When it comes to classic trucks, the market is hot, and it all comes down to a numbers game. Buying and selling are all up to those involved willing to give and take. This 1956 Chevrolet 3100 at time of writing is at a starting bid of $10,000. It is located in Opheim, Montana. A VIN is listed and the title is claimed clear. You can view more here on eBay.
Beneath the hood is according to the listing, is the original 265 cubic inch, 8 cylinder engine connected to a 4-speed manual transmission. There is no indication that it runs or drives and based on the photos, it doesn’t look like it would. It has been tucked away since 1999 which, long term storage could have been deduced by the clutter around the truck.
Inside the truck is a green interior which suits the white exterior. The bench seat is ripped and stuffing is falling out, but that isn’t something a seat cover couldn’t temporarily fix while it becomes a rolling project. There are no photos of the bed, but the listing claims the truck is rust free. Thankfully it has been stored indoors so the elements wouldn’t eat it away.
It is hard to tell if the red roof is original or was painted later on. This would have been a very festive truck a few weeks ago, having all the colors associated to that season, except for blue maybe. A little soap and water, engine work, and some interior work, and this long bed step side would be a great truck to cruise in, as well as hold onto for a slight investment.
It is a short bed
Or is it?
Looks like a long bed to me….
or is a 1955, not 1956!!!
Zero bids at $10g’s. What a surprise. Be nice to inform these sellers, people aren’t going to pay that kind of money for a non-running beater. Don’t get me wrong, very nice truck, will no doubt be resto-modded. Perhaps the market is winding down, got to start out cheaper than this. For another couple grand, you could probably get one already done that the owner can’t get a nibble on. And in stock condition, they aren’t that much fun to drive, and maybe people are finding that out.
I absolutely agree. This vintage is very popular—especially if it was a Ford—
but I can buy a lot of older, arguably cooler non-runners for $4,000…in fact, there is a duo out of Montana who specialize in bringing older pick-ups into Montana from Canada…they are invariably “No Reserve” pickups with “lots of patina”, and they seem to bid (every time I have looked) to about $4,000, give or take a few hundred.
That said, as we all know, anything is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, but for $10K, I can buy a comparable vintage driver that has received enough improvements to continue to be driven, even if not repainted.
Now this is what I would call an ideal project. I’ve always wanted a 50s Chevy pickup with an original 265, or a GMC with the 288/316. If they were a Cameo/Suburban Carry All that would be a bonus. However, there’s still nothing like a stepside to warm your heart…
Howard is right. Everybody thinks they have gold. 10 large is excessive, maybe will take an offer? Getter running, hang a couple of Smiitys on it and cruise. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Dad and I did one in ’69 as a father-son
project. Ours was a 6 cylinder 4 speed
truck we rescued from life as a parts
chaser for a local truck stop. Ours was
a wide window model with all the usual
dents, dings, and body rust. We went
through the mechanicals, spruced up
the interior with an unripped seat from
a ’57, fixed the body rust and dents, and
drove it like we stole it. It really looked
sharp with a set of rally rims too. We
did the whole project over the winter and
were driving it by spring. Had a lot of fun
doing it and learned a lot too. Sure hope
a father and son get this one. The experience is priceless.
If that is a 56, why does the hood have a 55 emblem?
Bob
The Chevrolet pickup truck in the pictures is a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 not a 1956 you can tell for starters by the hood emblem because the side wings are at the top of the hood emblem instead of at the bottom of the hood emblem, also the name badge is above the fender crease instead of below the fender crease.
Well, critter damage notwithstanding, a missing coil would rule out running.
Top looks really dented in rear photo. Long bed stepside, Philo Beddo’s truck.
short bed- the fenders are almost as long as the bed.
price is a little ambitious.
our 59 long bed sold for $7k and the buyer drove it home, NC to Boston.
My dad and son story with a 55 Chevy pickup started a little earlier. My great uncle owned the Chevy dealership in Lawerence KS. Dad bought a new 55 from him and we drove to Wichita and rode the train to Lawerence to get it. In those days that was a long trip. We picked the truck up and drove back down south to central southern Kansas. I was about 4 or 5. I think. I learned to drive in that old truck a couple of years later. Every time I see one of those mid 50’s Chevy pickup I think about that trip.
Just saying. Some of the values assigned by prospective sellers just do nort make sense. I live in a rural setting 120 miles east of Dallas. In the past three months I have seen two Chevy pickups parked by the road for sale.
One was a 65 half ton, short bed, good number 3 + condition. Body and paint were redone four or so years ago, 6 cylinder and three speed. It drove nicely and the ask was 10 K. I bought is for 9.5.
The other one was a 55 Chevy, old timer had kept it up, no rust, good bed, fair paint, another 6 cyl, with three speed. Ask was 8.6 and it was driven off by the new owner the afternoon it was put out. So, these weren’t old neglected ratty barn trucks, they had titles and both were roadworthy as they sat. Had mine inspected, passed and I put on a 65 farm truck plate.
Where is the disconnect ?
Nice project but yet again, another seller who asks for the world yet only delivers a few vague photos and even less descriptive copy in the listing. I’ll be very surprised if it even gets an opening bid.
Bob – really hard to tell a 55 from a 56 – remember it was a late 55 2nd series truck in 55 and most everything carried over to 56 – serial # is about the only difference.
On a long bed – the spare didn’t need the fender cut out – having the extra room on the side and you could see a lot longer side step there like most long beds.
I also agree that there is only the slightest difference between the 55 and 56 Chev trucks, but there are a few very minor styling differences.
For example, there is a difference between the 55 and 56 emblems, and I was wondering how it came to pass that the 55 emblem was installed.
I have owned a 55 Chev for over 50 years, and am familiar with almost every aspect of these trucks.
I have posted an image of a 56 emblem, so you can compare it to the one on the advertised truck.
Bob
Definitely a ’55 emblem. I’ve had my ’56 for almost 40 yes and the emblem is on the front “edge” of the hood.
Notice length of step, now look at some shortbed images on net. This is a long bed.