No one can forget their first ride, but few of us ever manage to hang onto them. In the case of Bobby Enz, he bought what he calls an “old beater” 1950 Chevy 3100 as his daily driver at the age of 16. The rest is a 20-year, on-and-off project that turned into this radical chopped pickup that Bobby says won’t be finished ’til he wins Truck of the Year. He’s definitely well on his way, though.
After college Bobby started working on the truck and sort of did it backward by doing the paint and body and then moving onto the mechanicals. The suicide doors are shortened in length and width, and a pop-out gas door has been added. The roof was lopped off, windshield chopped 3 inches, and the firewall was shaved, smoothed, and molded. Bobby did all the sheetmetal work, while Perfect Colors laid down the PPG and House of Kolor Forest Green, Light Mist Green, and Organic Green shades. Sal Elias handled the muraling while Angelo Maisano and Mike Lamberson put down the fine lines. Engraving was done by Jaime and Daniel Casteñeda.
The stereo, much of which is housed in the bed, is powered by a Pioneer Double DIN, 6×9 speakers, Kicker subwoofers, Hifonics amps, and JL Audio speakers in the front. The original radio was shaved off the dash and now has custom-detailed gauges done by Bobby, a fiberglass consoled, and Glide seats covered in vinyl. The stitchwork was done by California Auto Upholstery.
The motor and trans came out of a 1962 C10 and are the 235ci inline-six and three-on-the tree. They were given a simple rebuild and some dress-up components, like Fenton header, a custom radiator, 120-amp alternator, and Rochester carb. There’s plenty of chrome to pull it all together and it turns a 1969 Nova rearend with 11-inch ABS discs all the way around to stop the 100-spoke Zeniths.
Four Blue-Top Optimas are hidden underneath and power up four A1 hydraulic pumps, four Adex dumps, eight Accumax solenoids, and 10-inch cylinders, all pumping the juice through hardlines. The frame was reinforced and lowering blocks in the back with the straight axle in front keep it suspended in period-authentic style. All the work was done by Bobby.
It’s not as often as we like that we see trucks like this, but Bobby definitely lives up to that Uniques club name.
1950 Chevrolet 3100
Vehicle Nickname: Greenghost
Owner: Bobby Enz
City/State: Whitewater, CA
Club: Uniques
Engine: 235 inline-six and three-speed manual
Body/Paint: Suicide doors shortened in length and width, roof removed, windshield chopped 3 inches, firewall shaved, smoothed, and molded. PPG & House of Kolor Forest Green, Light Mist Green, and Organic Green shades. Muraling by Sal Elias. Pinstriping by Angelo Maisano and Mike Lamberson. Engraving by Jaime and Daniel Casteñeda.
Suspension: Four A1 hydraulic pumps, four Adex dumps, eight Accumax solenoids, and 10-inch cylinders. Frame reinforced, 1969 Nova rear, lowering blocks in the back, straight axle in front
Interior: Glide seats, interior by California Upholstery, custom gauges by owner, fiberglass console
Stereo: Pioneer Double DIN, 6×9 speakers, Kicker subwoofers, Hifonics amps, and JL Audio speakers
Wheels/Tires: 13×7 Zeniths / Premium Sportway 5.20
Advance Design
The Chevy Advance Design trucks debuted in 1949 until they were replaced by the Task Force series in 1955. This 1950 3100 would have contained the 216ci inline-six with 92 hp, which helped it become Number One in sales that year. The truck weighed about 3,175 pounds with telescopic shock absorbers replacing the lever action models previously used. It was the last year for the driver’s side cowl vent as well. A 3600 series was also available with a larger bed, as well as the 3800 series. The 3100 platform was also seen on smaller panel trucks and Suburbans. Here’s some of what you could get as options: leather seat trim, chrome radiator grille, rear fenders, oil bath air cleaner, and heavy-duty clutch. Dealer accessories could even include such novelties as a toolkit bag with tools.
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