Elite Dealer

1949 Chevrolet 3100

$47,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

3100

Year

1949

Mileage

32,568 miles

VIN

JJB2936

Body Type

Other

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

350ci

Description

1949 CHEVROLET 3100 5 Window SHORT BED PICKUP 350 Automatic transmission HEAD LIGHTS WORK, TAIL LIGHTS WORK BRAKE LIGHTS WORK, TURN SIGNALS WORK NEEDS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SPEEDOMETER WORKS, NO HORNS MODERN DOLPHIN GAUGES HOW IS THE ENGINE? Rebuilt 350 cubic inch, starts and runs good, very clean. Edelbrock carburetor, chrome alternator, aluminum radiator with electric fan. I hear no knocks and rattles and see no blue smoke.

HOW IS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM? Chrome side pipes and full tube headers. HOW IS THE INTERIOR? Seat show no wear, good carpet, painted trim good, door panels nice. HOW IS THE PAINT? Nice upper end driver quality, I see no dents or dings.

I do see some tiny touched up chips and a few specs. The shine is good, I see no rust bubbles. HOW IS THE BODY Floors look good, Hood is a one piece after market, running boards are new metal after market.

WHAT IS THE FRONT END? Independent front axle I was told it was a 1980 Chevrolet pickup that had bend narrowed and it looks right to me. It is power steering. WHAT IS THE REAR END? I was told it was a 1980 Chevrolet pickup rear end and it looks right to me.

WHAT ARE THE WHEELS AND TIRES? 15 inch American Racing wheels with 225/75/15 on the rear and 185/65/15 on the front. HOW IS THE CHROME? Front bumper looks like new, grill looks new, door handles look new. HOW IS THE GLASS? Windshield looks new, side glasses roll up and down good and are clear.

Back corner window clear with some scuffs, back glass good, weather stripping looks new. HOW ARE THE BRAKES? Disc on front and drums on rear. They stop good and are power. Vintage air not installed conditioning unit comes with the truck.

Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our clients home and Not In Cadillac, Michigan. **We do have a showroom with about 25 cars that is by appointment only **Please Call First and talk to one of our reps at 231-468-2809 EXT 1 **

Classic Chevrolet 3100 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Robert Halloran

Classic Trucks

1947–1955

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Complete buyer's guide for the Chevrolet 3100 Advanced Design pickup (1947–1955). Generation details, rust and body inspection, engine identification, and current market values for original and restomod trucks.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full 3100 Buyer's Guide

Chevrolet 3100 Market Overview

Based on 96 Chevrolet 3100 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$37,818

Avg. Asking Price

1941–1959

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $47,995

Low: $5,495 High: $101,495

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 52% ◄

Manual 30%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 15%

Good 7%

Fair 6%

Poor 2%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 96 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Classic Chevrolet 3100 Buyer's Guide

The Chevrolet 3100 is the half-ton workhorse of the postwar Advanced Design truck series — and it is arguably the most beautiful American pickup truck ever built. The rounded cab, the wide horizontal grille, and the honest proportions of the 1947–1955 generation have made these trucks the darlings of the custom and restomod world for decades. A clean original 3100 is harder to find every year, and prices are moving to match.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Inspect cab corners with flashlight and magnet — Rust and filler in the lower cab corners is nearly universal. Magnet test determines filler depth.

✓

Check cab mount points — Where cab bolts to frame. Rust-through here causes the cab to shift. Non-negotiable inspection point.

✓

Pull running boards and check attachment flanges — Running board flanges rot from water pooling. Plan to replace or fabricate.

✓

Inspect floor pans from inside and underneath — Remove all interior floor material. Replacement pans are available but installation is labor-intensive.

✓

Check firewall for stampings and damage — Original firewall has VIN stampings. A replaced firewall indicates major accident or crash damage.

✓

Identify and verify engine — Original 216 or 235 Stovebolt, or a swap? Verify casting numbers. Know what you're buying before negotiating.

✓

Test brakes — Hydraulic drum brakes all around. Pedal should be firm. Fade or pull indicates drum service needed.

✓

Check three-speed manual or replacement gearbox — Original trucks came with a three-speed manual. Many have been converted. Test shift quality.

✓

Examine glass and rubber seals — Windshield seals leak with age. Water intrusion behind the dash rots firewall and floor.

✓

Document with photos before purchase — Every panel, all corners, engine bay, firewall stampings, undercarriage.

Common Issues

Rust is the defining issue on all 3100 trucks. Lower cab corners are the first and most visible rust area. The running boards and flanges rust from water pooling. Floor pans rot from both above and below. The cab mount area — where the body bolts to the frame — is the most serious structural rust zone. Rust here is hidden from casual inspection and can be severe without obvious external evidence. Mechanically, the Stovebolt inline-six is among the most durable engines ever fitted to an American vehicle. The main mechanical issue on original trucks is brake system deterioration — wheel cylinders and master cylinder need attention on any truck that has sat.

What to Look For

Structure first: cab mounts, floor pans, and cab corners. A truck with solid cab mounts, patchable floor pans, and manageable corner rust is a viable project. A truck with rotten cab mounts or a compromised firewall is a parts car. Engine identity second. Original Stovebolt engines command a premium in the original-collector market. Body panel condition third. The 3100 uses unique body pressings that are reproduction-available but expensive. Damaged rear fenders, doors, and front fenders add $3,000–$8,000 per panel to the restoration budget.

Price Guide

Clean original driver with Stovebolt engine: $28,000–$48,000. Concours-original with correct colour and documentation: $55,000–$80,000. Professional LS or 350 restomod with quality paint, suspension, and interior: $65,000–$120,000. Show-quality pro-tour from established builders: $120,000–$200,000. Project trucks (complete, running, rough): $12,000–$22,000. Add $40,000–$70,000 for quality rebuild, putting most projects above equivalent finished trucks.

Did You Know?

The "Stovebolt" nickname for Chevrolet's inline-six came from the slotted bolts used in the engine's construction — the same type found in cast-iron stoves of the era. The Advanced Design trucks were produced concurrently with the first Ferrari road cars and the original Volkswagen Beetle. In 1947 the Chevrolet 3100 was state-of-the-art American transportation.

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Elite Dealer

$47,995

1949 Chevrolet 3100

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Original Factory Colors

Official paint codes for the Chevrolet 3100 (1949).

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Model History