This truck may be the most perfect shop truck ever! It features awesome patina and is rough enough to park worry-free in a crowded parking lot, but mash the gas and you’ll be pushed back in your seat. It is a 1953 Chevrolet 3100 and can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $16,250. Originally used as a shop truck for a metal company, it has been a farm truck and most recently a shop truck for the current owner. Located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, this thing has classic styling with modern performance. Take a look and see if you agree this is a perfect shop truck.
Pop the hood and you’ll tell in an instant this isn’t your grandpa’s farm truck. The truck was born with a straight-six, but that was replaced a couple of years ago with a stout V8. The 350 cubic inch engine is from a Camaro and has been freshly rebuilt with a Demon 4bbl carburetor. Other upgrades under the hood include an aluminum radiator w/ electric fan, electric fuel pump, mechanical water pump, and custom headers with Cherry Bomb dual exhaust!
The interior is fairly stock with the exception of some license plate patch panels. The transmission has been upgraded to a 5-speed out of a Colorado pickup. The wiring has been completely re-done with a Painless kit and MSD ignition. The lights, turn signals, and gauges work plus the windows and rubber seals have been replaced.
So, what do you think? After seeing the awesome exterior and power plant this truck has is it the perfect shop truck? If not, what would you do differently? Let us know.
I’m not about the orange fake rust spots but the truck itself looks like it’d be a hoot. The rifle in the rack is a perfect touch though I’d put a lever action 30-30 there in place of what appears to be a pellet gun air rifle..
Nice base to go either way. I’d finish the job either original or hot rodded. I don’t think there will be a lot of bad press either way…
You find the best trucks, geomechs! That’s beautiful.
I might just leave this alone if we could buy it and drive it on 2 lane blacktops all the way home. It’d fit right in around here!
Thanks Nevada. I always have the camera or the cellphone because you never know when an opportunity comes up…
I would be the King of Grand Forks, North Dakota (Home of The Fighting Sioux!) with that rig, and the #1 Uber driver in town.
Looks like it leans on the left side, predominantly in the back. Might be a combination of the old leaf springs, and/or a dip in the driveway.
Great truck but I think it would be so much nicer with fresh paint!! Maybe match the steely wheels!!!
I believe that’s a Thermo Quad, not a Demon carb. Cool truck though!
There are a lot of cheap swapmeet parts on that engine. I hope that’s not indicative of the rest of the build, but with the lettering and license plate patches on the floor I wouldn’t hold my breath. The asking price is too high for what’s there. Too bad Barrett-Jackson can’t be blamed for the inflated asking price.
Steve R
Some people (like my wife) think the license plates on the cab floor add to the rustic character of this truck, and though it may be a swap meet special it’s to each their own IMO. And Steve R., you’re right about the price being a bunch of Benjamin’s for an old truck. It seems to follow the current trend in our country of SUV’s and trucks outselling cars-and when you have an unusual SUV or truck all the better, hence the silly asking price anymore of what we used to call “the dog car” or “the fishing truck” in reference to some old ride that suddenly got noticed.
Put a visor over the windshield and maybe dual spotlights, perfect!
Does anyone make a 6 bolt disc brake conversion for these? You want to make sure that the go and the STOP pedal work equally well……
This truck has a disc brake conversion on the front axle. And it still has the original front end complete with king pins. It also has a modern brake master cylinder mounted under the cab floor.
Very Cool. I’d check out the workmanship before mashing the pedal, sure is cool with the 5 speed! Good luck!
cheers
GPC
Buy it, drive it, enjoy it.
18 miles from my driveway. Hold on, I’ll be right back…..
I’m with Bing. This one looks like fun already.