Before pickup trucks had features like massaging seats and controls for the brightness and color of your ambient lighting, trucks were necessary tools built to do real work, harder chores than hauling a few bags of mulch or some Golden Retrievers. This 1957 Chevrolet pickup in Sacramento, California proved tough enough to survive more than 60 years with no pampering or hot-rodding and comes to market here on eBay as an honest never fiddled-with work truck. Though not running, the inline-six turns by hand, and a host of undercarriage pictures show a decent candidate for restoration or more decades of service. Bidding has surpassed $7500 with more than 15 suitors showing interest.
Unlike 1957 Chevrolet cars, the pickups retained the V-motif gauges through model year 1959. A four-speed manual transmission features a stump-pulling “granny” gear in first that leaves three forward speeds for normal driving. My 1985 Ford F-250 had the same setup except my top gear was an overdrive.
The 235 cid (3.9 L) “Thriftmaster” I6 followed Chevy’s tradition of favoring inline six-cylinder engines. The I6 configuration makes more torque than an equivalent V8, is inherently balanced for a super-smooth idle, and is simpler to maintain than a V8 with its single-cylinder head, single exhaust manifold, and 25% fewer cylinders.
What looks like a custom-fabricated rear bumper wards off would-be intruders aiming to dent your bodywork, and somehow fits the Space Age era this pickup was born into. Chevy hit a home run with the styling on these trucks, making them almost as highly-revered as the iconic 1957 Chevy passenger cars.
The “big window” cab offers panoramic views of traffic on the Eisenhower highway system as well as pleasantly framing your cattle ranch or vineyard when traversing unpaved acreage. Chevy called these 3000 series trucks the “dependable champs of the lightweight class” in its sales literature, available in full color at GMHeritageCenter. I’d be tempted to fix up this ol’ yeller pickup and drive it without changing much. Do you remember a time when pickup trucks like this were more than a suburban fashion accessory?
Nice write up Todd. Yes, I DO remember when trucks didn’t feature coffee cup warmers and weren’t fighting for spots at IKEA.
Never was a fan of this body style, but this truck just oozes the word “honest”. It is what it is, and makes no excuse for it. I don’t “restoration” describes the work needed so much as just “repaired”. Yes, it can be fully restored, but then you’d be afraid to get it ditty. Nah, repair what is needed, clean it up, get s simple single stage paint job for $1200 and have raised lil’ beast run another 50 years hauling rocks, lumber, junk runs, etc. Teach some kids how to drive a manual and love it.
If you don’t think pick ups are a hot ticket, you just aren’t paying attention. It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree it doesn’t change the market. Of course, if I new where “Vegaman” gets his $1,200 dollar single stage paint jobs, i might step up to the pump for this truck.
You could do it even cheaper with either Rustoleum or the farm and implement paint from either Farm & Fleet or Fleet Farm. Throw some hardner in the mix and your good to go.
This was my first vehicle in high school. No big window but was all stock all the way down to the original radio. Was a California farm truck also. This one looks like it still has the push button starter on the floor. Very dependable but even with single barrel carb was not good on gas.
My 1st pickup was a 1960 Chevy 1/2 ton fleetside with a 6 clyinder-4spd stik w/granny gears he took real good care of it [lol] he used 2 spit his chew in a can, when I got it all broken up I just spit my junk on the floorboard [save the seat 4 the girls]. LOL
I’ve been driving one like this, same powertrain, as my pick-up
for 48 years now. Other than rebuilding a mechanical component
when needed, it has been the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
It hasn’t let me down once. I’ve built a house with it and would be lost
without it for the occasional errand runs. Experiences like this are
part of what brings the money for these. No frills, just generally a
better time for trucks. It’s rare to find one like this that hasn’t
been butchered.
Remember that, back then most cars were all around vehicles capable of hauling in their own right, whether groceries, articles of clothing and household goods, fertilizer and garden supplies, as well as kids and family members, plus they could tow, since they had frames, sort of what todays trucks are mostly used for. Trucks weren’t really needed by most people except businesses and farmers. They were uutilitarian, for sure, and this is a fine example of that
Yeah they were stump pullers on my dads farm. He had a couple of them. As far as I know he never owned a V8 vehicle. He did own a couple straight 8 cars though Buicks and an Olds from the 30’s and 40’s.He always said the six was a better truck for farm work more torque and all that. Well after he retired He and my step mom moved to Honolulu and he drove some little Japanese car I think it was a Datsun 510. He bit the big one on January 4, 1978 exactly 29 years to the day after my mother died. I hope they both rest in peace.
God Bless America
Well, grandpa may have had it for “years”, but again, gramps got it from a municipal auction. Yellow and that rear bumper indicates civil duty, which is actually to it’s credit. They were generally housed inside and maintained well.
THIS? Pure,,,something. It’s a piece of,,,okay, even I will admit, it has some potential, starting at the bottom, and will most certainly get the “once over”, complete with clown wheels, LS64 motor, digital dash, Mustang ll front, and fluffy seats, so there’s the attraction today, not this. Sad to see these rare trucks, one by one get “modernized”, just the way it is and safety-wise, if you are actually going to drive this today, probably a better deal.
Bullseye HoA………..
But again we have to keep in mind that everything is relative and in today’s car world, relative to our collective past car experience and reality, it’s all relatively unreal. I guess I’ll have to die with my ’72 C-10………I mean it actually runs and the windows roll up too!
“Rare trucks” LOL
My 1st pickup was a 1960 Chevy 1/2 ton fleetside with a 6 clyinder-4spd stik w/granny gears he took real good care of it [lol] he used 2 spit his chew in a can, when I got it all broken up I just spit my junk on the floorboard [save the seat 4 the girls]. LOL
hi i always like old school trucks my self never thought trucks where used for show just to haul stuff around
I’m probably wrong, but isn’t this engine the next generation engine… 250 cubic inches? I don’t remember the valve cover being so close to the firewall, but again I am probably not remembering right. I drove one of these regularly late 60’s to early 70’s. It was a farm truck and the rusted front fenders kind of peeled away from the main body.
That one was 3 on the tree. Thanks for the memory.
Beautiful truck, over 9k with 18 hrs to go. Wow.
single cylinder-head