It seems that the popularity of pickups is snowballing in the classic market, and this trend shows no sign of slowing. A perfect example is this 1951 Chevrolet 3100. It has already attracted 27 bids since the owner listed it for sale here on eBay. This action has pushed the price to $4,650 in a No Reserve auction. Part of its attraction may be that it is so complete, but a big part of its attraction could be that this is one of the most rust-free and solid pickups that you are likely to find in today’s project market. If you find yourself attracted to this classic, you will find it located in Fullerton, Nebraska, and with No Reserve in play, it could become a bit of a bargain buy.

This old Pickup rolled off the production line wearing very attractive Burgundy Red paint. The panels are relatively straight for a vehicle of this type and age, although there are a few minor dents and marks that the buyer will undoubtedly want to address. None of these are horrible, and none would justify panel replacement. However, the big news with this Pickup is its general lack of penetrating rust. There is a heavy coating of surface corrosion across the entire vehicle, but there is minimal genuine rust. I can a small amount in the back cab corner on the driver’s side and on the passenger side floor around the cab mount, but the remaining lower cab corners and the floor appear to be rock solid. The frame is in a similar state, while the running boards are also excellent. The buyer will probably choose to undertake a frame-off restoration, and doing so would ensure that the standard of finish on this project is of the highest level. The existing chrome and trim appear to be in a restorable state. Some of the glass has begun to develop cloudiness around the edge, and the buyer will probably choose to replace this. All in all, this looks like it could be a straightforward and rewarding project build.

Every time I see an interior like the one in this Pickup, my fingers start to itch. I can think of very little that would be more satisfying than returning this one to its former glory. The first piece of positive news, however, is that this interior is complete. That means that hard-to-locate items like the horn button and the radio blanking plate are intact. I have previously discussed how satisfying a restoration of a vintage pickup interior is because they are so straightforward to dismantle and reassemble. Any owner with reasonably well-developed metal preparation and painting skills should be able to have this interior sparkling for little cost. The gauge glass looks cloudy, but a complete kit of glass, bezel rings, and gaskets is easy to find for under $40. That would have the gauges presenting in an as-new condition, and with fresh paint on the dash, it would all look pretty spectacular. The seat has seen better days and will require a new cover and probably new foam. However, all of the upholstery pieces are easy to find and retail for around $500. Add a new mat for the floor, and this interior will sparkle for less than $1000. That makes this aspect of the restoration appear pretty affordable.

Lifting the hood of this old Pickup reveals some of the original paint, along with the 216.5ci six-cylinder engine. This is a numbers-matching unit and would have produced 92hp in its prime. Bolted to the back of that six is a four-speed manual transmission. This combination would have made this old Pickup a reasonably competent workhorse. The seller purchased 3100 from its original owner, and they admitted that it had been sitting in a barn since the mid-1960s. Therefore, it is no great surprise to learn that this vehicle does not currently run or drive. With the brake pedal sitting on the floor, it also doesn’t stop! The owner has not attempted to revive this Pickup, so it is unclear whether the engine turns freely. These old sixes are about as bulletproof as they come, so a fuel system flush and a bit of tinkering could conceivably get it coughing into life once again. However, with items like the brakes and steering requiring careful attention, returning this to a roadworthy state will not be the work of a single weekend.

A few years ago, I would have looked at a vehicle like this 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup and would not have given it a second glance. However, I have learned from experience that these wonderfully practical classics can make very satisfying restoration projects. The proof of this is in how eagerly sought they are when they appear on the market. The bidding on our feature truck has been relatively solid to this point, and I suspect that there’s a way to go before the hammer drops. Have you ever considered tackling a project build like this, and if so, could this old 3100 be a strong candidate?