In some classified ads, it’s straightforward to call out specific features that have been modified, added, or upgraded with a vehicle. With others, it would probably be easier to call out the few things that haven’t been changed. One seller in particular has an “Equipment Features” paragraph that is over 500 words long, encompassing everything from mechanical, to cosmetic, to interior – and everything in between. In fact, it uses the word “custom” an incredible 46 times. We’ll highlight some of the key items and let you take it from there! Let’s dive in. The Pick of the Day is a custom 1948 Chevrolet 3100 pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Bakersfield, California.
From front to back, the truck has been put through a comprehensive cosmetic rework. The front bumper has been deleted, and exterior upgrades include a custom grille, frenched-in headlights, tinted glass, chrome side mirrors, a smoothed and filled body, shaved door handles, a tubbed bed, and a chopped top (2.5 inches were deleted at the front, and two inches in the rear). Capping it all off is a Matador Red Mica paint job that does well to accentuate the clean body lines. And traction comes from a set of Hankook tires wrapped around Billet Specialties 17-inch polished aluminum wheels.
The interior, upholstered with black leather bucket seats and a custom center console, benefits from a fabricated dash, a Classic Instruments gauge set, cruise control, Vintage Air HVAC, a Flaming Rivers tilt-adjustable steering column (with a Lecarra steering wheel), power windows, a wool carpets, Lokar pedals, and a modern audio system with kick-panel speakers and a Pioneer 10-inch subwoofer behind the passenger seat. Many other in-cab features abound, but those are some of the basics. It is no wonder this truck is a National Street Rod Association (NSRA) show winner – and the windshield has a sticker to prove it.
Power comes from a BluePrint 355ci small-block crate motor that was rated at 375 horsepower. Performance upgrades include aluminum heads, a Speed Demon 650cfm carburetor, an Edelbrock “EnduraShine” intake manifold, a March Performance polished pulley system, Accel Extreme 9000 spark plug wires, and MSD ignition components.
One thing is for sure: This truck’s builder picked a popular platform: Chevrolet’s Advance Design trucks were sold from 1947 through 1954, and they were indeed advanced for their time. One of the advertisements from the period said: “More than a farm day’s work – in less than a farm day’s time. Yes, you can do more farm work in less time with these latest and greatest Chevrolet trucks.” The trucks were promoted for what Chevrolet called “Triple Economy.” The three aspects of that model included low operating cost, low upkeep cost, and the lowest list prices in the volume field.
Our guess is that this Matador Red truck won’t spend much time working around a farm. Rather, it will be an eye-catching conversation piece at parades, shows, and everywhere it goes. The asking price is $54,900.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
