TV reality shows would froth at the mouth to get a great, solid project like this 1957 Chevrolet 3100 panel truck. Wait a minute, I guess they could buy it if they wanted to, or if they knew about it. Let’s make sure that one of you gets it first. It can be found here on eBay in beautiful Vancouver, Washington. They’re asking $3,800 or you can make an offer.
I can’t imagine that this panel truck will be for sale too much longer, someone will snap it up. Chevrolet’s Task Force series of trucks were made from 1955 to 1959 and in 1958 they switched to four headlights instead of two. I prefer the 1955 to 1957 two-headlight trucks but that’s just my personal preference. I’m not sure what happened with the driver’s door, it must have had some paintwork over the decades but the rest of the truck is supposedly all original and it sure looks like it is. A wraparound windshield showed up on the new 1955 Task Force trucks.
There will be a few dings to massage out and a bit of welding to do, but overall it really does look like a solid truck and it’s hard to argue with the cool factor. I would like to think that this truck would be restored back to original spec, but I highly doubt if that would ever happen in today’s market. Well, not today-today’s market, but the way the market was going until recently. I bet that it’ll end up being modified in some way, at the very least with a modern drivetrain and suspension, but maybe something like this?
They say that this Chevy panel truck is from California and moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1993 and has been there ever since. It’s hard to tell what condition the floors are in but it’ll end up being stripped out (all one seat!) and blasted and restored, I hope. The cargo area looks rock solid, but there are no underside photos. I found an ad on the ol’ interstream with a few more interior and exterior photos here.
The engine should be Chevy’s 235.5 cubic-inch inline-six with 140 hp. It doesn’t run but this six won’t be under that hood for too long once a new owner grabs this truck. How would you restore this ’57 panel?
It’s got everything I’d want although I would get another seat. Keep the six, three speed and dog dish hubcaps. Full driver-quality restoration and use it as it was originally intended: to haul stuff. I could easily understand why a lot of people would want to drop in a V8/auto but I’m retired; I’m not in a particular hurry so to the poor underprivileged souls in their modern conveyances that want to travel at Warp Speed, the passing lane is ten miles up the road…
I would keep the 6 too. It would get a rebuild and a big turbo, but it would stay.
Perfect as is wiyh the 6 and 3 on the tree. Would clean up the white and repaint but keep the blue as is. I wish it was in my finances but not now.
What about replacing it with the 296 6 from a late 70s Chevy pickup? I drove one in those days and it was a monster with power to spare.
You mean a 292? Truth be known the 292 is less invasive than what is already there. It also has bags of bottom end, like a traditional Cummins diesel. The problem is: the 292 is a Chevy bolt pattern whereas the 235/261 is a GM pattern. A GMC 302 will drop in easier. And I’ve seen them tweaked to the point of awakening King Kong…
Well stated, geomechs. Bring it back to original as it deserves. Re-powering a vehicle like this completely misses the point of owning a unique older vehicle and destroys a piece of automotive history. Panel trucks, straight sixes, three-on-the-tree, all pieces of the past that contribute to the fun of driving a wonderful truck like this.
The 6 stays… maybe find a Wayne 12 port 6 cylinder based on the GMC 6 cylinder block…?
Something I would like to buy and see the USA in a Chevrolet . When I make my trip on a year. I,d keep the 6 ,but put in another bucket seat. So I could get to my bed in the back. I still have some hippie in me and like things that are original and easy to work on. Can,nt see spending alot of time.Trying to figure out electronic like some do. Get it road ready and use it for what it was made for.
The 57 panel was the first vehicle I ever owned.Bought mine in 1970 when I was 19 for $250.00 It was painted like and American Flag(using paint brushes) carpeted floors and walls with wind chimes hanging inside. This was the East Tennessee version of the California Hippy van. I loved that truck.It’s made of steel and not plastic I’d put this one back to original.
I wonder how many old vehicles have had the seats replaced with junk yard seats from a later vehicle and now the seat is mounted on two by fours. Looks like this one even has two extra two by fours in case the new owner wants to add another seat. I’m not interested in buying it as I already have one 57 Chevy truck. Warning to anyone who isn’t familiar with Chevy trucks of this vintage, they are rust buckets, as all trucks were back then. The good news is that most any part you would need is available.
Why would somebody drag this up to Washington from California just to sell it?
That seems like a lot of wasted effort.
Great find!!! It’s amazing to me sometimes that these trucks exist un-modified!! I knew at this price this gem would not last!! As I’m writing this this listing is gone!!!
i now own this truck in colorado city texas and its getting a 4×4 conversion and a cummins