MCACN: 1952 Chevrolet 3600 Pickup Truck
When Brian Anderson and his son, Nathan, discovered this 1952 Chevrolet 3600 in a North Dakota farm field, they were in for a big surprise. “It had been sitting for more than 25 years but we managed to get it to fire up and run,’ said Brian. The Minnesota guys found their 3/4 ton truck in 2008 and embarked on a three-year overhaul. “Everything was in really rough shape. The bed was rotted out and the seats and engine were shot. Everything needed attention. This was my son’s first restoration and truly a learning experience. Early on, the plan was to be a project/learner/driver. Ultimately after all the work put into it, it evolved into a trailer queen.”
The pair tackled everything on the truck themselves, except for the paintwork. They were able to salvage all of the original sheet metal up front, only needing to get replacement rear fenders and the bed, which came from Oklahoma City, OK. While the original Chevy-bestowed color was Forester Green, they opted to have regal Mariner Blue sprayed on. Up front the 216c.i. inline six-cylinder still resides under the hood. The tried and true powerplant is capable of 92 horsepower and is mated to the optional four-speed transmission. “It’s a good combination for utility which is how many of these trucks were used.” Some accessories on the inside are a heater and defroster, radio and windshield washer, which was a dealer-installed feature.
The factory 216c.i. inline six-cylinder engine.
The bowtie hauler was wrapped up just in time for a grand unveiling last summer and in a very fitting location for the motoring classic. “Early on, the project started off kind of slow but then as it came together, we went crazy on it. The last bolt was put on in July of 2011 at 1:00am. Later that morning we loaded it up and drove to the Flint, MI Chevrolet 100th anniversary celebration show. “
While Brian is more than pleased with the final chromed product, and rightly so, his favorite aspect was the family bonding experience. “Both of us are quite proud of the way it came out. Everything is just perfect. But working with my son was by far, the best part of the whole thing.”
The strikingly handsome 3600 may be real easy on the eyes, but rolling down the road is another story. “To be brutally honest, it’s not a terribly comfortable truck to drive. We’re very pleased with the overall mechanics; the engine is quiet, the steering is great and the brakes work good but you get behind the wheel and it’s interesting to say the least. You think, ‘ Wow, this is pretty crude with compared to modern-day vehicles’. But these types of trucks lasted forever and really took America to it’s height during the 1950s. They are a historic icon that represent a lot for our country’s automotive heritage.”
Check out the photo gallery below for more images of this Chevy farm field find.
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