Rat Rod Project? 1950 Chevrolet 3600 Pickup

If you’ve got visions in your head of owning a classic pickup, maybe this 1950 Chevrolet 3600 might appeal to you. While it may have been sitting for years, it is complete and is begging for someone to transform it into something special. It would look pretty amazing if fully restored, but it could just as easily serve as an excellent base for a custom or rat rod build. Located in Murdock, Minnesota, you will find the Chevy listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $2,000 in this No Reserve auction.

There’s no denying that the next owner of this Pickup will have their work cut out for them. However, they will be commencing this project with a vehicle that features the desirable 5-window cab. It wears Forest Green paint at present, but I believe that this has been applied over the original Surf Green. I prefer the original shade, so if I were tackling this project, that would be my choice. It should be no surprise to learn that this old girl has some rust problems to tackle. The lower cab corners and floors can be particularly prone on pickups from this era, and this one doesn’t disappoint on that front. The good news is that because these problems are so common, it’s easy to find repair panels to address them. Lower inner and outer cab corners cost around $80 per corner, which is not expensive. The floors in this one have also dissolved, and replacements will be required. Once again, these are readily available in a selection of styles. One-piece items cost around $500 and would permanently address this issue. Because builders follow a diverse range of paths in these builds, the floors are available in several configurations. Some companies even produce floors designed to accommodate drivetrain upgrades, which cost no more than the standard items. The bed timber is all rotted away, but apart from the hubcaps, all of the trim and chrome is present. It looks like the glass is intact, although some of it is getting pretty cloudy.

The 1950 Chevy 3600 Pickup was no fireball in a straight line, but with the 216.5ci six pumping out 92hp and 176 ft/lbs of torque, it could still haul some heavy loads effectively. The owner believes that this six is original, and it is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The motor’s condition is unknown, while the same is true for the rest of the drivetrain. If the engine turns freely, it might be possible to revive or rebuild it. However, if the buyer intends to undertake a custom build, this might be irrelevant. The Pickup has been sitting long enough for the rear wheels to become locked. Whether these can be released for loading isn’t clear, but I wouldn’t bank on it. A set of go-jacks or something similar might be required, but that’s a minor detail.

If any aspect of this old Chevy surprised me, it was the interior. It all looks pretty tired, and it is a prime candidate for restoration, but some of the smaller items that generally manage to disappear over the years have managed to remain intact. These include the radio blanking plate and the horn button. The wheel itself looks like it could be restored by a patient owner, while the plated components might respond positively to some hard work with a high-quality polish. The gauges will require new lenses, and the seat will need new padding and a cover, but the rest comes down to regular metal preparation and painting. That’s a straightforward process, and stepping back to admire an interior that has been restored with your own two hands is a satisfying experience.

While the bidding price on this 1950 Chevrolet 3600 has been modest, the bidding activity has been spirited. There have been 25 bids submitted at the time of writing, but it is worth noting that there isn’t long left on this auction. If you are hunting for a pickup project, it might be worth keeping an eye on this one. It could represent an affordable buy with a bit of luck, and that’s never a bad way to commence any project build.