The Awesome 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Is The Reason Why Vintage Custom Trucks Will Never Die

The automotive industry is a very dynamic one, where design and technology changes are so close together that sometimes a hard-liner from the past would have trouble understanding where things are headed now. There are still some things in this industry that seem like they will never change. Like, say, America’s desire for custom pickup trucks built on old platforms.

For years now we’ve seen this type of car sell for big bucks at auctions across the country, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the arrival of new and recent projects keeps people on their toes.

There are several truck platforms that the custom industry likes more than others, and the Chevrolet 3100 is on that list. Part of the Advance Design line of pickups produced by Chevrolet from 1947 to 1955, the half-ton manages to be elegant, utilitarian, and collectible all at the same time.

The Project 3100 we got this week doesn’t have an official name, but that doesn’t take away from the incredible appeal of the red-painted body panels and chrome elements.

The truck was born in 1952, near the end of the family death, and its work history is unknown. Someone, we’re not told who, saved it, though, and gave it this shiny look and shot to fame.

The “complete change of practice” it started at the bottom, where a special chassis with a full box was used to support the rest of the construction. Heidts suspension gear is bolted to the frame, as are Wilwood disc brakes hiding behind BC Forged wheels (size 20-inch front and 22-inch rear and all four wear Pirelli rubber).

On top of the chassis the builders put the truck’s bodywork, which still boasts the original design lines. Painted red, as mentioned, the truck shows off enough bright touches on the front, mirrors, and wheels. The back bed, on the other hand, is made of wood, as it should be in a building of this caliber.

The truck’s interior is a mix of red on the dashboard and doors, with distressed leather pulled on the TMI bench seat, door panels, and even on the Rally Racing steering wheel rim.

Under the long and beautiful hood of the truck, the builders hid a 6.0-liter engine from the LS family. Its performance levels are unclear, but whatever it is is handled with the help of a Tremec six-speed manual transmission and a side exhaust system running MagnaFlow controls.

We got it truck pending a new owner at the multi-car auction house Barrett-Jackson will try to sell during an event in Palm Beach this weekend. The truck is listed without reserve, meaning it’s impossible to say how much it will go.

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