New trucks need to run because they have work to get done, whether that’s transporting someone to work, a family on a road trip, or a load of drywall to a job site. Depending on who the buyer is, a vintage truck might not even have to be roadworthy to serve a purpose. I recently heard about an engagement photographer purchasing an old pickup just to use it as part of a barn backdrop for couples wanting to commemorate their upcoming nuptials. Our Pick of the Day, a 1955 Chevrolet 3800 posted on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Fredericksburg, Texas, could definitely do that job. Luckily, it not only works, but it also can work hard because it’s a tow truck.
As you can tell by the egg-crate grille and recessed headlights, this 1955 Chevy 3800 comes from the first model year of the automaker’s “Task Force” design. The task this one-ton truck has to accomplish? Towing a car. Perhaps you have an old junker you need to haul off or a project car you want to get to a shop you know and trust.
This brown and cream beaut can get whatever wherever with the power of a 283ci V8 and a Marquette tow crane retrofitted with a modern 12,000-pound winch. Your task is to row through the gears of the four-speed manual—and don’t forget to double-clutch when you do.
Whatever you end up doing in this rig, you’ll get it done more quickly because you won’t have distractions inside the cab. You’ll have a black vinyl bench seat, manual windows, glove box, and a Brody knob to help you turn the three-spoke wheel. That’s it—no screens or radio to slow you down.
Whether you want to use this 1955 Chevrolet 3800 tow truck as a prop or a work vehicle, one thing stays the same: It’ll be ready to do what you need it to do once you buy it for $18,500.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
