Classic American Pickups ( 50's )

Raminduction · Post by **Raminduction** » Sat Jan 23, 16 7:39 pm

Looking for one to promote my business and a little unsure which model to go for. Been looking at the Chevrolet 3100 ( from 1950 - 1957 ) and the Ford models. Seen a few Dodge pickups but they dont seem to have the same appeal as the other 2. Will be using it as a daily driver.

Has anyone had any experience with these trucks and can they offer any advice ?

Also does anyone know of any others for sale

Models considering

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevrolet-310 ... Swa-dWoNVL ( FAVOURITE SO FAR )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1950-51-Ford- ... SwpRRWoNl0

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1952-FORD-F1- ... SwqYBWn7CV

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1950-Ford-F1- ... SwKtlWk7rY

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1951-chevy-31 ... Sw-zxWoOJv

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1966-CHEVY-CH ... SwPhdVEeyX

shovelheadrob · Post by **shovelheadrob** » Sat Jan 23, 16 7:52 pm

It seems to me that everyone & his brother have been importing 50's trucks, some are good & some have had some dire work done. Because they are MOT exempt it makes it easy, there is also the issue of legal registration, if modified then they should have been IVA'do but most have not. You need to go in with your eyes wide open & look at everything.

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sat Jan 23, 16 8:23 pm

shovelheadrob wrote:It seems to me that everyone & his brother have been importing 50's trucks, some are good & some have had some dire work done. Because they are MOT exempt it makes it easy, there is also the issue of legal registration, if modified then they should have been IVA'do but most have not. You need to go in with your eyes wide open & look at everything.

yes yank pickups have become the 90,s rave on motorhomes, wont be worth a pull at the rate thay are coming in, buddy of mine pays $500 bucks for em sells em here for 6k english most are nails

latil · Post by **latil** » Sat Jan 23, 16 8:33 pm

The Chevy 3100 I had was good for under 5K,didn't need much doing for MoT,but the wheezing 6 pot is no good for daily use,nor is the 45-50 mph top end. Hill starts nearly impossible with the foot handbrake and the underdash release.
Most that have been modded are brought in,registered stock then get the V8 put in,badly in many cases. Get something after 55 with a factory V8. Body parts are well catered for in most cases.

hemi472 · Post by **hemi472** » Sat Jan 23, 16 8:34 pm

Sounds good - I'd go for the Chevy 3100 (1958's are quite a nice year) I used to import masses of parts for 50's trucks - everything is available for the ford and Chevy trucks, parts are hard to find for the 50's dodge trucks

If you get one that's had a front clip on it , if possible try to find out exactly the model and year of the car it came off as it will save a lot of hassle later on, they definitely drive a lot better with a front clip conversion, most usually have 1970-81 Camaro/firebird front clips or you can get bolt on mustang 2 (1974-78) style front suspension kits from the street rod companies ( heidts or tci etc )

Raminduction · Post by **Raminduction** » Sun Jan 24, 16 8:17 am

So go for something that's had Camaro sub frame and running gear fitted ?

hemi472 · Post by **hemi472** » Sun Jan 24, 16 9:08 am

If it was me, yes I would if you want to use it a lot , and keep up with modern traffic etc. Plus you get disc brakes and power steering if you would prefer that , the truck can still look relatively stock if that's what you want or more of a hot rod , there are a lot of poor conversions out there so obviously would need to be checked out properly , or you could buy a completely stock truck and put an aftermarket front suspension and swap the axle etc on , but it always costs more that way - cheapest way is if the previous owner has already spent all the money , plus you get a much wider choice of wheels etc if it's had a clip on it as the fifties trucks are 6 lug generally , there are some really random conversions around. If you want to know about drivetrains for GM or fraud stuff etc just pm me

hemi472 · Post by **hemi472** » Sun Jan 24, 16 9:20 am

Or you could go for a 67-72 Chevrolet / GMC C10 , which look cool and do everything you could ever want from a classic truck from the factory - most of the 2WD models even have coil springs on the rear as well so drive really well. C10 = 1/2 ton light duty truck C20= 3/4 ton truck - C10 is best as its light duty suspension better ride etc.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sun Jan 24, 16 9:29 am

Personally if it was me I'd go for the C10.

Slightly lowered with a decent set of wheels I think they look spot on.
I'll own a truck in the future. An Apache would be high on the list, but I do love the lines on the C10........ That would be my pick:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/110 ... rolet-c10/

68Runner · Post by **68Runner** » Sun Jan 24, 16 9:34 am

I had a 1956 Ford F100

Bought it and imported it myself. It was a Texas truck and pretty solid so minimal rust repair.

All depends how far you want to go with it. I went for a Pro Street look. I stripped it down to a bare chassis a put a jag clip in, 4 link rear, rebuilt 460(new C6). Pretty much everything was new.

If I was to build another it would be a Chevy as the parts are a lot easier to buy over here. There are a lot more people over here buying parts in(ie Farmfresh).
Chevy engine parts are cheaper compared to Ford, but it had to be a Ford in a Ford.

I like the Chevy 3100's but I'd have a 51-52 Ford F1

68Runner · Post by **68Runner** » Sun Jan 24, 16 9:42 am

I wouldn't go for the one with the S10 chassis as it could be a minefield come registration time.

Personally I'd go for the Green1950 F1 in Grantham.

It's already registered and ready to go.

Believe me. By the time you've bought a cheaper one and sorted it yourself, you'll have that kind of money into it.

Reckon I had about £15-16000 in mine and it took 2.5yrs to build.

Raminduction · Post by **Raminduction** » Sun Jan 24, 16 1:39 pm

Great info - anyone know of any decent ones for sale ?

hemi472 · Post by **hemi472** » Sun Jan 24, 16 3:15 pm

Could be worth having a word with Dave Madders or Don Scott on here they both have vehicles coming over regularly.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sun Jan 24, 16 3:26 pm

Yep, and neither of them bring in crap.

Raminduction · Post by **Raminduction** » Sun Jan 24, 16 6:11 pm

Any good ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1956-Ford-f10 ... SwUV9WpJrt