Professional Patina: 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Panel Truck
Earlier in the week, we took a look at a 1955 Chevrolet Step Van that had undergone a bit of metamorphosis but had not been completed, it would be for the next owner to determine how to finish it. Today, it’s a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 panel truck, a similar concept, but it has been specifically finished in a certain flavor and now it is looking for a new home. Located in Cullman, Alabama, it is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $8,705, no reserve, and 33 bids tendered as of this writing.
There’s quite a bit going on here. This panel truck was custom built by Land Pirates of Oregon. I tried to find some information on them and a quick search turned up nothing. Apparently, the custom work and the poured-on patina was recently completed. The seller references it as an “Icon of Tennessee” as it has spent most of its life in the Volunteer State. This truck has been duded-up to promote a produce business but it is unknown if it is a real or fictitious operation. It doesn’t matter as it portrays how this truck can be used to promote a business. The issue for the new owner is whether they want to continue to schlep around advertising “Sparkling Creek” or risk a redo and disturb its entire flavor. The seller suggests that this Chevy truck can be used in, ” Parades, Car Shows, Farmers Markets, Weddings and More”. The patinaed custom work, over what appears to be a solid body, has been well applied. But it is a very specific look, one I am learning that is not appreciated by everyone, so the target market for this Chevy will probably be narrowed a bit. And I’m not certain how this truck fits into the theme of a wedding or a parade while it advertises whatever it is advertising. Nevertheless, there are 33 bids flying around so there is interest.
Mechanically speaking, this panel truck still possesses its very orange, original 216 CI, in-line, 92 gross HP, six-cylinder engine. The seller states that the engine has seen 50K miles and operates like new. Some new parts include: new water sending unit (temperature sending unit?), oil sending unit, new wiring, new fuel sending unit, a 12V upgrade, and new exhausts extending to the rear of the truck. The seller may want to consider adding a coil bracket to that list as opposed to using zip ties. The transmission is listed as a manual so the assumption is that it is the original, or an original type, three-speed manual.
Moving indoors, the listing states that there is a, “Freshly Painted custom corvette white interior.” I somehow have missed the Corvette theme. I’ll admit there is a white painted dashboard, steering wheel, two partial white door cards, and a white seatback but no Bowling Green flavor beyond that. As a recognizable plus is a wooden floor that the seller describes as, “The panel’s original wood bed is in excellent condition with no soft spots.” It is present and accounted for and a nice touch.
So, here’s what we know, this panel truck is a fresh build, by a firm in Oregon(?), it has spent most of its life in Tennessee (it’s an icon!), advertising an unknown business that is somewhere, with a 50K mile engine and it is now domiciled in Alabama. Oh yeah, and the seller adds that this truck is a “clean Ride all gone through from front to back”. There’s that “gone through” term again, what does that really mean? I don’t mean to be confusing but I’m confused.
Anyhow, here is a video of this Chevy panel truck in action so you should check it out. This is clearly a unique vehicle and even if the backstory isn’t clear, it probably doesn’t matter. What you are signing on for here is this 1950 Chevy 3100 panel truck with a very obvious and specific visual. Change it to your own taste, which you can do, and you will change the entire character and possibly the value of the truck too. As these sorts of old-school, patinaed vehicles go, this one is very well prepared, I guess the thought is what to do with it next. Any suggestions?
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Comments
Faux-tina? Check. Rattle-canned engine block? Check. No photo of the interior of that stupid window? Check. On the plus side rust doesn’t seem too bad, but no underneath photos to prove otherwise. If it stays under 20K might be a good buy.. might be a nightmare. At least it can be fixed and repainted.
Naturally occurring sun burn is one thing, fake patina, with aged lettering is another. It’s boring after the second or third time you see it. The truck should stand or fall on the merit of its build, not its contrived finish.
Steve R
I like the truck overall but I also see it as being only half done. After ensuring that the body mounts and undercarriage are in first-class condition, I would move onto the body. That side window would sail away into the nearest landfill and a steel panel would be fabricated to replace it. Put a second bucket seat in so the wife could come along for a ride. I would NOT have converted it to 12V and would be tempted to change it back. I might add that the 80 psi oil gauge is going to look awfully anemic showing 15 psi with that old babbitt-pounder. Do the bodywork it needs, paint it a decent color, and enjoy it. Might want to consider finding some truck hubcaps although the ’50 passenger car caps look OK too. 1950? Those door handles and the hood side emblems are telling me it’s a ’52. It doesn’t really matter a lot as there were few changes throughout the Advanced Design series. However, I seriously doubt that anyone wanting to enjoy this truck the way I want to would worry too much about winning any concourse prizes with it…
I can’t stand the fake patina thing. Go find the real thing. That’s what makes patina cars cool. Not someone with an air brush. If I’m loading the gun and firing up the compressor I’m gonna make it worth the effort. To each his own though. Even if it’s wrong. Lol.
Uhh, no. Just NO. Only one thing can create patina and it isn’t a human.
Had a neighbor once who in the middle of summer painted his lawn green because it had died in the heat. Looked about as good as this car with its fake patina, questionable lettering and well, just everything. Real patina is one thing; fake patina, fake rust, fake faded lettering just doesn’t work. Pass.
It would be a good parade truck in any small old town locale. Where I currently live in the woods of N.E Texas we always have parades down Main Strret for Home Coming, July Fourth, Founders Day- founded in 1850!… old school Barn Dance and of course Sadie Hawkin Dance! Yessir Buddy, it’s the good ole days of Texas…..YeeHa! It’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Time!
It needs a paint job. Fake patina ruins an otherwise nice truck.
just saw a ’51 or ‘3 IH (same era) station wagon – 16 ft by 6 ft hi only 6 ft wide. I wonder how this one compares. This is a ‘truck’. Some were big others smaller. Buddy hada dodge (pick up sized). The big ones evolved to the passenger van (not step van or the big box like a Grumman) and small went to the station wagon (like the woodie versions) I guess. I think I like the smaller (as DD). My favorite might be the Wolwo Duette:
https://www.flickriver.com/photos/xbxg/9104036302/
for a big one how bout the Sugga:
https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=292375
Don’t know wasss up wid me today and the Wowos, haven’t owned 2 for 15 yrs…
I could live with everything but the side window and the orange paint on the engine. Why would you cut a hole in a truck with a good body?
Never has so much been said about so little!
No one did this truck any favors with this paint job!!! The wood framed window on the side is just plain stupid in my opinion!!! I would take this back down to bare metal and give it a nice green paint job (only because it appears to be the original color) then I’d paint the running board and fenders in black!!! I might leave the six but definitely would have a 3 or 4 speed standard transmission!!!