After 15 years outside in a field, this 1949 Chevrolet 3100 5-window pickup really has that p-word (if you don’t like the look, I understand, but even if you don’t like it you’ll have to agree that this truck is perfect for those that do)! It’s listed for sale here on eBay at no reserve with bidding still below $3,000 as I write. I’ll bet I have your attention now, don’t I! You’ll have to travel to Cavalier, North Dakota to pick this patina-covered beauty up.
Let’s get most of the bad out of the way first. There’s some rust at the base of the A-pillars, the floor needs some patching and the tailgate is missing. As you might expect you will also need a new wooden floor for the bed.
However, there’s some good news as well. The all-important curved glass for the five-window cab is intact, and a pair of rear fenders that are better than the ones currently on the truck are included in the auction.
Obviously there will be some work needed in here. The floor in the corner of the cab needs some real help.
Luckily you can get a new pair of pans here for less than $100 including shipping!
Presumably this is the original 1949 216 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine which produced 90 horsepower and 174 ft-lbs of torque. The 1949 engine featured replaceable precision bearings rather than poured bearings for the first time. Naturally after this much time it’s not running. The truck does come with a clear title, and it would be hard to go wrong at the current price. Are you a potential bidder?
I’d throw a horse blanket seat cover over the seat and drive it as is
Be nice if that’s all it took, but in reality, this truck is pretty shot. Those cab mounts are toast, and there’s literally nothing keeping the cab from coming off. even if it does run, which I’m sure it might, brakes, king pins, spring bushings, all lines, wheels and bearings, electrical looks a mess, gas tank, cooling system, clutch, maybe, and that just gets it rolling. And why does it have a floor shift AND a column shift???
Why do some guys were suspenders and a belt?
That’s not “patina” dears, that’s rust, the result of abandonment and neglect. True patina is more of a soft glow, the result of, if anything, too much polishing and care over the course of many years.
THANK YOU, DIRK!!! For telling it like it is. I cannot wait for the “Patina” craze do die it’s long overdue, well-deserved death.
Old chevies survive and this one will be a good one restored .
The fender spares are nice too!
I have a 54 in my garage under going my restoration… I like the floor shift too.
My truck has A 235 six with three on a tree 🌲.
Decent body but replaced fenders due to massive dents as the prior owner drove to 98 years old on a farm setting and tapped, scratched etc. etc.
A friend of my dads who visited my dad and she tossed him the keys saying it’s hard to clutch and you helped me all these years for free as a friend but you pay the transfer 🤠
The seat covers are easy to install on these as you put metal (butterfly type etc. that push and wedge in small tracks on top and bottom sections ) which avoids use of hog rings. I put tan channeled over the bland plastic type cover.
I also after attempting to clean the tank tossed it as it kept having rust particle even after professionaly
cleaned at a rad shop.
The only other suggestions are toss the tubes and bias tires and put LT radials on it as they hold up well and the LT offers higher tires to sit taller . I am running Firestone’s now and much better than tubed Coker’s in my book.
The new owner needs to join Stovebolt.com as they have much knowledge for the small repairs on a simple truck !
Good luck !!
Excellent project truck! Full restoration and lots of enjoyment. It’s running a later 235 right now but it will still do well with a 216 if you’re so inclined. Definitely not a P-word truck as a decent paint job will make it a real crowd-pleaser. You don’t even have to spend a lot of money on paint as a lot of local hardware stores can mix it for you….
geomechs, did you see on this truck, the ultra rare, 3 speed column shift with 4 speed auxiliary floor shift, giving a total of 12 forward speeds?( or 4 in reverse) :)
I read, ’48 was the 1st year for column shift, so this has an older transmission or 4 speed.
I would STRONGLY guess that since the engine is a later 235 some one switched the drive train as well.
Never saw that. Thanks for pointing that out….
Jamie, not sure about this 216 having replaceable insert bearings. IIRC, the inserts came along in the 53 car with powerglide, and all 54’s. The early 2016’s used dippers on the connecting rods to splash the oil, Oil filter was optional. these 216’s were not an engine you could run all day at 55. Hope this helps.
Good luck to the new owner!
The engine in this truck is a later 235 which would have standard bearings. My 54 has the exact same engine. A 216 has a pair of bolts at the ends of the valve cover holding it down.
Looks great BUT you should probably be a great welder or the repair work on that cab will cost a ton. Both lower cowls both inside and outside are toast and the lower toe boards plus front floors need replacement as well. Still if it seems for close to what it is now and you don’t live several states away it looks like a good project.
I can see this truck painted a dark blue body with cream wheels
and a tan interior. Don’t worry about those fancy seat covers, your
local upholstery shop could stitch you up some good vinyl ones that
will last you a lifetime. As for the wood in the bed, take the usable
slats to someone with a 3D printer and have them make you some
replacements that’ll last almost forever. And if you must have the
woodgrain look, they have printers that can do that too. Hope that
missing gauge cluster is somewhere in the truck as this would be
a rather hard item to source. Other than what I just mentioned, everything else is simple and easy to do yourself. And…you’ll have
a very useful daily driver!
3800 now. Good truck for someone!!!
Good luck to the new owner..
I sold a 3800 five window that was solid, but in worse condition than this one last year for $2,600 with a non original motor and tranny. IMO as a 3100, this one is reasonable at even $4K – $5K.