1959 Chevrolet 3100 Brazil Pick-up

The Chevrolet’s 3,548cc engine, or 216.5 cubic-inches in freedom units, might only produce 92bhp but this is because the firm’s engineers tuned it for torque rather than power, and the subsequent 176lb.ft is a much more useful measurement of its ability to work.

The three-speed manual gearbox this one is fitted with sends that power to the rear axle, while its independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes were still something of a rarity in the commercial sector at the time.

‘258 XWF’ arrived here in February 2025, and the seller is still its first and only registered UK keeper. He commissioned Colin Pomeroy to undertake a service and a small amount of work on it to bring it up to the standard he requires, and the invoices for these jobs, which total around £1,700, are in the history file.

Sitting with a great stance and real presence, this pickup might be enough to persuade you that your next classic car need not be a car at all.

Finished in orange and white, the 3100 still makes a helluva statement, something the vast sunshade, perfect stance, and wooden pickup bed contribute to.

And it’s in good shape too, and while we’ll talk in detail about its few blemishes later, the TL:DR is that you could spend the summer touring classic car shows in it without any embarrassment before having a fun-filled (and not terribly onerous) winter sorting out its few imperfections.

Because the hard work has already been done: The panels all line up well; the paint is vibrant and glossy; and the all-important Brazil-spec trim on the radiator and rear wings is still present and correct.

The tailgate is embossed with the Chevrolet name, and stout chains support it in the horizontal position, lengthening the loadspace while also giving you something to lean against.

Other nice touches include an Atlas fuel filler cap, pressed aluminium numberplates, and Brazil-market badges – and if the latter are a little patinated, we’d be tempted to leave them as they are because they add character without detracting from the pickup’s style and elegance.

The lamp lenses are all free of chips and cracks too, and the side and rear glazing is in good order.

But there is work to do: The steel wheels would benefit from being refurbished, a job you could tie in with fitting new tyres as the ones that are currently fitted are mismatched, old and perished.

You will also want to sort out the rust spots we noticed on the front bumper, both roof channels, the driver’s step plate, the bonnet slam panel, the metal around the offside sealed-beam headlamp, and the bottom edges of the tailgate and rear bumper.

You could also retouch the paintwork on the offside front wing and door, the nearside front wing, the driver’s door, and the upper pickup bed frame, all of which have scratches, cracks, and/or chips. Some of the chrome trim has rust spots, tarnishing and pitting too, so may like to get that stripped down, polished, and rechromed.

Or you could leave everything in that last paragraph as it is and chalk every last one up to a developing patina, something the style and age of the pickup positively encourages.

Other flaws include a missing offside wing mirror, a dent on the driver’s door, sun-damage to the (fabulous) sunshade, heavy scratches to the windscreen, and white paint drips on the passenger’s step plate.

Maintaining the coachwork’s orange-and white colour scheme, the (very tidy and clearly restored) interior blends utilitarianism with style better than most.

The flat bench seat, which is trimmed in hard-wearing vinyl, is super practical, allowing three-abreast seating at a pinch – or plenty of room to snuggle if there’s just the two of you. Firm and springy, the face material is also free of rips, tears, and other signs of heavy wear, as are the matching door cards.

The white painted dashboard is a masterclass in minimalism, with just the one instrument panel and only two warning lights, both of which have their function neatly stencilled below.

The steering wheel is a deeply dished, three-spoke jobbie that’s as good to hold as it is behold despite having a few dinks around its perimeter – and while we’re moaning about the controls, the gearshift for the three-speed manual gearbox that’s mounted on the steering column, would benefit from a new gearknob.

Pedals are, of course, large enough to operate while wearing heavy boots, thereby also giving plenty of room in the footwell for those of us with larger-than-average feet.

The working-class hero theme continues with rubber mats on the floor, manual seat mechanisms and window winders, plus similarly beefy door release handles.

Oh, and the seat folds forward to give access to the huge petrol tank. How’s that for function-over-form?

Not that Chevrolet skimped on the important stuff; the dashboard might only contain one instrument but within it lies gauges for coolant temperature, battery amperage, oil pressure, and fuel level in addition to road speed and distance.

As for work to do, you might like to consider installing a headlining to cut down on noise and condensation. While they’re at it, you could ask your trimmers to make up new trim panels for the bottom of either door and the kick panels in the footwells.

The commissioning work included a new alternator, a High-Energy Ignition (HEI) distributor to update the old ignition system, and new fuel lines. This work, along with a service and tweaking the carburettor, set the owner back around £1,700.

It was wort every penny though because the straight-six engine now starts well, idles quietly and smoothly, and revs with vigour. The seller also told us it gave him renewed confidence in it – and he says he misses it already, having had to pay someone only this week to deliver a sofa…

Our Man reported that the test drive went well, and that everything he tried worked as it should.

The engine presents honestly with the combination of new parts and light surface rust imbuing it with an air of preservation rather than restoration, something we encourage wherever possible; history is important, and it’s all too easy to wipe out a vehicle’s character in the quest for cosmetic perfection.

As for the underside, it looks to be in good order with evidence of new fasteners, a clean and apparently solid metal chassis and floorpans, and easy access to its mechanical components.

The Chevrolet does not have an MoT certificate.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file contains some recent invoices.

There’s a lot to be said for buying a classic car that’s actually a classic pickup, not least because you’ll be gaining massive practicality for no loss of style.

American pickups like this have a huge following Stateside too, so parts tend to be both cheap and readily available, albeit with a bit of a delay, not that that will bother someone as well-organised as you.

And, to add a cherry on top of an already ridiculously well-decorated cake, UK prices are still cheap because they’ve yet to gain the same traction over here.

How cheap?

Very cheap: We suspect this one will fetch a maximum of £15,000, and the virtual hammer may even fall shortly after it has reached five figures, which would be stellar value for the fun you’ll have – and the attention you’ll attract.

Not to mention the money you’ll save in not having to hire vans or pay someone else to deliver your stuff.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.