Written by Eric Becker
Headed to the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction with No Reserve, this ’51 Chevy Resto-Mod pickup (Lot #1351) is quite the showstopper.
Advance Design was the name given to GM’s first all-new offerings following the conclusion of World War II. The new series of light trucks made their debut in June 1947, a full year before Chevrolet’s postwar car portfolio would launch in 1949. The Advance Design series replaced the AK Series, the plucky Art Deco precursor.
From the outset, the Harley Earl lead design team outlined comfort and civility to coincide with the robust nature of the workingman’s truck. Chevrolet understood that the needs of the postwar consumer were changing; life on the farm was beginning to mesh with suburban sprawl. As automotive marketers would find, more women were getting behind the wheel. Automakers knew imbuing style and comfort into a traditional workhorse would translate into greater sales.
From the first look, the redesigned Advance Design lineup dispensed with the AK’s claustrophobic cabin; Chevy claimed their new Unisteel cabin would sit three men abreast. In a bid to remove blind spots, the new five-window “Deluxe Cab” was conceived. Chevy marketed this new feature as “Nu-Vue Rear-Corner Windows.” The quarter-panel windows followed the contour of the cab to alleviate poor rearward visibility.
The blueprint of Advance Design marked a new aesthetic for trucks. The front end began incorporating design elements more similar to passenger cars of the time. The headlights were integrated into the front fenders, and the grille featured five matching chrome arcs stretched horizontally across the radiator. Streamlined and more powerful – though more powerful might be a misrepresentation, as the lineup retained the venerable 216ci “Stovebolt” Straight-6 and didn’t see an updated powerplant until 1955 with the introduction of the 235ci engine. This particular 1951 five-window, Lot #1351, takes its namesake literally: Advancing the design and cranking things up a notch.
Aesthetics may be all that’s left of this 1951 3100. Nothing else is as it seems. This pickup’s day of hauling everything from beatniks to manure are long gone, trading the open field for the center stage.
The acoustic hum of the Stovebolt-6 has been tossed for the fire-belching heart of a C6 Corvette. The Corvette theme runs throughout, as this project took just over a year to complete and culminated with the holiest of matrimonies, marrying the body of the 1951 five-window to that of a C6 Corvette chassis and drivetrain. According to the builder, a lightly breathed-on LS3 sends a dyno-proven 385whp to the rear wheels by way of a 6-speed automatic. The LS3 features a pair of ceramic-coated Sanderson headers, and channels its auditory might through a custom exhaust that mimics the factory style of the C6 Corvette. The rear-mounted Corvette gearbox and transaxle are entirely visible through a clear Lexan bed, highlighting the impeccable mechanical details. The torque tube was extended 10 inches to aid in mating the pickup body and Corvette chassis. The builder also notes the Corvette suspension features RideTech coilovers and Corvette brakes for ample stopping power. A set of 15-spoke Corvette wheels clad in Nitto rubber are ready to unleash the dogs of war, with one prod of the go pedal.
With a closer look, one will note that the entire body has been shifted and contoured to fit the ’Vette chassis. No expense was spared during this project, and that can clearly be seen by the stainless-steel inlays mounted on the running boards. Inside, a fully bespoke C1 Corvette-inspired interior takes shape, compliments of Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto Custom Interiors in Knoxville, Tennessee. An illuminated Corvette insignia sits between the driver and passenger seats, while red LED lights bathe the cabin in a warm glow. Vintage Air heating and cooling keeps occupants comfortable as they gaze upon a set of AutoMeter gauges.
It is outside, however, where things begin to shine. Literally. Featuring an incredible 20 coats, the paint shop artists started with a black base, then morphed into a metallic gold flake under a Candy Red finish. The results are breathtaking, and words do not do it justice. You have to see it to understand, which you will be able to do at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, where this showstopping pickup will be offered with No Reserve. Be sure to make room for this very special 3100 in your collection.
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the 2020 Scottsdale Auction Preview Docket, with more being added daily, click HERE.