Spending the past 40-years hidden away in a barn really doesn’t seem to have done this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup any real harm. It is looking a bit rough around the edges, but it does appear as though it is solid and complete. It offers a number of possibilities to its next owner, whether it be for a restoration, rat rod, or a cool custom. The Pickup is located in Bridgewater, Virginia, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner is asking what would appear to be a quite reasonable $6,000 for the 3100. A big thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting this beauty for us.
The first thing that struck me when I looked at this old Chevy is just how straight it is. These are a vehicle that will almost invariably lead a hard life, and this usually results in them accumulating more than their fair share of battle scars. That doesn’t seem to be the case with this one, with any dings or dents being very minor. It looks like the vehicle might have started its long and adventurous life finished in Seacrest Green, but this has deteriorated over the years. However, this hasn’t resulted in the Pickup finding itself riddled with rust. There is a healthy coating of surface corrosion visible, but the prone areas such as the cab corners and the edges of the bed look like they could be fairly solid. There is a rubber mat on the floor in the cab, so we can’t see the floors themselves. The glass in the driver’s door is damaged and will need to be replaced. The rest of the glass looks like it is quite good, while the trim, grille, and the original front bumper have all survived quite nicely.
The interior of the Pickup is actually better than average for a barn find of this age. The seat wears a new cover, but the rest of it shows the sort of surface corrosion and deterioration that we would come to expect as being fairly normal. One of the greatest attractions of these interiors is just how well they can be made to present without having to spend massive sums of money. A fairly competent person can strip out the interior in a home workshop, and have it looking a million dollars without breaking the bank. This is due to the fact that they respond well to some basic cleaning and fresh paint. The dash appears to be complete, and the wheel looks like it should be able to be restored. With those tasks completed and a fresh rubber mat on the floor, this is an interior that really has the potential to sparkle for very little money.
Powering the pickup is the 216ci 6-cylinder engine, producing 92hp. Bolted to the back of this is a 3-speed manual transmission, which sends the power to the rear wheels. These are not a fast vehicle, but with pretty decent levels of torque coming from that six, they will happily carry loads in excess of the ½-ton that the manufacturer specifies. After four decades in a barn, it should be no surprise that the Pickup is now in need of some TLC. The owner says as much in the listing, but what he also says is that the Pickup actually runs. Just how well it does this is not clear, but that is all part of the fun associated with reviving a barn find.
This is a great old Pickup, and it offers the next owner a wealth of possibilities. It has the potential to become something pretty special, so I’ll be interested to know just what path you would follow with it. More importantly, I will be interested to know if any of our readers feel motivated enough to potentially follow up with the owner and purchase this one.
If it runs (and stops) well then I’d say re-tire it, clean it up, paint it and DRIVE IT!!!!!
Fix and enjoy. You could restore this one and not break the bank. Keep the 216 and keep right on going. My late friend restored his ’49 entirely by himself and even got his paint from the local hardware store. I think it turned out pretty good.
Beautiful!!
Cheers
GPC
Hello there, I’m just wanting to know if it’s still for sale ? Tex me at my phone number # 956-789-5169 .
Nice looking truck geomechs.
Thanks Rex. I try to bring a camera as often as I can. Always a photo op…
Too expensive. Something like this from Sweetgrass would be 1/3rd the price, even if it does run, something the Sweetgrass trucks usually don’t. It shows optimism on the sellers part, getting it running and new water pump, but thrown out money. It needs to be updated, not fix the outdated stuff.
I need it!!! Why does it have to be in Virginia???
“Road Trip!!!” 😃
I wish I had the money to buy it now but I got to many projects already!! I don’t want to be that guy that says I’ll get to it!! Super straight and original components and I would keep it just the way it is!! Just rebuild it to original specs with a new paint job in the original color!! Nice truck Geomechs!!!
Thanks Tim. My friend had one for a farm truck back in the 60s. He came across the one in the pic at a farm sale. I think he only paid $500 for it. It was very close to the same condition as the feature one here is. I did the brakes and front end while Ronnie attacked the sheet metal. Seals were bad in the transmission and rear axle so we resealed them. Distributor bushings were shot so I rebuilt the distributor. Found a burnt exhaust valve so we gave the old Babbitt Pounder a valve and ring job. Ron got oak planks from the lumber yard and cut and fit them into the bed. By the time he took it for its shakedown I don’t think he spent $5K, and that included three or four bottles of whiskey. It was a fun job. We lost Ronnie close to 7 years ago now to an inoperable brain tumor. His SIL has the truck now…
Really cool but sad ending to your story!! My mother died of brain cancer at 56 years old back in 1999. She held my daughter who was born in February and died early March!! She never met my youngest son!! Miss her everyday!! Your friend at least built something that can live indefinitely if taken care of!! If that’s any comfort!!
Yes, some you never really get over. Brain cancer is one of the cruelest punishments a person could ever endure. My friend was 83 when he passed and he had lived a good life. Only things left are the photos and memories…
It is a real shame this isn’t on eBay where you are protected when you buy it. It looks to be a very nice truck and my birth year to boot.
There isn’t an protection for car buyers on eBay. Buyer protection is only available for smaller items paid for through PayPal.
My grandparents had an old Chevy on the farm. I can’t remember what year it was. It head the spare tire bend in the rear fender tho. Was actually the first truck I learned to drive ! There a lot of good steel that went into these old trucks, so they didn’t rust out in a few years.
Good looking old truck. Built right and not cheap and sold for a big price. My friend retired from GM a few years back. He worked on Chevrolet and GMC trucks. He said the only good thing about them now is the running gears and the bodys and frames were alot thinner. He said you could take a cheap ball point pin and walk around these new ones and punch holes in the bodys. He said when they were put on the rail cars. You could not tighten the tow hooks down like you used to. If you did .They would pull out of the frame. He also said the advertisement of the truck going through rough mud–LIKE A ROCK was a joke. The truck would not make it half way through. This truck is built alot better and safer. I really like it and would replace what needed.Paint it and use it. . Really nice find.. Their out their. I know where their are some–but ain,t for sale. Kept for the man,s grand kids. A really nice 66 Galaxie 2 door hardtop and several others.Thank you bud. Too bad its on ebay. It will sale more then what its worth. People put too much trust in money and not in themselfs.