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Farm Find: 1950 Chevrolet 3600 Truck

The “Advance-Design” series of light and medium-duty trucks was Chevrolet’s first major redesign after World War II. They debuted for 1947 and changed little over the next eight years. They were popular enough to be the best-selling trucks in America through 1955. This 1950 Chevrolet 3600 ¾ ton pick-up was purchased from a local owner to be used on the seller’s father’s farm for odd jobs. The father is nearing retirement, so it’s time to let the truck go, here on eBay where the no reserve auction is up to $5,450. The truck can be found in Waukon, Iowa.

The expression “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” certainly applies to a truck like this. Rap on the fender of one of these beasts and you’ll hear a deep “thud” that you won’t hear coming from the thin-steeled cars and trucks built today. Chevy cranked out about 66,000 ¾ ton trucks for 1950, less than a third as many as the ½ ton trucks that the GM division made that year. Chevy was smart, using the same basic design for all of their trucks, which helped make it easy for production to shift from one model to another. All the 3600-series trucks used the same engine that year, a 216 cubic-inch straight-six.

This truck could be the poster child for patina and the seller decided to keep it as close to original as he could when he bought it. The body comes off as looking solid overall, with an assortment of dings and dents along with the original paint. The seller replaced the floor in the cab with new metal and put a sheet of plywood in the bed because the original wood was falling apart. The frame and underside look good and some of the many photos supplied focus on that area.

The-thought-to-be-original engine starts up every time and runs strong, and the floor-shifted manual 4-speed goes through all of the gears as it should. The seller’s mechanic gave it a thorough going over after he bought it to get it running and driving. That included cleaning out the gas tank. The truck has served well while in the seller’s possession as a daily driver on the back roads around his father’s farm. The tires are older, hold air, and are said to be adequate. The posted 72,000 miles on the truck is presumed to be accurate.

The seat is there but in serious need of reupholstering. The seller put a make-shift seat cover on to use around the farm and he has a classic car showroom at his dealership for collecting classic Chevy trucks. Proceeds from the sale of this vehicle will go toward the seller’s dad’s retirement. What a great son! We’re also provided with a video of the truck in case the photos aren’t enough.

These trucks in jam-up condition can be found online for $50-60,000, so the market for them is stout. With a little work on the body and interior, you could end up with a classic truck worth half that. But they’re only original once, so you might want to just deal with what has to be done and leave the rest as it is.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo RoughDiamond

    This looks to be a solid ’50 Chevy 3600 that will make someone a great old truck. Kudos to the son for his gesture of generosity and love to his father.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar photo Howard A Member

    Again with the rattle can clear. Got to be the most popular color at Walmart today. Nice truck, but like I’ve said before, nobody wants dads old truck?

    Like 4
  3. Avatar photo Phlathead Phil

    I had one of these 3/4 ton versions. It was a workhorse beast. I bought it for $500.00. I’m amazed at the prices they command.

    It ALWAYS started, always ran. It did smoke a bit, and I was once asked how many quarts to the mile I got.

    But, the old beast was valiant to the day I sold her.

    If I had all the old cars & classics I’ve had over the last 45 years I’d be sitting on a pile of gold.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar photo Lbpa18

    I have had one for years as a daily driver as well as farm work truck, all original. We have modern trucks but enjoy seeing this one in the drive. Great reliable truck. The wood in the bed is easy to replace, and if you have a tablesaw, pretty inexpensive too. I hope this doesnt get hot rodded.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar photo bobhess Member

    I call these truck’s design “the smooth, soft, industrial look”. Everything blends but still looks like what it is… a truck. I think most folks, like me, think it’s the way it looks not what it will haul. Stock or modified they look good on the street.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar photo Joe Haska

    I am sure there are lots of you out there just like me, who learned to drive on the Farm, in one of these trucks.

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Mike Brown

      I sure did! I have great memories of riding in and driving our 3600 with dad and grandpa doing various chores around the farm. Everything from hauling bales to mending fences, this was what we used. Between the old Chevy, an R model Mack and various Allis Chalmers and International tractors, I learned how to drive. Grandpa, dad and the family farm are all long gone but I’ll always have the memories! I also have our old Allis D17 and 7080 in my shop being restored right now. They’d love to meet this Chevy to “drink a few oils and tell a few stories” lol!

      Like 0

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