We’ve seen many Chevrolet “Advance Design” pickups here at Barn Finds, tons and tons of them, literally. However, this one may surprise you a bit, it sure surprised me. It may look like an original survivor pickup in outstanding condition, and it is in outstanding condition but it’s been restored! The seller has it listed here on eBay in Irvine, California and they’re asking $48,000 or you can make an offer.
As most of us do with any vintage vehicle ad, I went through the photos first and was surprised to see this old truck’s condition. How could this possibly be so rust-free and nice, with evenly faded and worn paint, no dents on the fenders, a nice wood bed floor, and a beautiful interior? Then I got to the last two photos with the front fenders and hood off, and saw what I thought was a shiny frame, shiny engine, and a power steering pump, but it couldn’t be, could it?
Then it was time to read, and it turned out to be one of the most unusual listings and trucks I’ve seen over the last nine years here at Barn Finds. Chevy roared out of the post-WWII gate with the Advance Design trucks in 1947 and made them until 1955, and 1953 would be the last year for the split windshield. The five-window cab design looks perfect, and the wood bed planks are “reclaimed gray weathered wood & matte powder-coated bare steel strips.” The seller says this truck has all-new laminated glass and this restoration took six years to complete. As far as the price, Hagerty is at $42,900 for a #2 excellent example.
The story goes that the seller bought the original 3100 truck from the original owner in 2007 and when it arrived, started tackling the rust and other issues. Once they got going, they found a nicer five-window cab and frame, and the race was on. Intending to preserve the original appearance of the truck as they found it, a dump truck load of $100 bills (I made up that part) was spent to bring this truck up to modern driving standards with specialists painting the restored body to look as if it were just pulled from a barn. As expected, the interior looks great.
Please read the seller’s actual description to see everything that has gone into creating this incredible truck. Here’s the rebuilt Chevrolet 216-cu.in. OHV inline-six, which would have originally had 92 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. You can see that power steering was added, and power brakes were also added. I can’t imagine this truck with power steering, it has to be pure driving pleasure. I normally like things original but I’d love to have this one. What are your thoughts on “restoring” this truck but making it look old?
Nicely done, snow tires all the way around must add to the driving experience. Obviously I wouldn’t be a buyer at that price.
When l get to like “making things look old” l will let you know.
If you are going to deviate from original with the power steering and power brakes, you may as well upgrade to a 292 six cylinder to help out with today’s highway speeds.
I agree about the engine. Why put up with a stove-bolt complete with dipper rods when a stump puller would have been nicer?
I have to say. They did a pretty good job making an old truck look……. Well…… Old….
They had me fooled when I first saw it and if it wasn’t for Scotty writing about it, I might have missed it. I like the stock interior too. And theres nothing wrong with power steering at this stage of the game for me. Really nice truck. I still have a preference for shiny paint, but thats me, and I respect all the work and hours that must’ve gone into this thing to make it look so aged.
If you spent all that time and money to make it looked, then you could have spent that same time and money to look new again. That would be my preference. I don’t want to by a truck and then spend a lot more to undo what they did.
I can just see it. I buy the truck, show it to my buddies and tell them what a great deal I got. They’d say, “you paid $48k for THAT???? You could have gotten a truck like that for less than 10k..” “But guys, it only looks old….bla bla bla..” Having to explain why this truck costs so much makes it a big “no” for me. Now if they’d have restored it to like new condition…..
This is kind of a cool truck and also quite amusing. OK, Let’s be real here: this is not a two owner truck. You replaced the cab and the frame, the two Major components of a vehicle. It would be safe to say those had separate owners previously, would that make this four owner truck(?) Let’s just call this what it is:
A truck assembled from various parts sources.
The rest of the truck has some OK features for sure but I have no idea why you would retain that 216 and the stock gearing with the upgrades of power steering and brakes(?)
The 1950 3600 Chevy patina pickup that was featured here on Barn Finds last week was also completely mechanically restored with better upgrade components and topped out at 17k on eBay action.
Sure that truck didn’t have power steering and brakes, but it wouldn’t be that expensive to add them.
Good luck to the owner of this 53, Maybe there’s a market in California and I’m unaware of………
By the way the 1950 3600 Chevy is elsewhere on Ebay ( under other items by the seller) for 28k or best offer. I would much rather have it.
I learned to drive on a 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton with 3 on the tree
Poured Babbitt bearings 216 and “original” condition. For a mere $43 large. Such a deal.
So if I pull my ’52 (which looks better than this) out of the barn, where it’s been resting for the last 30 years, ad PS and PB and I can get 48k for it? Some how I don’t think so.
I love the patina–wish it were real..but still nice
Power steering is a must have add on–these things are a handful to drive!
Love the original interior–always appreciate when the restorer leaves or refinishes the inside in the original silver beige paint on the dash & doors
Price??? not so sure this is going to make it there!
It appears that the seller is trying to recoup all the money he spent on the 3100. And maybe even more. I suppose someone might see it as a good deal, but it’s overpriced for my liking.
… and it lived a long and lonely life in climate controlled storage…$48k? For what should be a kid’s starter truck? Nope, not this bucko!
Guess I’m scratching my head wondering why you would spend all the time and money to restore a truck like this to have the finish product look like it needs to be restored. But I’m one of those who think patina translates to needs paint
Hey wow! What a great plan… Pay 48, THOUSAND! dollars to drive around in an old truck…. OR!, how about this? You could pay 48, HUNDRED dollars to drive around in an old truck… and NOT have to explain to everybody you know what happened to all that money you had put away…
No where near worth what they are asking You can get one all redone with an LS swap and painted with new upholstery easy for that price …$48 G’s Smokin some good wacky Tobacky out there…..
Well, ya know there’s the asking price and then there’s the selling price. Sometimes they are VASTLY different.
This truck was completed the way the owners wanted it. If you don’t like what they did, move on.
I’ve restored many cars over the years to show room/ show car condition. I appreciate what it takes to do a frame off, and make it look it’s age.
Actually, I like it, but if I bought it and my late brother was still on this plane of existence, he would say, “Damn, boy!! You paid WHAT for THAT??”
Perfecly done – would buy that thing in a heartbeat if I had the coin
Guys , Just saying those trucks are 12 for 10 cents . Why would you pay triple what you can get Better then… Just bought a 53 5 window for 12 k Front clip all done , Rearend , Disc brakes in front , pwr brakes, pwr steering , Small block 350 and 350 turbo trans….Come on Really you would go pay 48 Racks if you had the coin ??? Yea Right….
Like Scotty said it is a different restoration approach. I think it is a desirable truck. Now what the seller wants and what the top offer they get may not be convergent. But it’s a free country. Ask and you shall receive. Nah.
To pricy, should have added vintage a/c and a hiway gear for that money
Franken Chevy!
Given that in the early seventies on the Front range of Colorado, 5 window AD’s could be had for the hundreds of dollars, I’d have a hard time paying forty eight large for one. Especially one made up of donor trucks. Ah well sic transit gloria as well as time and people’s willingness to pony up big money for these……as much as I like them :)