HIGHLIGHTS
- Unfinished project with all structural work completed
- New carburettor
- Renewed wiring loom
- Needs refitting to finish
THE APPEAL
The term “reluctant sale” is oft-overused, but in the case of this wonderful example of Chevrolet’s iconic C3100 Stepside it couldn’t be more apt. The vendor has had the truck for nine years and many more skinned knuckles and long evenings welding, repairing and sourcing parts in what has been a huge labour of love, having bought the truck as a restoration project in the summer of 2014.
He’s got a long way down the line. The chassis has been repaired, the brakes and brake lines renewed, the engine and transmission overhauled, the wiring loom swapped for a brand new one, the seats retrimmed and thousands of pounds spent on new, reproduction or replacement parts. It’s unfinished, but certainly not an abandoned project.
Unfortunately, life changes mean the vendor feels he is no longer able to dedicate the time he needs to get the truck finished, so he’s looking for a new owner to take it on and finish it off. Whoever picks it up will be getting a remarkable truck that has seen the majority of the hard work done already, and is probably just a few months away from being finished.
It comes with a huge stack of parts that have been procured but not fitted and will require very little work to return to running order. It’s also UK-registered and both MOT and tax exempt.
HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- Imported in 2014 and bought by vendor from the importer
- UK V5C and registered as 144 UYH
- MOT, tax and ULEZ exempt
- All import papers and NOVA documentation completed and import duties cleared
- UK number plates included
- Unfinished project – largely complete
- Folder of receipts for parts, many sourced from the USA
- Original USA “pink slip” from California
THE INTERIOR
- Reupholstered bench seat
- Discreet modern stereo integrated in dash
- Refurbished instrument binnacle
- Mostly complete
- Requires new floor covering and refitting of some interior parts
THE EXTERIOR
- Repainted by vendor in Satin Black
- Minor damage to left-hand door shut seam
- American Racing chrome finish alloys with new tyres
- All chassis work done – structurally superb with no evident rot
- All panels in good order with no evident damage or corrosion other than small crease noted in door shut area
- Original rear bumper included, needs refurbishing
- Rear drop-down tail gate needs rehanging
- Rear deck floor needs replacement
- Gloss front bumper
- New side steps
- Some tarnishing to chrome on window surrounds
- Original steel wheels included in sale
THE MECHANICS
- 3.8-litre straight six
- “Three-on-the-tree” column-shift manual transmission
- Brand new Rochester carburettor
- New brakes and brake lines
- New fuel lines required to make it a runner, but all mechanical work is completed other than final fit-up and tuning
- Refurbished generator
- New wiring loom, still requires some installation
- Box of spare parts and service items included
SUMMARY
Although sold as a project, this truck is not a huge pile of work for its next owner – far from it, in fact. You’re unlikely to need to get the welder out on the chassis for a start, and while you’ll need to renew a few parts and fine-tune it all to get it into fully working order, it’s pretty much complete and the majority of parts you need to finish the project are included.
As it stands, then, it’s a great basis on which to stamp your own personal mark, and while the vendor will be hugely sad to see it go, he’ll be pleased to know it finds a home where it will be finished off, used and enjoyed.
BEFORE YOU BUY
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.