Russell Hargis' 1950 Chevy 3100

25 September 2006
# 1678

From Russell :

           Hey, I thought that it was about time I sent this along. John made me feel bad about NOT bringing my truck to the Mid-West National truck show (even as I told him, it was in pieces on the garage floor) so I thought the least I could do was to send some pics of the pieces.

Here's my story.

           When I was 15 (1985), my Dad found out a Professor at the University of Missouri had a truck for sale. It was a 1950 3100, all original, 216, 3-speed, rotted bed wood, dented fenders -- the works! Dad thought it was cool that this truck was one year younger than he was. And even cooler that he and I could fix it up together and it would be my first vehicle.

           We went and bought it and drove it home stuck valves and all! A few months later, my Dad died in a freak chainsaw accident (watch those $#!%! things guys) and left me with this un-finished truck. I worked on it as a 16 year old kid, not knowing anything about working on trucks. I did grow up on a farm and I could keep it running (endless supply of bailing wire) but never well enough to get it on the road.

           My Grandpa and a friend of his helped me as much as they had time for but by this time I was 18 and had MANY other things to spend my time and $$$$ on. My barber had an early '50s GMC and he offered me $250 for my truck to use as a parts truck. So I sold it to him.

           For 17 years I kicked myself for doing it as this truck was something of my Dad's that I could never get back. As luck would have it, I ran into my old barber at our county fair in 2005 and I asked him how his truck was. He said about the same shape as the last time I saw it. I nervously asked him if there was anything left of my old truck, fully expecting the news that I didn't want to hear: "NO" or " I sold it." To my excitement he said "Almost everything."

           Needless to say, I bought it back for the same $250 nonetheless. He had used the front fenders and running boards off of it but everything else was there.

           So, as for my progress, I have given her a good bath as she had been stored in an old turkey barn. I have stripped the rest of the sheet metal off of the front and pulled the now badly cracked 216. I lucked into a well-running '58-'62 235 for $50. That is about it other than cleaning and painting small parts.

           Spending time with the wife and two year old is important too. But I also have spent many hours on the internet and reading books on these old trucks trying to learn something and have learned a lot! My wife makes fun of me because I have worn the pages out on my Jim Carter's catalog "wishin' and a dreamin' " .

           Anyway, it's going to be a long haul but this truck will be the truck my Dad dreamed it could be for me. She will NEVER be sold again!!!!

           Also thanks to you and all of the helpful info I have found on your site and from all of the other Stovebolters, your knowledge is priceless!!!

Thanks,

Russell Hargis
"MO 50 3100"
Bolter # 10485
Columbia/Ashland, Missouri