1953 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup
For consignment, the counterculture version of a garage queen hot rod in the form of a rat rod. This 1953 3100 Series pickup from the bowtie group fits the part to a T! A bit of intentionally left on rust, aging, previous coats of paint, and some mixers in weathered chrome. Mostly original parts used, slammed on airbags, and some newer mechanicals and instruments, and you are good to go you dirty boy, you.
Exterior
This truck walks a fine line between invasive rust and rust adding character, erring on the side of the latter, along with peeling paint, previous paint, rusted add ons, old beat up badging, some missing parts and some snappy wide radial whites in excellent condition which wrap powder coated red steel wheels, also excellent. We have a sound, fabulously beat up just before it's ready to say uncle pickup that has plenty of character and probably a slightly true story to go along with it which you will make up upon its purchase. Think of it as a blank canvas, where you the artist will utilize on your wall, (or garage and shows), to tell said tall tale, the more embellished the more valuable this vehicle becomes!! Noted anything important to the safe functioning of this car has been well hidden but certainly attended to, so despite it looking fresh from the junkyard in actuality it is a work of intentional planned art, that like a savant, runs like a Swiss Watch, but looks like it was salvaged from the Titanic. From the visored windshield to the weathered wood lined bed, it's all ultra cool in my book.
Interior
A creaky swing of the doors which by the way are solidly hinged, we see gray vinyl door panels with carpeted lowers which are a deviation from the weathered exterior and window surrounds. Some shiny handles and a nice armrest float in an otherwise smooth and flat door panel. Moving inside across the plush gray carpeted floors, we can plop our bodies into some low back gray vinyl buckets which are in nice condition with no tears, rips, or cracks! In front of these chairs resides a late model gray plastic dash with a semi-unfinished cluster hovering deeply within the eyebrow cutout in front of the driver. Toggles for the air ride controls have been added and working perfectly I might add, along with a dash top mounted tachometer and air pressure gauge within a cubby. An AM/FM/CD stereo hovers above the non functional heater/AC controls. The headliner shows in more smooth gray vinyl and the back of the cab is a patined steel, perfectly matching the exterior motif. Lest we forget the litany of toggles on the top left of the dash to control the turn signals, fog lamps and the torque converter electronic lock up function.
Drivetrain
Like a fresh dollop of whipped cream on a 3 day old piece of pie, the 305ci V8 is taking up every patined inch of the engine bay. This has EFI and a 700R4 4-speed automatic on the back. A 10 bolt rear axle takes the brunt of power emanating forth from this beautiful mill, all wrapped in the black and slightly rusted dripping glory metal engine bay, but with only slight wear on this pristine monster within I just described.
Undercarriage
Even with the airbags fully extended this hauler was too low to fit on our lift. That said, we note an independent air bag front suspension working with another airbag arrangement on the rear. Power disc brakes on the front and power drums in the rear bring this hauler to a respectable halt.
Drive-Ability
Upon first impression you'll either love it or hate it. Once you drive it though you begin to "get it" and it's merely the rat rod look that is fooling you. The power plant and drivetrain as well as suspension is no fooling around with gobs of power to shake some of the rust off the outside, and your brain upon a push of the accelerator to the floor. Smooth shifting and cruising has been achieved all the while having it looking like it was sitting outside since it was purchased from the dealer. A great driver but with non functional wipers, speedometer and odometer, and as mentioned earlier, no heat or AC. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
It's the look, it's the story (which you will totally make up), and it's the movement in car artistry, which is on this metal canvas, from 1953 Chevrolet. Rat rodding at its finest on the beat up look end, and on the pristine well oiled mechanical end neatly hidden underneath all that rust! A super cool build, well thought out, and very sound on the mechanicals even if it "don't look it".
L53B022068
L-Los Angeles, CA Assy Plant
53-1953
B-3100 Series
022068-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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