Yes, patina is hot, and has been for some time. And some of it is faked, but not this Advance Design Chevy; it came about it the old-fashioned way.
I was into patina…decades before it became cool. In the early 70s, the cool thing to do in Iowa City was to find a nicely-patinated old Chevy pickup (or old sedan) like this from an old farmer. It was all part of the country-hippie wave that surged shortly after the San Francisco-psychedelic scene petered out. Purple wheels weren’t part of the look then, but otherwise, it’s perfect.
I had no serious problems with the purple wheels when I ran into this in Cottage Grove, but then I noticed the giant exhaust stack in the bed. Hmm. That wasn’t part of the look back then. Seems a big in diameter for a stove-bolt six. Or is there something else under the hood?
No immediate proof from looking in the cab; no fake patina here. But is that non-stock shifter sprouting from its original location? it looks a bit too close to the seat to me. Hmm; a visit to Google images confirms that. And a rather odd shifter it is. I’m going to have to guess that the familiar soft moan and drone of a Chevy six might not be what greets the ears upon start up.
Maybe a diesel? With which to pour a little coal from that big stack? A VW TDi would be perfect in one of these; 140 real hp, good performance and terrific mileage, as long as the emission system isn’t actually working, like the half million diesels VW has sold here the past six years. To pour some coal, that would be essential, and then some. (FWIW, VW’s cheating diesels were emitting 10-40 times the smog-forming pollutant NOx, not particulates).
Cool old truck. I’d rather see one with patina over a perfectly restored one that you’re afraid to park too close to anything else lest it get a scratch or dent. As for the drivetrain, my curiosity is piqued as well. Maybe a small block or a newer-vintage Chevy six – if I owned one of these, I’d stick with the straight six. On the diesel topic, I’ve seen a ’90’s vintage Dodge cruising around downtown Toronto with much larger twin stacks coming out of the bed. Definitely a Cummins under the hood, and the owner wants the world to know.
Hate those front purple wheels , but they seem to match the hanging flower basket above. Shifter looks like an umbrella. My friend’s dad had one of these back in the early 70s. When he bought it , it looked a lot like this one. He painted it dark green with a paint brush . I went camping with them, and my friend and I rode in the open back for 100 miles. Luckily it was summer. It wasn’t fast. Seemed like the cruising speed was less than the traffic flow on the freeway. When we got to a deserted dirt road, his dad let us stand on the side step outside the pickup box on the way to the camp site.
Also note axles changed to 5 on 5 instead of 6 studs and lowered probably newer frame and under carriage
Looks like it still has the straight axle leaf spring front end. At least now we have proof VW is still capable of making reliable electronics.
I wonder if it’s a handicap adaptation. The way the lever appears to move, plus the knob on the wheel…. It’s not the usual arrangement, but it sort of adds up that way.
I do not see any hand controls for the three pedals though.
I don’t know about that shifter but the Brody knob on the steering wheel most likely indicates that the truck does not have power steering. I went to a car show on Saturday and a lot of old card from that same era had the exact same looking knob(and not those reproductions offered today) which looks like the things have been on the car since the car was new.
Yesss! I love me some Advance Design pickup, regardless of year. I have a complete, running 250 stright six in my ’72 Ventura that would be perfect for a project like this.
In the meantime, feast your eyes on this- a 1950 GMC retrofitted with a worked-over 4-53T Detroit diesel. Apparently the smaller Detroits are a very popular swap in vintage GM trucks.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zwd1iazvU&w=560&h=315%5D
I can take or leave these early Chevy pickups, at least they aren’t as pug-ugly as the same year Dodges.
Aside from being lowered, those look like very low profile tires on that purple wheel.
One of those “Resto-picker” shows recently picked up a “patinaed” early 50s Ford for a customer….as a Blue Oval fan, that’s where I’d go.
Even though my grandpa’s first pickup was a ’49 Chevy, and the original grain truck was a ’50, the oversaturation of the “classic truck” hobby with Advance Designs has kind of turned me off to the vehicle. I feel like it might be the vehicle city slickers think of when they think of farmers, with Old MacDonald in a straw hat and overalls going home to feed his chickens and pigs and milk his cow named Bessie and other outdated stereotypes. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Too bad, ’cause there’s nothing really wrong with this one.
Nice truck and maybe I should send some photos since I have been photographing every Advanced Design truck I find in the Portland area.
Frankly patina is way overdone. Especially when many sellers think if you have patina you can ADD 15-20% extra value.
I don’t think the patina will do much damage. The steel on this thing looks like it’s a half inch thick.
Saw this one here in town just last month. This patina is also the real deal, not artificially applied. It’s bone stock and sweet running.
Nice truck and sweet stance. There’s something about a truck with real patina and a slight drop that gets me excited! My truck is a little lowered but I am still running the 250 straight six.
Maybe the wheel combo on this one is temporary. If it were mine I’d keep the rear steel wheels with the thin whitewalls and get a matching pair for the front.
‘ patina ‘ is bullshit ~ it’s RUST and rust never sleeps .
I miss my old ’49 Chevy 3100 pickup , straight 6 and Muncie SM420 tranny , it only went 65 ~ 70 (3.55 final drive ratio) but it took me everywhere I wanted to go in style and comfort .
magnaflow exhaust co. bought and destroyed it ‘ the revolver ‘ show truck was made out of my beloved old shop truck .
.
-Nate
Assuming all-original body, this truck is a ’51. First year w/vent windows, ’52 got push-button door handles.
Someone else has noted the 5-lug wheels, and it’s been clearly lowered, but looks as if it may still have the leafs in front.
I’ve always liked pickup trucks of this vintage. They’re rather basic by today’s standards. If properly maintained and carefully driven, they’ll last forever.
FWIW ;
They’re as tough as anvils with wheels ~
I had a base model 1949 3100 for my Shop Truck for over a decade , it had a ’57 235 i6 in it and 12 volt conversion , other wise bone stock and I worked that poor thing harder than you can imagine , it took it all and begged for more .
All over the South West , towing and hauling , never complained and never left me afoot .
I miss it but I don’t get along with clutches well anymore so off it went .
-Nate
Grandpa had a ’53 3600 (8-lug hubs and full floating axle) as his farm truck. 216ci six and three-on-the-tree. It was a Custom Cab with the rear corner windows and a tube push button radio that didnt work.
That interior shot sure brings back memories. His golden retriever usually pushed me out of the way to ride shotgun. It had a chromed heater under the dash and aftermarket turn signals.
It was the first stick shift I drove on the street. HIs IH tractor was the first, but off-road.
I vividly remember the starter pedal on the floor and learning about non-sychro first gear the hard way.
I actually used to own this truck. the guy I sold it too put a Cummins into it.