As some of you likely know, I am helping to clear out a large collection of salvage and project vehicles from a private owner. You can read more about the collection here. As we move ahead with the process, I’ll be listing some of the more interesting cars individually, which will also help readers see more info about specific vehicles they may be interested in. Here’s the next vehicle we’ll feature, which is an unrestored 1955 Chevy pickup.
What Makes it Special? This 1955 pickup runs and drives but will need some work to be driven daily. The owner did use the truck as his “in-town” vehicle for quite some time, so it’s known to run well enough to be pressed into light duty. The body is largely straight with no signs of major damage, other than the sun-bleached paint. It has a clean Georgia title.
Body Condition: Overall, the body presents well for its age. There is some rust in the lower parts of the doors and cab corners. The paint is weathered and believed to be original, but this hasn’t been confirmed. All glass is good and the tailgate needs help staying up, hence the chains on the back of the bed.
Mechanical Condition: The truck runs and drives, and has received several mechanical updates over the last few months. The seller has installed a new carburetor, fuel pump, and brake master cylinder. One of the brakes is believed to be dragging, and is otherwise locked up. The seller will see if he can address this issue before any serious buyers wish to pick up or have the truck moved via transporter.
Overall, the truck presents quite well with no major cosmetic damage, a known good motor, and most of its interior switchgear intact. The brakes need some final sorting, most likely caused by sitting idle. The clean title is one of the truck’s major selling points as well, along with a recent history that shows it to be a reliable driver.
- Price: $6,000
- Location: Northwest Georgia
- Mileage: Unknown
- Title Status: Clean
Do you have a low mileage survivor parked in your garage, shed or barn? Does it need a new home? Please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!
Back in the day the chains were how the tailgate was made !!
Glad you said that. I know I’m an old guy but thought it needed said. Got here and you had it handled. Those chains also hold it flat when down rather than banging the bumper and hitch as now. Such a trouble free system!
Was headed here to say the same as well. I can’t remember on what trucks but I’ve seen the chains on newer models with a plastic sleeve over them – to stop them scratching the paint and rattling, I imagine. Just an earlier version of the metal cable straps on newer trucks. I guess the real new ones have hydraulic struts or some such foolishness. Will be electric power tailgates next, if there isn’t already…
Has a ’57 grille, sure it’s a ’55?
Hood is 55-56
Curious, as it doesn’t have a 57 hood.
Curious, as it doesn’t have a 57 hood.
I rebuilt a 57 with original 4×4 NAPCO and put a 57 GMC hood on it because that was old school way to customize a vehicle.
There wasn’t a lot of difference between the 55 2nd series through 57. Maybe the hood or the grille were replacements. It looks like the hood ornament is on the floor in the cab, but at the wrong angle to tell. It looks too large to be a 55 ornament.
It is a 57. The paint where the badge would be is faded like the 57 badge, not the 55.
Doesn’t have the two humps on the hood of a 57 though
The only reason I clicked on it, was to see the price. Guess this is the norm.I think this is the most surprising part of where the hobby has gone, old trucks. OK, 440 Darts are one thing, but old rattly door pickups? What makes it tough, is us old farts just can’t justify paying these prices for vehicles we used, ( some heavily), trashed, and left for dead( as evidenced here) They were just old trucks, did their service, and out back she goes.
I had a ’55 Chevy stepside in the 70’s, raised front straight axle, 327, fenderwell headers, car 4 speed, it was a miserable truck( clearly an impulse buy, it looked cool) I think I bought/sold it for $500 bucks.
We have a 1956 Chevy Apache and love driving it. Took 3 years to fix up but will do it again. Hubby and I are both retired and love car shows
I guess it’s hard for us old farts to except the price war for old iron. Looks like a nice clean truck for a eastern vehicle. But price a but rich. 4500 maybe.
Looks like an 8ft bed no thank you! Could be wrong, but it looks like 8ft.
8ft beds have about another 2ft behind the rear fender. This fender is right up against the tailgate = 6′ bed. (I have a 57 3200 -8ft bed- Chevy).
These trucks can be made into really nice grocery getters. Had a friend in Utah some years ago named Todd, he had a 57 big back window, 327 car 4 4 speed manual trans, painter inside and out Copper. It looked good, but was not fast. still it was his truck and better than the Hornet wagon I was driving at the time. Time passes by very fast, I have many good memories, and some bad. Todd was a co-worker at a auto service center in Provo, another mechanic there had a camaro he had built that was very fast. Good times. Hope this truck finds a good home.
I like this model truck. I grew up learning to drive one like this at my dad’s lumber and coal yard in TN. That truck sure put in the service. It too had a steel bed for shoveling coal, and was just about perfect for hauling one ton loads of egg coal. Empty, we hot rodded around catching gears and singing, as no radio. This about 1966. I want it, but no cash right now.
I suppose that’s why there’s been a ton of interest but no takers. If you look around at any listings on Hemmings, eBay, etc., these old trucks all seem to be garnering this kind of money. But hey, if someone shows up and makes a realistic offer, I’m sure the seller would be interested in chatting.