a dull orange, but the truck runs and stops today as well as it did 65 years ago. Seeing ads like this make me wonder if I ought to put mine up for sale, too.
I’ll bet you a dime to a donut that you’ll have sellers remorse the minute you see it leave, Mark. Don’t do it if you’ve any attachments/worthwhile memories/appreciation with your truck..JMHO..
“Very solid, only a couple small spots with rust”. Looking at the 1 floor picture seems to indicate a bigger rust problem than what’s mentioned.
Regarding the new wood in the bed, the original wood was installed in such a way as to allow expansion and contraction with changes in humidity/seasons. But it also held moisture so prolonged wet wood would allow corrosion of the metal cross members beneath. Most likely that is what happened here. The way the new wood is installed to me points to rust below. I’d rather have the old bed wood than have the sins below covered with a quicky wood cover. That’s a fairly small point in that this is a very well preserved work truck. Love to have it but Im plumb full. Hope it goes to a good non-hot rod home.
Around 1960, my father had one the same color as this. His had the small corner windows on the back of the cab. We’d take it to the coal tipple to get coal to heat our house in the winter. At six years old, my job was to watch for the big dump trucks in line to move forward. If dad had fallen asleep I had to wake him up so we could keep our place in line. When it was our turn under the tipple, I remember sitting on my knees looking out the back window watching the lumps of coal fall into the bed. A load of coal was 12 – 13 dollars and it lasted about 2 months.
Odd some of the things people remember. Thanks! R.I.P. Dad.
BIN of over 10 grand ?
POT must be cheap in this area.
Don’t let the smoke get in your eyes. ♨️
So what, now every AD Chevy is going to bring 5 figures? In the 80’s, a truck like this, at most, might have been $500 bucks, today, adjusted for inflation, that would be about $1,300 dollars. I just don’t see the 5 figure attraction here, other than someone sticking another $20g’s into it to make it a $30g resto-mod.( that they might sell for $12) I suppose I’ll just have to come to grips, that the hobby finally went off the deep end, and now, in classic old man form, all I can do is complain about it. Prices like this for old rusty pickups, have fun with the future, folks.
I’m with you, Rube-whatever the vehicle currently in vogue the market will reflect with the ridiculous costs, I.e., the Honda CRX at its introduction was makes up 5-25% depending on the size of the dealership demand, the new Toyota Supra rumored to be TWENTY THOUSAND over MSRP, etc.
But you and a lot other BF readers have the edge with the old stuff and knowing what/where/how to find it is the key. Are the prices higher right now? Oh H#!! yes they are, but sometimes we have to look a little harder-take this CL ad for instance for someone to check out..https://goldcountry.craigslist.org/cto/d/sacramento-1957-truck-three-quarter-ton/6941978870.html
This could be a great deal, or it could be someone that thinks they know the market (like selling a worthless rusted out hulk of a ‘60’s muscle car for its VIN plate)..
We have to look harder and longer, Rube, but that’s where experiences like yours,bobhess, Wayne, John Mcgloughry (sp.?), geomechs and all the others make it a good education when you all pipe in-another reason I miss Howard A’s input as well.
As my gastroenterologist said to me at my last checkup-“don’t worry, Kurt, it all works out in the end eventually!”
Hey,man, you are right, people on a fixed income, or knew these vehicles the 1st time around and want one, shouldn’t be looking at CL, Ebay, and such for something, one has to find it BEFORE it gets to those sites.
And I feel a bit embarrassed, I’M Howard A., I just use Rube as an alias for fear of reprisal, and it still comes up “member”, which I’m not,,for now. Thanks for the kind words, and it’s ok, I’m almost 65, we had a gas with classic cars when some were in diapers, when you didn’t need 5 figures to have fun. THAT’S who I feel sorry for.
Howard A.-Good to have you onboard!!! And all this time..😜
I’m 65 now, so we went thru the same times with the changing face of cool cars/trucks/bikes etc., and the political fiscal policies that came and went. You’re right-the youngsters that want to get into the kind of fun we’ve had have a much more limited field but their enthusiasm will drive them (pun intended!😁) as all of the BF readers have or had, and folks that are knowledgeable that will mentor them (i.e. Wayne, as I’ve come to notice) will help “keep the faith”. Heck, they will be the ones to which we pass the baton so we need to Keep The Faith, Rube!
On that note, maybe we need to ask Miguel about some of those deals down there and what it takes to bring them back here!!
Ad removed. Only one bid…$1.00. Yup, that’s right.