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Patina Pickup: 1956 Chevrolet 3100 V8 Short Bed

This patina’d pickup is located in Lawndale, California, and is listed here on eBay with 4 days remaining in the auction. After 29 bids, this 1956 Chevrolet 3100 half-ton step side truck has been bid to $16,100. The reserve is not met. The truck has all the great looks of a short wheelbase Chevy with some modern upgrades including an 8 track player and 5.7-liter V8 engine.

The interior is pretty nice and matches the brown exterior. The doors are said to shut firmly with no rattles and the drip rails are still in nice shape. The seller believes the original color of this truck was a forest green which appears to be creeping through the brown overspray. This is some rust underneath but the body is said to be solid. A prior owner installed a fuel pump, master cylinder, and new battery. The truck still retains most of its original wood bed which looks pretty cool.

Under the large bulging hood, is a 350 cubic inch V8 engine that was manufactured in 1970. It is connected a manual transmission and is said to run well even with a 2 barrel carburetor. That might be the first thing I would do, is to upgrade to a 4 barrel carburetor. The truck is said to retain its original spare tire. The seller notes that a number of 8 track tapes are included with the sale.

The glass looks good including the amazing wrap-around rear window with the exception of one of the vents is missing. The lights and horn are operational and the truck sports factory floor mats and insulation. Unfortunately, none of the gauges in the dash cluster work, and a prior owner installed an aftermarket oil pressure gauge and coolant temperature gauge. So this is definitely not a factory perfect truck, put a fun part of nostalgia that can hopefully be acquired at a reasonable price.

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt Member

    Neat old truck,but I’d never pay that kind of money.
    I hate it when they clearcoat the “patina” like that.To me,
    it just looks odd.
    Again,I wonder how many of these old trucks get
    bought for crazy prices,only to be sold a while later,when
    they find out that they’re not fun to drive often.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Jim in FL

      Can confirm. A soccer mom on the team I coach bought a 57. Nicely restored with a 350. Sold it after a few months. Cab was cramped, No tinted glass so the sun was super bright in the cab. Vintage air AC would freeze the cab out. Three speed auto trans, and low final gearing so it would turn 4000 rpm on the highway. Whoever restored it skimped on cab insulation so it was noisy. Just not a practical daily driver for someone going 50-60 miles a day. She bought a modern Ram crew cab.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Mitchell Gildea Member

    Agree with the author; four-barrel carb swap and cruise

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Steve R

    I’d keep looking. There are more than a few indications this was done on the cheap, fuel line, plug wires, heater and radiator hoses and the rattle canned engine with overspray. That looks like the work some hack backyard mechanic might do. There are better deals out there for anyone willing to put in the work.

    Steve R

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Had Two

    That Diamond Tuck interior informs us of a previous trip to Tijuana.
    Nice work.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar jeffro

    i just want the 8-track tapes!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Glenn C. Schwass Member

    Awww, it’s perfect. I just can swing it now financially but this would be the one. I’d put a GMC grill and front bumpers on it, wheels with 54 half moons and trim rings and drive….

    Like 0

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