I know that there have been comments about a true restore versus a restorod so I thought I would offer this up as a true restore. The problem I see with a true restore is that it is almost impossible to please everyone. I even heard that points were taken off on a truck due to the rivets holding the grille together were wrong. Anyway, I saw this truck on ebay and it struck me as a true attempt at a restore. Forget the price, just critique the truck and let me know if you see anything that is not original. Thanks, Gater http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-Chevrolet-3100-Pick-Up_W0QQitemZ400016086013QQihZ027QQcategoryZ5348QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Very nice truck. Price way over the top and i am sure it cost that much to do. Only thing is somebody paid to have it done and its over done. Original was never that perfect or shiny with no over spray in the jams. I would do a truck just like it for myself but not too show at a restores show. Great truck at 15k but it would cost 25k to have done with a nice body to start. Thanks for posting it....... Merry Christmas
Looks very good. The wheels aren't pinstriped, which should have been with the cab pinstriping, and I've never seen that tail light mount. The dash pieces to my knowledge in 52 would have been stainless on top and bottom. I could be wrong, but that is what I have been able to find out. Of course, these things were assembled in many different plants, and discrepancies between them are possible.
Good eye, Russ The tail light mount is definitely wrong, or at least mounted wrong. I also noticed that it has the wrong handle for the parking brake. As far as the heater goes, it's my understanding that you only had 2 choices for heaters in PU's from the factory, either the recirculating kind or the fresh air kind. Although the heater in that truck is beautifully restored, it is not appropriate. And yes, I realize that you could put anything on them after market, but we're critiquing here, right? With that said, I will add that it is a very awesome looking truck that would look good in my driveway anytime.
25 thousand wouldn't be near enough for professional work, it wouldn't even cover DIY. Well done work, just missing a big block.
I'm no AD expert, but the tubular crossmember in the first underside picture with the bump in the middle for the driveshaft just doesn't look right to me given that everything else underneath is stamped or cast. Of course you guys will probably shoot me down. Expert - noun ex - used to be spurt - a drip under pressure
Dang Bill, I get to school you again! This doesn't happen with Hanlon often gang, so bear with me. The tubular crossmember is actually part of the parking brake assembly and is, very much, authentic! It actually is not a crossmember but rather a moveable "link", if you will, that engages the brakes in the back when you apply the parking brake. Thanks for the lob! Note the setup Ken
Really nice truck and whoever did or had it done isn't making a dime profit. Several very easy to remedy things if going for a 100 pointer would be a heat shield on the under side of the bed wood over the exhaust, bed bolts black, the thin tin frame around the door panel cardboard, and a less silvery more natural steel color on the hood hinges and latch assembly. The taupe color interior paint looks a bit too pinkish but I've had it mixed for the same paint code and had it range from grey to almost bronze so that's a toss up. The eagle eyes on this forum amaze me but then I remember that most here actually WORK ON and BUILD their own trucks so it's first hand knowledge which beats the heck out of quoting from what a book offers.
Mounting bracket for the muffler has been cut or torched off. Brake lines look like copper and not purchased "pre-bent" from supplier. They were made to order by the mechanic. Original color of seat? Andy
I noticed most of the aforementioned shortfalls before I read the rest of the thread. For my two cents...the speaker grill and glove box are correct as painted. The Korean war had most previously chromed items painted, including the gas cap which is correct on this truck. I am not sure about the painted bumpers??? I thought that did not happen until '53. I think the fender struts under the hood should be painted black as well. There seems to be a stopcock installed on the fuel line under the tank. Nice idea, but I don't think it is original. Does anyone know what the strange switch is that is mounted to the dash under the instrument cluster? Greg
Greg, according to the restoration packet that GM sends out, the bumpers were in fact painted on '52's. As for the stopcock, they were originally put on the fuel tank, which comes in real handy when you need to repair and/or remove the tank. The switch under the dash is the heater switch from a passenger car. Ken
Welcome 50adrod, This is a good bunch of folks who share the love of these old trucks. I plan to capture the pics of the topic truck so that they don't go away when the auction ends so we can continue this interesting thread. Give us your name and tell us waht kind of truck you have. Share some pics too! Again, welcome, Gater
Seems like the dash is a differant color than the rest of the inside, all should be the same color? The rear bumper appears to be from an earlier model, the ends are to pointy. chris
'39 rear bumper! Pointy ends and a single indented channel along the bolt line is 1939. And I also noticed that the dash was a different color than the kick panels in one picture, but I thought it was possibly the lighting.
The truck has the 5 window cab but no sunvisor on passenger side. Also is strange that it has arm rest on passenger side but no sunvisor. I learned to drive on a 53 in 63
Observations The rear bumper is incorrect. Also the heater looks like an 'ARVIN' not a 'GM'. The spare tire is dirty. Gene
'52 details Mine is a '52 one ton built by GMC Canada. The parking brake release knob is the same. The horn doesn't look like mine or either of the two my father owned. I think they should be dual curled horns mounted on the RH firewall. Mine was original paint and the tailgate lettering was painted white (off white maybe). Nice work though. Did they only come with one tail light?
