Restore Or Rat Rod? 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Shortbed
Restore? Rat rod? Custom build? Those are some of the potential options that would be available to the next owner of this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Short Box Pickup. There is no doubt that it would make a great foundation for any of those types of projects, and no matter which path the next owner should choose to follow, the end result could potentially be something pretty special. All it is going to take is the right person with the right level of ambition and a clear vision for this project to be seen through to fruition. If you think that this person could be you, then you will find the 3100 located in Roberts, Wisconsin, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding on the Short Box has reached $3,450, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
The owner purchased this Forester Green Pickup in about the same state that you see it now. The front clip wasn’t attached at the time, so this has been roughly bolted back into place. The body is essentially complete, although the inner fenders have been removed at some point. The owner does have one of these and is happy to include it in the sale if the buyer wants it. The body wears a collection of dings and scars that would be considered to be pretty typical for a pickup of this vintage. The frame appears to be solid, but the body does have some of the rust issues that are so common to the 3100. This includes rust in the floors and cab corners. There is rust present around some of the body mounts that will need to be addressed purely from a safety perspective. There is also rust in the lower cowl and beyond the previously identified body mount issues, this would probably rate as a priority. If this isn’t repaired properly, it does have a nasty tendency to reappear at the most inconvenient moment and can deteriorate quite markedly before an unwary owner realizes it. The exterior trim and chrome appear to be in reasonable, restorable condition, and while the glass is all present, the drivers-side windshield is cracked.
The interior of the Short Box is complete, and while it might not be perfect, I can see no reason why it couldn’t be used in its current state. The first thing that jumped out at me is the radio that has been fitted to the dash. I wouldn’t class it as a particularly pretty installation, but at least the dash hasn’t been cut to fit it. The next owner might choose to source a correct radio, although they might also choose to hand someone around $100 for a really nice radio-delete plate. The steering wheel looks like it would restore very nicely, and the fact that the original horn button remains in situ is a bonus. There are plenty of other detailed tasks for the next owner to tackle if the interior is going to be returned to a high level of presentation, but one of the great features of these interiors is that their design is elegantly simple. That makes undertaking an interior restoration in a home workshop a fairly straightforward and satisfying process.
Hiding under the hood of the 3100 is the 235ci 6-cylinder engine, which is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. When it was in peak health, that engine would have produced 105hp, which allowed the Short Box to carry loads with relative ease back in 1950. The engine doesn’t currently run. The owner states that it turns freely, but that it won’t fire. He says that there is no spark, so hey, that’ll do it every time. These engines are as tough as nails, so it is possible that a bit of investigation and tinkering could see this old beast kick back into life. There are a few pieces that are missing. The most obvious of these is the radiator, so a bit of hunting might be required if the next owner is wishing to undertake a faithful restoration. Alternatively, there are plenty of companies that can supply really good aluminum radiators. He does say that the Pickup rolls and steers well, but the brakes are inoperative.
Usually, I will look at these classic pickups when they appear here at Barn Finds, and I will have a very clear vision in my head of what I would do with it if I found it in my workshop. This Chevrolet 3100 Short Box is a bit different because I can see a multitude of different options that would be available for the next owner. Since I don’t have a clear vision myself, I will be interested to see what our readers think. I will also be interested to know if we have any readers who are motivated to follow up on this great old classic.
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Comments
No doubt the region of origin here. Pretty typical of a midwest truck. I believe the mileage is actual, these just weren’t used that much. While it looks fairly reasonable on the outside, that cab floor would scare me, even though, I’m sure all the parts could be bought today, I, like most, lack the skills and place to do such a job. I hope it stays original. The last thing we need is another resto-mod AD pickup.
It’s interesting that you would see the major body components in such good condition but the floors in so bad. Of course extensive use of floor mats could contribute. It’s still a good candidate for a restoration–not a rat rod. That would be a 216 under that hood. 92 hp in full battle regalia. The first version of the 235 was only available as an option in the larger trucks and in cars with a Powerglide. Chevy didn’t offer a PG trans in its trucks until ’52. Overall a good truck that I wouldn’t refuse if it showed up at my place…
I thought that too. This truck probably saw very little salt years ago, which would cause doors and fenders to be gone, so I figure, it sat under a canopy, for a long time, and grass grew up rotted the bed and floor.
Those red heater hose really make the engine compartment pop. Kudos to the owner.
No clue as to why you would suggest turning this beautiful truck into a rat rod???
Great truck to restore to its original happy place! Not my favorite year personally but the price is right!!!
Looks to me like this truck needs a bed floor and cab floor replacement. I wouldn’t do anything more than what’s needed and use it for it’s intended purpose. Great original truck that’s ready to work IMO.
Let’s all please quit with the “resto-mod” hoo-hah. It’s both a guilt-trip phrase created to apologize for mongrelizing a historic survivor and a contradiction in terms. It’s either restored or it’s modified.
Whenever a vehicle like this is on Barn Finds, I already know what the comments will be, today is no different. The first one out of the box is Howard saying, what ashame it would be to modify this beautiful truck. And on it goes, about this travesty and how many of these imaculent engineering creations, have been ruined by non believers and are destroying our history. I sometimes think, I am the only BF reader on the dark side. I don’t get it, this truck is so prestine with its rusts, rotted floor, no brakes and dosn’t steer well that ,it needs to be saved and kept inside and driven in shows and parades, how many of these weekend warior’s , do we have to have? Howard says we have way too many modified ones now. If thats true what does it mean? I will take a leap of faith here and say if that is indeed true, it seems I may not in the minority when it comes what people are building. I am not a young man (in the top end of my 70’s) my thought process if in regard to my age, is if I could be modified to keep functioning as in my younger years or just be restored to a condition to just watch from the sidelines ,but not to keep up, what would I choose? I really don’t know how many cars, I have had ( I imagine many you are the same) I do know my last 5 builds were Ford F-100,s and they were all modified, with the last one being, to the most extreme. I have also never built a restored car, ever. I do appreciate them and I am glad they are out there, its just not what I want to build and drive everyday. How ever bottom line is, if you buy it ,you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it, and I am all for that.
Well said and I do agree with your perspective. I suppose that’s the great thing about the vintage car hobby. It’s largely our art and as with any work of art it’s entirely subjective. Each eye percevies the muse,(in the case a 1950 Chevy half ton) with a different vision as to what it could be in the end. Passion also fuels art and if one is to involve themselves into preserving such vehicles well then we must respectfully afford the artist their vision.
Joe and Chris I agree with your perspective! I’m my opinion I try to keep them as close to stock as possible to take that walk back in time every time I get behind the wheel!! I want to feel like I’m driving back then! If you modernize everything to the specs of a newer vehicle I feel you lose that and it’s not much different than driving a new car!! There’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you want! I just want that old time feeling not a re bodied new car!!
As it is still in original and in overall good condition it should be restored and not turned into another custom pickup and should be a crime to turn it into a Rat Rod. Saying that it would be tempting to update front suspension. brakes and a small block but , no.
Ditch the chassis and drop the repaired body on a mid ’90s B body platform. Good ride, keep up with contemporary traffic, power disc brakes, PS, AC. Driving this truck “restored” to original on today’s highways would be dangerous. Who needs another trailer Queen?
I think it’s a sweet truck. I believe the motor is a 216. Those bolts on the top of the of the valve cover give it away. If I were a rich man….🎶