1952 Chevrolet 3100 - Steven Beck

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1952 Chevrolet 3100

Steven Beck

Instagram: @Chevyrose3100

TikTok: @Chevyrose3100

I am 36, father of two boys (Jesse & Bodhi) I’m from Greater Manchester.  I own a powder coating company refurbishing Alloy wheels, brake callipers, motorbike frames, racing chassis etc. on a daily basis. I think I inherited an interest in cars from my grandad who was always tinkering and fixing old cars.  I always remember as a young boy an old blue Ford Capri on his drive that he would always be working on.

I’ve always been fascinated by the old American vehicles with their rumbling V8’s.  From the iconic muscle cars to the big old trucks. I always loved the Chevy 3100 (47-54) model and body shape.  A few years ago I joined several American Chevy 3100 Facebook groups and collected an album full of photos of other guys truck builds as inspiration with the vision and dream of owning one of these trucks one day.

Around 3 years ago I took the plunge and won this truck at an online auction from California and had it imported.  The truck was a lot of different back then than it is now but it was still a decent-looking truck.  I didn’t buy a finished truck as I wanted something to work on however I also didn’t want a rusted mess and bite off more than I could chew.

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Being a 5.7 litre V8 she’s a fuel guzzler, to say the least, but I always say she runs off smiles per gallon.  When driving the streets people will literally stop and point at the truck, people young and old and what’s nice to recognise is that I don’t think you even have to be a car guy to appreciate the old classic American vehicles. 

My Truck is unique, I think because we don’t see a great deal of American vehicles on the UK roads as it is let alone the classics.  On social media, a lot of people think she’s a die-cast Hot Wheels model and not a real truck. She’s unlike most of the classic Chevy trucks out there with a hotrod look to her with a lot of subtle mods, such as shaved door handles with door poppers to enter the vehicle. One piece of glass in the doors (originally they were 2 pieces), and she’s got a narrowed rear end with tubs to squeeze in the Mickey Thompson drag tyres.  Complimented with a 1981 Camaro front clip produces her unique stance, as much as I love seeing them bagged and on the ground, I love that she’s different.

Not all the purest appreciate the work gone into it but most people love the truck. I think because these trucks are few and far between it’s just not something you expected to see on the road every day. You could pull up next to a Lambo and this 70-year-old truck would draw in more attention.

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Build List: 

5.7 Litre 350 Small Block V8 with upgraded cam, Candy Red paint job which is incredible and always a topic of conversation with people that see her. Shaved door handles with electric door poppers to access the truck.  Added one-piece glass in the doors (which originally were 2 piece)

Added front sun visor gives the front end a whole new look along with a new chrome front grill. Custom red faux suede and cream leather interior with stitched Roses in the bench seat.  Hidden sound system behind the bench seat. 15” Weld racing wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson tyres with custom-made tyre wall sticker lettering with red roses.

Rear end has been tubbed with a narrowed rear axle to squeeze in the 16.5” Rear wheels. Rear valance is also an after-market mod changing the whole look of the rear end with the custom oval exhaust tips.

Custom Rose bed with composite decking and custom-made Matt black powder-coated frame. All the lights have been converted to LED front and rear and the bed rails have been fitted with custom rear indicators. Aldan American front coilover suspension with front Wilwood callipers and discs.

Rear-end brakes are currently under modification changing them from drum brakes to discs.  I have Comp speed rear callipers and made a 1986 Toyota supra disc fit, currently working on fabricating calliper brackets to make this all fit. Powder steering has also been added with electric windows. Obviously, none of these was available 70 years ago as on old farmer's truck. This weekend having a new Weiand Tunnel ram with dual Holley carbs and Hilborn scoop fitted to give her a much meaner look under the hood.

The Work

The paint job was done in the States by the previous owner along with the tubs and shaved door handles.

The truck was dated and needed a more of modern touch when I got it and like I say was a slightly different-looking truck back then. Visor, chrome grill, new lights, new bed, new suspension, new brakes, sound system etc all done by myself.

Future Plans:

This weekend having a new Weiand Tunnel ram with dual Holley carbs and Hilborn scoop fitted to give her a much meaner look under the hood. (All parts already purchased). As I’ve mentioned above new custom rear brake disc conversion for the rear is planned to be done in a couple of months. (All parts already purchased). New headers with electrical cut-out exhaust switches to make it roar a little bit louder. 

Planned to be done after brakes. (Parts not purchased yet)

Advice/Tips

Probably not the tips most people give but whatever vehicle it is you want to own someday all you got to do is vision it daily, join the Facebook groups and builds that vehicle and learn as much as you can about it from other peoples builds and go about life as if you have one.  I’m a strong believer in the law of attraction and if you make it your vision and goal you’ll make it happen. 

I had an album full of over 1000 classic Chevy trucks  I liked for years before I ever owned one myself. I even bought a die-cast model and had stuck on my daily driver dashboard, as a constant reminder to channel that goal.

Shout Outs:

Shoutout to Coyote Coatings Ltd for all the powder coating work done on my truck.  

https://coyotecoatings.co.uk. I’d also like to shout out Tyre Wall Stickers for making me custom stickers for my truck with red roses. https://tyrewallstickers.com . Shoutout to Matt at ROQ Customs for the excellent bodywork and painting.

The Scene

I enjoy people’s shared love and appreciation for the work that has gone into builds.  Some people can often be cult-like with particular manufacturers eg Chevy Vs Ford, however, I appreciate them all.

Especially the classic stuff.

One thing that is important is that not everyone will like your build, everyone will have different styles and opinions and that’s totally fine, but if it creates a discussion that’s all that matters.  So take any social media hate on your build with a pinch of salt.

Dream Car:

1969 Ford Mustang GT500

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