When this 1948 Chevrolet 3100 short bed rolled out of the barn and into Traditional Hot Rod Motors, it had ample layers of old paint and rust. The beauty of that aging was not lost on the paint crew, which went to town on the body, hand-polishing the surface rust and laying on coat after coat of clear, to preserve the original patina and achieve a deep mirror finish.
The restomod truck is now listed on eBay. After 40 bids, the current price has skipped past $30,000.
“Selling one-of-a-kind cars is a lot like selling one-of-a-kind guitars,” said David Trent, of Traditional Hot Rod Motors and proprietor of OnlineGuitar, a top-rated eBay seller with 100 percent positive feedback after more than 34,000 transactions. You’ll see guitar-influenced design in the cargo bed, with a stunning two-tone wood floor, accented by stainless steel strips. The headlights and running lights feature LEDs.
The 1948’s body is dropped on a S10 chassis, with a fixed height suspension. It rides plenty low, although it’s not a notorious scraper. The truck rolls on five-spoke Ridler wheels, wrapped with BF Goodrich rubber, with 18s up front and deep lip 20s in the rear. “As you’re driving, you forget that you’re in an old truck, until you step out and look back,” said Trent. “The ride feels like a modern vehicle.” There are power disc brakes in front and drums in the back.
The driveline’s been thoroughly updated with a Comp Cam equipped fuel-injected 5.3-liter Chevrolet LS V8 mated to an 4L60E automatic with electronic overdrive. There’s a healthy rumble and plenty of horsepower to break the big tires loose. A new aluminum radiator is keeping it cool.
The Silverado split bench seat is covered in creamy high-grade vinyl with “Gunsmoke” emblems, and features a generous fold-down center armrest complete with cup holders. All of the tinted glass and seals are new. The heater box is original.
Trent started out selling guitars on eBay in 1999, and began selling cars and trucks in 2012. The shop offers a complete range of services and can add options like custom audio systems or air conditioning to any vehicle before it rolls out the door. Trent’s shop is constantly working on vehicles, intent on its goal of listing a new car or truck on eBay every weekend. However, it will be tough for Trent and his crew to top this extraordinary 1948 splendidly rusted restomod slammed pickup.
See 1948 Chevy Cars and Trucks for sale on eBay.
