1951 Chevrolet 3100 SEMA/WD-40
Pickup trucks are the hot ticket. It seems like every Chevy pickup from the ’40s through ’80s is being swept up at a rapid pace. With a ton of aftermarket support, early Chevrolets are among the easiest to modify to accept different chassis, making them ride better than the original version. Every generation, from Boomers to Millenials, recognizes the versatility of a pickup.
This 1951 Chevrolet 3100 was acquired out of Sacramento, California, in 2019 on behalf of the WD-40 Company by Trad Ronfeldt of Team Racing and Development, who subsequently refurbished and modified it for display at SEMA 2021.
Custom paintwork by Airhead Designs in Crandon, Wisconsin, incorporates simulated corrosion and wear to mimic the appearance and texture of a weathered yellow finish. Features include a matching windshield visor, yellow headlight lenses, WD-40 branding on each door, and custom “TRAD” badges on the hood corners.
Six polished Ultra Wheel Modular Dually wheels are wrapped in 235/65R17 Toyo Open Country C/T tires. The front end was modified with a Nostalgia Sid’s 4” dropped axle kit and ventilated disc brakes with braided stainless-steel lines, while a TCI four-link suspension kit with coilovers was added at the rear. While retaining rear drums, the braking system was also fitted with power assistance and a proportioning valve.
The cab is trimmed in distressed diamond-stitched leather over the bench seat with a matching headliner and door panels. The simulated-patina paintwork extends to the interior metal surfaces, while black carpeting lines the footwell. An MTX sound system incorporates controls hidden inside the dash-mounted ashtray and amplifiers underneath the seat, where the battery is also housed. The three-spoke steering wheel frames Dakota Digital RTX instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer with an inset digital display and a combination gauge monitoring fuel level, voltage, coolant temperature, and oil pressure.
Installed in lieu of the factory inline-six, the 383ci stroker V8 is equipped with Holley Sniper fuel injection atop a Weiand Team G intake manifold. Additional features include a Frostbite aluminum radiator, an electric cooling fan, a Champ Pans oil sump, a Holley satin black finned air cleaner housing and valve covers, and a MagnaFlow dual side-exit exhaust system.
It’s really no wonder Chevy trucks enjoy such huge popularity. With time-tested strength, storied power and enough curb appeal to make every day picturesque, they’re the perfect combination of form and function. Keep to enjoy this awesome piece of classic Americana!
