This 1951 Chevrolet 3600 pickup has awesome patina and would make a great project for someone. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of just over $2,000. As expected, the reserve hasn’t been met yet. It does have a buy-it-now price of $3,250 so I bet a cash offer near $3,000 would own it. Based on current pricing, that is a bargain for a classic truck like this. Currently located in Audubon, Minnesota (just east of Fargo, ND), the ad says the truck spent most of its life on a North Dakota farm. Have a look at this one, it looks like a solid project.
The interior on these trucks is basic and functional. It appears like this one hasn’t been messed with too much. It appears to wear the original steering wheel and gauges. The seat looks like it may be original as well. Overall, not a bad starting point. Heck, you could easily drive this one as-is.
The ad says the truck rolls and steers but doesn’t run. The straight-six doesn’t turn by hand either, which may be a bad sign. Hopefully, some penetrating oil down the spark plug holes will free it up, but an engine swap may be in the future for this one. If you had to replace the engine, what would be your ideal swap for this project?
Here you can see the truck is a long-box. While this will turn some people off, it certainly keeps the initial price down. If this was a short-box 1/2-ton, it would probably be two to three times as expensive. You can see the passenger side window is broken, which wouldn’t be too hard to replace. All the glass in this truck is flat. So, what do you think of this project? It looks like a good one to me! Let us know.
Looks like a good project for sure. If it came my direction it would get a driver-quality restoration. 1951? Looks like push-button door handles so there are some questions. The engine has been swapped out for what appears to be a 235. Nothing wrong with that; I just prefer the original 216; that’s my golf average. Besides I wouldn’t know what to do if the oil pressure went past 15 psi.
Been watching some ‘Red Line Rebuilds’ on YouTube. Davin is working on a truck very similar to this one. He’s approached the project very much the same as I would except if you’re taking it that far down you might as well pull the cab and box, blast and repaint the frame, then do up the sheet metal. Even if it’s going to be the shop truck it should still look good…
I agree, I think it’s a ’52. Wiki claims, ’52 started the push button door handle and 90 mph speedo. ’53 was the last year for the 3100-6400 designation on the hood and had maroon dash knobs, that I don’t see.. It claims 3100 was the 1/2 ton, 3600, 3/4 ton, and so on. Plus that air cleaner is from the 70’s. Man, a LOT of work here. The only way to do this truck, since it’s so rough to begin with, is a total, and these days, that’s a tough call. I just don’t think the interest is there today and a slew of resto-mods out there. If you’re going to do it, start with a nice one. There are plenty of nice original ones still out there.
Nice that it is the 4 speed.
I own a ’54 Chevy 3100, shortbed. It’s got a little rust in the corners but not much. It is faded red — not the original color, but applied so long ago that it looks like it rolled out of the factory painted red and let the sun do the rest. I picked it up about nine years ago, planning on driving it only a couple of years. At the time, I thought I paid too much for the truck. Looking at what these old brutes are commanding in the marketplace, I may have to let it go.
Oh, this is a nice truck in Minnesota, too. Looks solid.
This add ,says nothing on the Under carriage, Frame,or floors?. Or box bed condition?
The seller could try the penetrating oil bit. Themselves, if unstuck motor reults- could ask more for it?.
Either way it’s a decent Base ,with seemingly strait sheet metal,and fenders.
The long bed doesnt BROTHER me either ijs.
If I knew of a fair priced means to transport it to CA. I’d bid on this truck as is, replace passenger window,find a small block chevy ,to drop in And drive it awhile while stashing up other parts n pieces. Work on on my days off,.
If the engine in the truck can’t be freed, swap in a Vortec 4200 out of a Trailblazer and a five speed, check the suspension and brakes and fix if necessary, then cruise
Here we go …deja vu all over again !!!!!
But this one dosent say GMC all over it .
Not a 51 as it has push button door handles and dosent have cowl vents so it didnt just get a door transplant (something I would do having such a preference for the push buttons ).
Good observation that it isnt the original 216 engine so its a 235 or 261 wouldnt that be a bonus …Im ok with that transplant I am kinda keen on having oil pressure .
The colour on the upholstery isnt the original
These things tell me someone cared enough for this machine to keep it up and going so may well have tended other needs as well .
Its not my aim to be a nitpicker …….Im just floored by folks not knowing what they have ….How does that happen ? Does it not have a title ? Is it incorrect ?
Is the title for some other truck sitting out in a gully that was too much trouble to get out ?
Its not like its a ford or such ,should have a number plate plain as day when you open the drivers door .
I understand nobody likes a know it all I sure dont and perhaps Im just “overly sensitive”aint nobody called me a snowflake the first time much less the second time yet . These days with all the crap that is flying around these days we need to have solid consitancies to hang on too We aRE talking science here Something tells me if a feller showed up and laid out 30 10 spots and told em oh thats just the same as a C note …..That just wouldnt fly
Im just a stickler for details I reckon Whence someone tries to tell me I aint seeing what I am seeing kinda makes me shy to count much on what else they might say .
I have bought and sold a many an automobile over the telephone but Ive gotten to where I just wont do so with strangers anymore I know I know what Im talking about ,but I cant count on them knowing what I am talking about
Makes me think of a guy called once wanting to sell a car ,telling me how clean it was and I asked how is the interior ? he says oh its sorta poor for being rained on so much I then asked …Why is that and he said all the glass is broken out ! Kinda taught me clean must be a matter of perspective
I suppose it was so clean from gettin 28 inches of rain a year
Yes, you are over sensitive, but that’s okay. You’re all over the place here, but I think what happens, is the original owner has passed, and someone, who knows little about the vehicle, or cares, buys the property, and they are “stuck” with it. I notice that too, some ads are pretty vague. That’s why this site is so nice, with the coverage this gets, someone is bound to know the real story, and it’s very helpful, I think. We have to remember, not everyone likes old trucks, and I see it was sold for we don’t know how much, but I’m sure they were “pickled tink” to have it gone.
I have a 1950 Chevy 3600 series truck and the title number is the motor number. If you change the motor and not the title then you have a problem when you go to get it inspected. This happened to me. I bought my truck in 1976 and the motor had been changed and the title was not fixed. The plate on the door has numbers but they are not what is listed on the title. You have to take it to the State Patrol and have them inspect it with proof of where you bought the motor to get the title fixed. I still have the truck. Just now started working on it. It has a 350 with a 4 speed fender well headers and side pipes.