1954 Chevrolet 3100 Half-Ton Pickup Truck
Registration no. 782 YUM
Chassis no. 0058033F55X
Engine no. 010R6810

Nowadays an integral part of American popular culture, the pickup truck has come to be thought of as the 20th Century equivalent of the cowboy's horse. Once viewed as strictly utilitarian commercial vehicles, they were seized on as ideal candidates for customising and hot-rodding in the post-war era, and today, like so many fashions that start in the USA, enjoy a cult following worldwide. Having introduced its first pickup in 1918, Chevrolet overtook chief rival Ford, albeit briefly, as the USA's number one producer in the 1930s thanks to its policies of technical innovation and aggressive marketing - Chevrolet was among the first to offer synchromesh transmissions and hydraulic brakes on its pickups as well as an extensive range of colours. By 1939 Chevrolet offered no fewer than 45 different trucks on eight alternative wheelbases and in capacities ranging from a half to one-and-a-half tons, all of them powered by the classic 'Stovebolt' 3.5-litre overhead-valve six. The first post-war redesign of the truck range was introduced on the 1947 line-up and the second for the '54 season when a one-piece windscreen was introduced and the five-bar front grille replaced by one featuring a full-width central bar and vertical division. First registered in 1955, this Chevrolet 3100 half-ton pickup has the 235ci (3.8-litre) overhead-valve, six-cylinder 'Thriftmaster' engine and three-speed manual transmission. The vehicle had been registered in San Diego, California and was imported into the UK in March 1997 by Steve Mason, Specialist Car and Motorcycle Imports on behalf of Mr J Willcocks of Dorking. We are advised that there was no rust or rot, and that the original mechanicals were in good order. There was accident damage to the right-hand front wing and front grille, which was subsequently repaired by the current vendor. Mr Willcocks began to restore the Chevy but the project was not completed (see photographs on file). The truck was purchased as a project by the current owner in April 2003. Its restoration to original specification commenced in 2007 and was finished in August 2012. Described as in generally good condition, this classic Chevrolet pickup truck is offered with sundry restoration bills, current road fund licence, recently expired MoT (August 2013) and Swansea V5C document. Electric windscreen wipers and a stainless steel exhaust system are the only notified deviations from factory specification.