The seller of this 1952 Chevrolet 3100 has owned it for the past 47 years, but some 30 years ago, it stopped running so they parked it. Fast forward to today and it’s still sitting, waiting for someone to revive it. Rather than let it continue to waste away in their yard, they’ve decided it’s time to part ways with it in hopes that someone can put it to good use. It’s located in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada with a $4,000 CAD ($2,995 US) asking price. They’ve tasked us with the job of finding a good home for it, so you can send us your best offer and any questions you might have via the Make An Offer button!
Given how long the truck has been sitting outside, there are going to be rust issues that need to be addressed. The seller notes that there are holes in the cab corners and in the floors. These are common problem areas, so replacement sheet metal is available to make the repairs. On the upside, this is a Deluxe 5-window cab and appears to be a short-bed truck. At some point, the box was removed from the truck, so a replacement will have to be sourced, but these are also being reproduced. Interestingly, the seller still has the rear fenders that mount to the bed, which will save you from having to replace those.
Under the hood, you’ll find the original 216 cui inline-6 paired with a column shift manual transmission. These engines are known to be quite durable, so it’s odd that it stopped running. It could be something as simple as needing a tune-up or it could be that the engine is worn out. The fuel tank has been removed, so it could have been a fuel-related issue. You simply won’t know until you can do a proper investigation. Engine swaps are quite popular for these trucks, so the next owner might not be too concerned about the condition of the original engine. While we would prefer having the original inline-6, there’s no denying that a small block Chevy V8 would make for a more exciting truck to drive.
The inside is as spartan as you would expect for a ’50s pickup. The major components appear to be present and can hopefully be restored. When the Advanced Design series of trucks debuted in 1947, they were considered to be a stylish and comfortable improvement over the art-deco styling of the AK series that they replaced. With some work, this one could be a nice place to spend some time cruising or making trips to the lumber yard. The seller has all the paperwork and a set of keys for it.
It would be good to get a closer look at the frame, but it looks like it’s solid in the photos. If it is, there’s no reason this truck couldn’t be restored back to its original condition. It would also make for a good candidate for building a custom truck, which would unlock lots of options and directions to take it. What route would you go with this truck? Would you restore it back to its factory original condition or turn it into a custom hot rod? Let us know your best offer and don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you might have! And don’t forget, the asking price is in Canadian dollars.
- Location: Smithers, British Columbia
- Mileage: 90,000 Shown, TMU
- Engine: 216 Inline-6
- Transmission: Manual
- VIN: 2131413974
- Title Status: Clean
Now that’s a price that makes sense, rather than the Biscayne in similar condition for 50 grand… Glad someone still has some sense out there! That puts me to thinking about all the old rusted heaps in my area, that were used 40 years ago to shore up eroding creek banks… Dang there’s millions of dollars worth of cars in my neck of the woods, just rusting away… I think I’ll talk to some folks and put one on here and see how it goes, I might be on to something!
Same where I grew up, a lotta nice old cars ended up on the river banks, and actually most weren’t really all that old when they were put there. The EPA would $hit bricks if people did that now days
Funny you should say that. In the small town of Vanderhoof, not far from Smithers, they actually used crushed cars to shore up the riverbank in some places, back in the 60s.
Looks like it’s got some potential for resto or resto-mod. I do have to say that I’ve seen so many resto-mods out there that they’ve become as monotonous as a “numbers-matching” ’69 Chevelle Super Sport. Yawn!!! This truck obviously needs a full body-off restoration. If it came my way I’d want to put it back to original, right down to the off-white color scheme and paint the interior the proper pewter color. Nothing like a thundering Stovebolt under the hood. Sounds like it’s really cruising–at 50 mph. But that’s just fine with me. I’m getting used to those “entitled” T-T-C jockeys and their single-digit waves…
Is pot legal in Canada?
2 K to get it into the U S, after 25K it would be a nice truck. I notice at car shows the 40-50 trucks are going with updated bucket seats and electric
Looks like a pretty good truck 🚚, to start with, although it will need some, work, l think 🤔, l would buy it for this price, if l were closer, Canada 🇨🇦, is a very long way for me,hopefully someone closer, 😀, can buy it,and fix,it up.