Kevin Whipps
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July 14, 2023
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Features
The 1947-55 (first series) Chevrolet trucks don’t get enough love. There, we said it. These rides have been on the road for decades now, and it seems like their more popular (and admittedly more available) newer model siblings get all of the attention. When you see a super clean truck like this ’51 3100, it’s got to make you question why that is.
Let’s back up a bit. In the mid-’70s, Carmen Vasquez’s father purchased a ’51 Chevrolet 3100 as a fun little project to pursue on the weekends. That’s exactly what he did, shaving the hood and vents and even making a custom diamond-plate tailgate, which still sparks conversations among the old-timers in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where the family lives.
But in 1984, the elder Vasquez decided to park the truck because he needed the funds for his growing family (including little Carmen) and selflessly decided that they were more important than his hobby. Someday, he thought, he would build it again. You know, once he had some extra money.
More than 30 years later the money and priorities just weren’t there, so the ’51 spent its days in the same state it always had, neglected and in desperate need of repair. That’s when Carmen decided to take action. The details are a bit fuzzy, but in June 2015, he came up with the idea to have the truck hijacked in “Overhaulin’” fashion. He took it to Jeremy and his team in Peoria, Arizona—far away from the prying eyes of his dad—and got to work building the truck that would eventually be renamed “Legendary.”
Truck Specs:
Owner
Carmen Vasquez
1951 Chevrolet 3100
Carlsbad, NM
Engine
Suspension
Wheels & Tires
Body & Paint
Interior
“… Merely two years ago, it was just one of those things that kept getting put off and would likely never be finished. It just goes to show that you can’t keep a good truck down.”
A quick glance at the tech specs will tell you that this truck was built right. It sits on a chassis from the Roadster Shop, which says a lot about the process right there. From the LS3 engine built by Turnkey Engine Supply to the 20- and 22-inch Intro Santa Fe wheel combo, everything is done in a clean and simple fashion that’s engineered for a reliable and fun driving experience. No truck is bulletproof, but this one is as close as they come.
As is so often the case, it’s the little things that make this truck stand out. The billet badges on the hood are subtle, because they’re done in the same style as the originals. The dashboard, while stock, was tweaked to fit Vintage Air AC controls and a Pioneer double-DIN stereo. Plus, all of the lighting on the truck is done with LEDs, so it’s high visibility and low voltage. To finish it off, the paint and bodywork by Frank and his crew at Ikandy Paintworks in Peoria, Arizona, killed it. The body is smooth as silk and the finish is second to none.
It’s funny how things work out sometimes. Today, the truck is complete and back home in Carlsbad, where Carmen’s dad is enjoying having it in his life again. But merely two years ago, it was just one of those things that kept getting put off and would likely never be finished. It just goes to show that you can’t keep a good truck down, and you never know what life is going to bring you. ST
Special Thanks From the Owner: “Special thanks to El Primo Oilfield Services. I also want to thank God and all my friends and family for helping me make that special memory and build possible.”
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the July 2016 print issue of Street Trucks.
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