The “3100” panel delivery was part of the Advance-Design Series of light and medium-duty trucks. The series was one of Chevrolet’s first major redesign after World War II. Replacing the AK Series, the trucks were in production from 1947 to 1955, at which time they were sub-planted by the Task Force Series. This ’50 panel van/truck has been owned by the seller’s father for 40 years and it will run with a new battery but needs a clutch. Located in Vashon, Washington, this old workhorse is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $1,700 (but the reserve has not). Thanks, T.J., for this cool GM find!

With this group of trucks, Chevy used the same basic design for all their trucks including the Suburban, panel trucks, canopy express, and cab overs. The cab overs used the same cab configuration but with a shorter and taller hood and different fenders. The unique cab over fenders and hood needed a custom cowl area which made the cab over engine cabs and other truck cabs incompatible with one another. The 3100 was the ½ ton model, which covers the panel delivery offered by the seller.

Unlike much of the latter part of the 20^th Century and beyond, Chevy trucks from this era were #1 in sales instead of Ford which has since dominated the truck scene. The seller’s truck/van has a 235 cubic inch inline-6 with a 3-speed speed manual, both of which are numbers matching. It shouldn’t take much to get this truck going mechanically, although it has 130,000 miles. The panel delivery is the Deluxe edition, which means the level of trim is a step up from entry-level.

The bones on this Chevy are generally good, but there is rust in the fenders. Most of the chrome pieces are still present after 72 years. We’re told this truck was custom ordered when new for Seattle City Light, so it still has the toolboxes in the back that came with that purchase. If you were to buy this 3100 and get it going again, what would you do with it? Go back to original or customize it in some way?