You can sum up this 1955 Chevrolet 3100 3-Window pickup in just one word: BRILLIANT. Glowing, miles-deep, lustrous Royal Crimson paint with hints of metallic and pearlescence inside, deleted bumpers and a custom-finished bed, a luxurious leather and A/C interior, and a thumping 350 Ram Jet V8 crate motor under the hood give this hauler the all the right credentials. Based on looks alone, it easily qualifies as one of the slickest trucks we've featured at Streetside in years, but it's also got all the right performance hardware to back it up.
The first half of 1955 was the last hurrah of the uber-popular Advance-Design pickups (aka known as the 1955 First Series), and they signaled the end of a design era that catapulted Chevrolet to the top of the American carmaker landscape. Although still a utilitarian pickup, GM knew the market wanted a more civilized machine, and the First Series trucks were the first step toward the complete overhaul resulting in the Task Force trucks that came along in the latter half of the year. As a result, customs like this look especially smooth, thanks to their curvaceous fenders, iconic grille, and long hood. This build obviously took some liberties with the original look " including a slightly chopped roof, deleted bumpers fore and aft, and a color-matched bed-top in the back " but they aren't so radical that the original 3100 design is completely forgotten. Other cool tricks include frenched antennae, late-model side mirrors, and shaved door handles, and all the custom paint and bodywork was done to a very high standard " to the tune of $35K in labor alone. Getting attention has never been difficult for Chevy's Advanced-Design trucks, but the gleaming Royal Crimson paint on this 3-Window will have folks stopping in their tracks. Painted just a year-and-a-half ago, the vibrant dark cherry/burgundy shade was borrowed from the 2018 Ford Mustang color chart and looks so fresh that you'll be tempted to touch it to see if it's still wet. It was finished to a top-end, driver-quality standard that most would consider show-ready, with an incredible depth of clarity, consistent uniformity, and an amazing shine from the deep layers of clearcoat that almost make you avert your eyes under direct sunlight. It's not perfect, but you really have to strain hard to find any minor imperfections worth complaining about. Other than the chrome grille and headlight surrounds, all the original trim and badging was removed, replaced with modern CHEVROLET block letters on the hood and tailgate. Out back, the rear bumper was swapped out for an LED-imbedded roll pan, and the tailgate and bed cover above it was smoothed and painted to match the body. Inside that bed you'll find everything was finished to maximum standards as well, with a heavy-duty mat protecting the floor, blacked-out walls and fenders, and a relocated gas tank with a flush-mounted fuel cap.
Things get even better inside, where a pair of late-model bucket seats (out of a Dodge Dakota) wrapped in custom leather hides and a custom center console take the place of the original bench this truck was likely born with. There's more of that, soft tan leather on the flanking door panels and intricately wrapped custom dash, and even the kick panels were upholstered for a finished look. Plush black carpets contrast the light hides perfectly and were a practical addition to keep things looking clean inside, while the tan headliner continues behind the seats, wrapping the entire cabin in upscale leather. The dash was completely reworked and punctuated with gorgeous woodgrain trim that also adorns the center console, dash grab bar, and the rim of the sporty tilt steering wheel at the helm of the cockpit. Beyond that wheel is a full complement of AutoMeter dials that keep an eye on the engine, along with a row of accessory dials/switches, and controls for the Vintage Air A/C system. That aforementioned dash houses A/C vents, cup holders, and a Lokar-style shifter that manages the 700R4 automatic below. LED interior lighting, seatbelts, a billet tilt steering column, power windows, and remote door poppers round out the options list, and even the pedal were upgraded to super-cool aftermarket units. Nothing was overlooked inside, and the result is an awesome cabin you're going to want to spend a ton of time in.
The engine is a powerful GM Performance Parts 350 Ram Jet V8 crate motor that's been barely broken in since it was purchased for $7k directly from a GM dealer, and it performs beautifully in this truck with plenty of horsepower and torque on tap whenever needed. Additions include electronic fuel injection, a performance cold-air intake, long-tube headers, a March serpentine belt system, a big aluminum radiator and electric fan, and, of course, the polished valve covers, bright accessories, and steel-braided lines that all help add nice pop to the satin-black engine bay. Backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission with an 1800-2000 stall torque convertor and a 10-bolt rear with cruiser-friendly gears inside, it's a superlative highway runner that's still punchy around town. Up front there's an independent suspension with upgraded shocks, coils, and power rack-and-pinion steering, there's a set of heavy-duty air shocks out back, and with power front disc brakes with drilled-and-slotted rotors the truck stops on a dime. A custom X-pipe dual exhaust system with throaty QuickTime Performance mufflers and electric cut-outs sounds downright erotic, and the entire undercarriage is very nicely presented with new components found throughout. That lowered stance is just about perfect, with a lot of the credit going to the chrome US Mags and fender-filling BFGoodrich rubber around them.
Smooth, powerful, fast, and loaded with creature comforts, this is the vintage truck you'll want for your next long-distance haul. Give us a call today!
