Stepside Project: 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup

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Chevrolet’s Task Force series of trucks had a production run spanning from 1955 to 1960, with the first model being the 1955 Second Series, also known as the “Stepside Series.” Though this example sits in a dilapidated state, this 1955 Chevrolet 3100 is available here on eBay with no reserve.

This truck is available in Lenoir, North Carolina with a clean and clear title in the seller’s name.

It appears the cab of the truck is in decent shape with solid floors, though the cab corners will need replacing. However, it appears that the passenger window and a section of the windshield will require replacement due to serious cracks.

The bed is another story – the seller claims all the pieces are there, but some assembly is required.

A 3.9-liter inline 6-cylinder engine is under the hood, and while the seller claims it last ran about a decade ago, it is not currently running. The engine pairs to a 3-on-the-tree manual transmission to drive the rear wheels.

At the time of writing this article, bidding is at $1,025. Personally, I’d love to see someone put this truck back together and make it into a hot rod, but maybe another person out there would give it a full restoration. What would you do with this vintage Chevrolet pickup?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. leiniedude leiniedudeMember

    I did not know that the 3.9-liter was available in 1955.

    Like 5
    • Howard A Howard AMember

      Yeah, and your Willys has a 2.6 litre engine? That’s crazy talk, it’s a 161.1 cubic inch, dag nab it,,

      Like 6
      • leiniedude leiniedudeMember

        LOL! Howard, I thought you of all people would have caught the sarcasm in my comment. And yes the Willys is a 226 cubic inch L- head engine. Take care, Mike.

        Like 1
      • Howard A Howard AMember

        Hey Mike, I did, I just never heard the 235 referred to as a 3.9, although, I have heard of the Ford 300 called a 4.9,,,by some.

        Like 2
    • Will Fox

      Nor did Chevy.

      Like 0
  2. Arthell64

    3.9 wasn’t but a 235 was.

    Like 3
  3. NotSure

    The rear fender laying cockeyed in the first pic brought a grimace to my face and a tear to my eye. Seems the only thing clear and clean about this truck is the title.

    Like 7
  4. Howard A Howard AMember

    Got to start somewhere if you want this. We’ll give Adam the benefit of the doubt, living “down under” and all, but the metric description of this motor just doesn’t taste right. While most of us Yanks failed “the metric table” in HS, our American motors were always good ol’ US cubic inches. 7 litre didn’t have near the zing of a 428. This truck will no doubt become a resto-mod, it’s too far gone already to make it stock, even though, they do look nice when done. I think this is a great find, whatever way you go.

    Like 5
  5. azd

    Apparently its time for a philosophical discussion…

    It seems odd to call out the displacement of these old engines in liters. For so long we’ve identified them with a particular cubic inch displacements, and those numbers have become identifiers. A 216 vs a 235 vs a 261? If you know Chevy you know a whole lot more than cubes when you hear the numbers. You know they are a series of very similar I6 engines. Call them 3.5L, 3.9L, or 4.3L and now it’s a mess.

    For the vintage American gearhead the liter, to two significant digits, is a too large a measure for engine displacement because it obscures the identity of the engine. For instance, Ford 427, 428, or 429? Yep, it has the 7.0 liter V8.

    It’s a great tool for comparing the size of contemporary car engines because honestly, who cares? You can’t see the engine in there anyhow. It has no personality. Unlike the 1970 Chevelle 7.4L, or the 7.0L Hemi Cuda. Hey wasn’t the 7.0L a Ford engine? Now I’m confused…

    Like 10
    • Mountainwoodie

      Throw the Litres in the rubbish skip!

      Like 1
  6. Steve

    It looks as if the sheet metal is in decent shape. I would say this truck is worth $2k max in its current condition.

    I have to come clean and admit that I have a ’55 “big window” in just a little better condition. I traded my cousin a 1979 Kawasaki dirt bike for it 35 years ago when I was 13 y.o. It was in primer and full of bondo (mostly dents, but the overuse of bondo was collecting moisture and causing more problems than it fixed.) My dad and I stripped the parts down and had everything media blasted and primed. It has been sitting in my barn since. I have finished several projects of various type since. I suppose it will be a retirement project if I wait much longer! One of the reasons that it has sat so long is it needs EVERYTHING, including glass, wiring, window regulators,door latches and hinges rebuilt, then I have to decide if I should leave it stock, with a 235 6 cyl. 3 ott, straight axle 4.10 gears and drum brakes, which limits its drivability, or upgrade to an IFS, disc brakes, v8, auto overdrive trans and rear axle with “friendlier” highway gears. One benefit is it has an “add on” overdrive unit out of a late 50’s truck behind the 3 speed, but none of the wiring and supporting items.

    Like 4
    • Ken

      “a 1979 Kawasaki dirt bike”

      KX? KDX? Inquiring minds want to know!

      Like 0
      • Steve

        KX80, of all things! Not even a 250 or even a 125

        Like 0
  7. PatrickM

    RUN!!!

    Like 0
  8. Gaspumpchas

    Good comments Guys, especially Litres. Only thing I know about that is a 2 litre bottle of coke. This grey hair still likes points and carbs. Glad I’m not the only one!!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 5
  9. Ken

    The Task Force series ended in 1959. The C/K series began in 1960.

    Like 0
  10. Fred H

    His neighbors must love this sitting in his driveway )).

    Like 2

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