1955 Chevrolet 3100 2nd Series SHORTBED pickup Deluxe BBW Factory Hydramatic

Description

Selling my prized 2-owner 1955 Chevy 3100 SWB BBW Deluxe truck, because I simply have too many un-restored survivor GM pickup trucks that I want to "keep" as part of my personal collection and it might be smart to let one or two go. So, here you go America - you won't find one like this one again any time soon I assure you
HISTORY: This section is not for everyone - some people could give a crap less about the important aspects of preserving an antique vehicles' history or restoring anything with any historical accuracy, so skip this is section if you are a fan of modern modifications from stock kind of guy. This truck came from a dry barn in Cullman County Alabama where it was stored since new - it was last tagged in 1974. I got it and could not believe how super solid it was - perfect cab corners and damn near perfect floors, and no dents anywhere on it really. It was repainted in the late 1960's back when shag carpet was in, and it had blue and green shag in it which when removed, revealed a near mint firewall pad which had always been protected by the carpet, and floors with original off-white / beige factory paint (see picture). Back in the late 60's when it got painted, it also got the radio hole cut and a mid-60's push button vintage radio installed, and doors got 4" round speakers. Original Paint is factory Onyx Black w/ White inside the deluxe trim around the door glasses and around the Big Back Window. Paint Code is 500 and this code is highly sought after by restorers, and this truck was also equipped with the rare Custom Cab features which included chromed dash knobs, a drivers side arm rest, electric windshield wipers (most were vacuum) passenger side visor, fabric covered seat, and Custom Cab-only Chestnut or Russet Brown dash cap, inner door panels and steering column, where 99% of these trucks came with the non-Custom interior which had the Black column and dash cap you usually see in restored 1955-56 examples. Deluxe cab option gave this truck its chrome grille and windshield mouldings, and chrome around all windows. Chrome bumpers were a separate option from the Deluxe package and this one came with both - front and rear. Rarest of all its options is the Hydramatic automatic transmission which coupled to the 235 6 cyl is exceedingly rare as compared to the far and away more common factory V8 equipped Hydramatic trucks.
FACTORY SPECIAL ORDERED OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: Deluxe Cab & Custom Cab option packages, chrome front and rear bumpers, optional 1955 Chevy Truck specific wheel trim rings, optional chrome front bumper guards, optional AC Oil Filter assembly (original replaced with this NOS one shown) AM Radio, Hydramatic Automatic Transmission and Panoramic Rear Glass. Hubcaps are reproductions of the originals and are perfect. Wide white wall tires were optional equipment on all Deluxe model 1955-59 trucks and this set is a few years old and they need to be cleaned good
RUST: Don't let the Calico-coloration and surface rust fool you!the truck did its share of sitting outside before being parked in 1974, so with Alabama's high annual rainfall and harsh humidity and sun, this baby got baked and flaked to its current "patina" revealing some of its factory Black GM applied paint on the top of the passenger side front fender and roof (look closely at pics). So the truck was pretty solid to begin with before being repainted, so the only bondo I can see is covering very slight dents on the tops of the bed fenders, a couple to the back of the cab, and a little in the lowest points of each front fender - seems like the hood also had slight dings and dents filled and smoothed too. No "reconstructive" bondo anywhere I can see - all simple to understand why its there, and very thin. Floors are nearly perfect with seems like one small half golf ball sized hole in a nice flat spot easy to fix area in the outer cab floor of the passenger side. Same for cab and bed steps and of course the beautiful un-rotted cab corners - all very unusually nice. Doors didn't rair so well - they are basically horrible, so I bought a same-patina nice perfectly solid set from Dry Western Texas to go on it to fix that problem.
MECHANICAL: Excellent running 235 6 cyl costmetically restored with approx 44K actual miles on it. Hydramatic was very expensive to rebuild, but I did it and it also works flawlessly. Factory drum brakes were completely refurbished, so she stops perfectly (nope, you actually don't need disc brakes - that is for dummies who are being told to believe that). Manual steering also works great as long as you run correct sized tires - wide incorrect tires turn terrible without power steering.
ELECTRICAL: 100% of this trucks original wiring end to end was replaced with 100% correct new wiring w/ correct connectors, wire colors etc. New Tail Lights and new Park Lights, and new refurbished original dash cluster and chrome surround. New TS Switch as well. Everything works
TITLE: Sorry - Alabama and other Southern states simply never saw a reason to require a title on any motor vehicle made before 1974. BUT - luckily for you, because this fact is well known by every other states' DMV, there is a process in every state to take the legal registration card and tag issued here and create you a title in your annoying title bearing state.
SHIPPING: Located in the great state of ALABAMA in a small North Eastern town called Arab (pronounced Aye-raab) zip code 35016. Call or Text Randy Kroth at Kroth Transport (based here in Arab) for a quote to bring this truck to you wherever you are in the 48 states. Close estimate is about .85 cents per loaded mile from my zip to yours. International buyers can also use whomever or Randy to get it to port. If you are accustomed to hiring a multi-car transporter, I can arrange to meet your transporter at I-65 (runs N/S in Alabama) or at East / West Interstate I-20 where we will drive it onto their truck.
PRICE & QUESTIONS: TEXT or CALL Steve at 256 486 1988. Price may can be negotiated all depending on what you are going to do with it or whether or not you have something or several somethings I need that are related to Cameo or 55-59 truck restoration, or 60-66 GM Truck restoration. For example, if you for sure know you are going to eliminate the 235 & Hydramatic because you simply can't leave well enough alone, I will offer a rebate off the sale price for me keeping the rebuilt Hydramatic trans or similar things you for sure won't use in your restoration. Similarly, if you incidentally have a nice Cameo bed or non-reproduced Cameo related items to trade, or have a similar patina truck of a different GM year in the 55-72 years, I might swap with you or something. Might give a price break if you have a 55-57 parts truck with its correct 265 V8 & Hydramatic or just the engine thats correct to one, etc - all depends so lets talk :)