Classic recollections: 1955 Chevrolet pickup
The Christmas season has a magical way of connecting people to special gifts. It happened to Rich Sandrok and his 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup.
The Glen Ellyn resident's Blaze Red beauty wasn't found wrapped under a tree but the quest for this hot rod hauler did start when he and his wife were vacationing in Door County, Wisconsin, and stopped by the Sister Bay landmark, The Tannenbaum, a former church converted to a holiday shopping destination.
While browsing among the Yuletide decor, Rich spied a '50s era Dodge pickup across the street and strolled over to inquire more. “When I expressed interest in the classic, the owner promptly told me to take a long walk on a short pier!”
The curt interaction didn't dissuade Sandrok, but rather served as a catalyst to find a vintage pickup he could make his own. He searched for a few years before he found this 1955 Second Series 3100 half-ton pickup in Lily Lake. Sandrok drove out with his son, Al, in December of 1994 to purchase it.
The original six-cylinder was long gone, having been replaced by a hopped-up V-8, and the guys report the overall condition of the pickup was “nasty.”
The family duo got the non-running machine in safe, daily-driver condition, allowing Al to use it as his regular high-school transport. “I was thrilled about the hands-on nature of the project,” Al said. “I studied mechanics at a vocation school so this was a dream come true.”
After a few years, the father/son team started to think about taking their cargo cruiser to the next level and how to make serious modifications. “Since the stepside was never completely original when we bought it, we weren't too concerned with restoring it back to factory specifications,” Rich said. Case in point is the earth shaking 1970 Chevelle big block 454-cubic-inch V-8 now underhood, packing race-ready roller rockers and camshaft.
“Once this engine was bolted in and running, things got really loud — the whole vehicle vibrated quite a bit at idle. You could see the hood shaking and the cabin would heat up quite a bit,” Rich said.
Things became civilized once the guys installed carpeting and a heat-resistant material, which “made a world of difference” and allowed for a more pleasing driving experience, Rich said.
Adding to the on-road comfort, the rigid straight axle was discarded, making room for a Mustang II front end featuring power steering and disc brakes.
With their fifteen-year project at a close, Rich finds this street sleigh is not lacking in curb appeal. “My wife call's it ‘cute,' which I admittedly agree with. Al, on the other hand, thinks its more ‘brutish',” Rich said.
Either way, both report countless highway spectators thoroughly enjoy seeing their labor of love and are quick to share many happy stories of dads and grandpas who drove similar pickups in the line of their wide and diverse occupations.
You never know what the days around Dec. 25 will bring, but seeing such flawless vintage treats — like the Sandrok's bowtie — reminds us all that we never can outgrow that simple inner desire to play with, and enjoy, our four-wheeled toys.