Time has not been kind to this 1950 Chevrolet 3800 Pickup. Still, with the ongoing popularity and desirability of these classics, it is a vehicle that will almost certainly serve as the basis for someone’s project. The big question will be whether that someone is likely to be you. It is largely complete, and some of the scarcer parts are intact. This is the start of the good news, so if you feel tempted to take it on, you will find the 3800 located in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $3,000, making it one of the most affordable classic pickups that I’ve seen for a while. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for referring this beauty to us.

It isn’t clear where on the farm this Forester Green Pickup was found, but it will take some work to whip it into shape. Beginning with the obvious, and that is that there isn’t a piece of glass or a lens anywhere that hasn’t been broken. That’s just the start of the shopping list because there is more to consider. There is rust in the lower cab corners and the floors, which will need to be replaced. The saving grace is that these are common faults, and rust repair patches are readily available and inexpensive. For example, the outer lower cab corners generally cost around $38, while the inners add $33 to the bill. A complete cab floor with the seat riser will cost around $550, and those parts should address the worst of the body issues. It isn’t clear how healthy the frame is, but these tend to be pretty robust, so it might only need stripping and refinishing to return it to its best. There will be plenty of chrome pieces the will need to be restored or replaced, while the same is true of the bed timber.

Powering the 3800 is the 216.5ci “Thriftmaster” 6-cylinder engine backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This motor would have been pumping out 92hp and 174 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. That never made these a fast vehicle, and while they could be made to top 50mph, they were more comfortable cruising at around 45mph. The news here isn’t so great, especially for anyone considering tackling this as a faithful restoration. The vehicle has been sitting for years, and the engine is locked. However, it isn’t clear whether it has locked from sitting or whether it has been parked because the engine locked. If it is the former scenario, it might not be that bad. These engines are as tough as nails, so it might be possible to get it free so that it can be treated to a rebuild. You’ll never know until you try, so I can see a large dose of Mystery Oil in this engine’s future.

The interior is complete on this Pickup, but once again, the buyer is going to have some work ahead of them before it would be considered serviceable. The first two things that I have noticed are that the horn button is still in the wheel, and the radio blanking plate is still in the dash. Both of these items tend to disappear over time, so their presence is a bonus. The seat frame also looks like it could be cleaned and reused, and I think that a patient person could restore the wheel. Tackling the restoration of an interior like this is not that difficult because they are easy to dismantle, and so many surfaces are painted steel. I have had a go at this myself, and if I can do it, almost anyone can. There are few things more rewarding than to stand back and admire an interior like this that you have restored with your own hands. It is a satisfying feeling that you won’t forget.

There is not a single aspect of this 1950 Chevy Pickup that isn’t going to require attention, but that doesn’t make it a lost cause. These Advance Design vehicles are highly-sought, and spotless examples can attract some impressive prices. It’s also worth noting that this remains true whether the vehicle has been treated to a faithful restoration or whether it has been the subject of a custom build. It’s pretty easy to go out into the market and outlay $40,000 for a good one, while $60,000 is not out of the question on a good day. With those figures in mind, I think this one shows a lot of promise at the BIN price. It just needs someone motivated to take it on. Could that person be you?