The owner of this 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup found it hidden away in a barn. The previous owner had parked it there in 1976, and it has only just been dragged out of hiding. This is a surprisingly solid old classic, and it has the potential to be a great project vehicle. It offers the buyer a world of possibilities, so this is your chance to let your imagination run wild. Located in Great Bend, Kansas, the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. Bidding has already hit $7,700 in what is a No Reserve auction.
The owner estimates that when he washed this old Pickup after he dragged it out of the barn, he washed away about 100lbs of accumulated dust. That might be a slight exaggeration, but it definitely looks better now than it did in the first photo. The Swift Red paint is pretty faded, but it hides a vehicle that seems to be loaded with good news. Rust is surprisingly minimal. It looks like there might be some present in one lower cab corner, and there might be some in the lower front fender on the passenger side, but the rest of the vehicle looks structurally sound. I get the impression that the barn might have been a relatively dry environment because not only are the floors clean, but the timber in the bed hasn’t crumbled away to powder. Someone has fitted a different door and rear fender on the driver’s side, but the rest of the steel appears to be original. Some of the glass is cracked, but overall, this looks like an excellent foundation for a project build.
The Chevy’s interior would be classed if serviceable if the buyer wanted to return the Pickup to the road quickly. The seat will eventually need a new cover, although throwing a blanket over it would cover the worst of the problems. Whipping it into shape would not be a difficult undertaking, and if the buyer tackled it themselves, it would also be pretty satisfying. A few trim pieces are missing, but the beauty of these old pickups is that parts are easy to source and reasonably affordable.
Mechanically, the news is not too bad with this old classic. When the previous owner parked the vehicle in the barn 45-years-ago, it remained untouched until the current owner purchased it. He checked that the original 235.5ci six-cylinder engine turned freely and then gave it a quick once-over. After cleaning the points and adding a new battery and some fresh fuel, that old six fired happily back into life. I have included a video of it running at the bottom of this article, and it sounds as sweet as a nut. A 4-speed manual transmission backs the six, and with 92hp and 182 ft/lbs of torque available at 1,500rpm, that should make the 3100 a flexible workhorse. The buyer will have a few tasks to tackle before the Pickup could be classed as roadworthy. The master cylinder is dry, so I suspect that a replacement will be on the cards. The rest of the braking system will need to be checked, and the broken throttle linkage will require attention. With those tasks completed and a thorough inspection, that could see this beauty back on the road pretty quickly.
If somebody is searching for a project build, this 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup could be a hot prospect. It would make a solid foundation for a restoration, a custom build, or a rat rod. Alternatively, the next owner could choose to return it to a mechanically roadworthy state and drive it as an original survivor. As someone once said, the world is your oyster with this classic. Ten people have already shown interest in taking it on, and they have now submitted 25 bids. They can see the potential locked away in this Pickup, and they seem to be keen to park it in their workshop. Is this one that you find tempting?
Perfect as is. Okay maybe some new tires.
New Tire? Those are perfect. They are still round. 😂
It’s as if these trucks grow in the corners of barns. They just keep popping up, which tells you, all these years later, just how many were sold. These AD( and GMC ND) trucks have become the standard image when thinking of a classic truck. Fun stuff, they go 55 and simple as a can opener. While I’d much prefer a nice paint job, I’m finding, I’m practically alone in that respect. When thinking old original pickup, it’s this image that comes to mind for most. It’s how they remember them. A local bike dealer in my little town, has a ’42 in similar condition he uses as a promotion for his business. When I asked if he was going to paint it, he said no, it gets all the attention as is. Great find, time after time. I never tire of seeing these old trucks emerging from a dusty corner, someones pride and joy at one time, I’m sure, or just “dad’s old truck” that never failed him, with stories as interesting as the truck itself.
https://www.alamy.com/antique-1942-chevrolet-pick-up-truck-salida-colorado-usa-image209437484.html
HoA: I’m with you. I’d be hard pressed not to repaint it. At least buff it out :)
Having had a few of these waaay back in the early seventies, a couple of 5 windows, and paid no no more than 400 bucks in early Seventies dollars, I just have a more than hard time seeing these au naturel selling for almost 5 figures.
I need to get with it lol
If you are itching to rebuild one of these neat old trucks then this is a perfect specimen to start with. Original or restomod cruiser, you can’t lose on this one.
Please not a rat rod! Much too nice!
That thing is sweeet. Wouldn’t take very much to make a great driver. And the best part is, the engine upgrade has already been done. The original engine would have been a 216, but this is a late-50’s 235. That’s a big deal. I wish I had room for it.
Has anyone ever converted one of these to a 5 window model? I had
a 5 window 1954 and sorry I sold it for $600. in good condition years ago.
Pat… wiped out any rats years ago when I started painting my own cars. Big agreement with you.