DETROIT – As vintage Chevrolet trucks increase in popularity with enthusiasts, more trucks are going up for auction and sale prices for the most coveted trucks keep increasing.
“Vintage trucks, especially Chevrolets, have been gaining popularity with collectors, to the point they are rivaling muscle cars,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman, and CEO of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company. “What’s interesting is collectors are looking for very different vehicles: The most collectible muscle cars are numbers-matching survivors; the most sought-after vintage trucks are full custom builds, and buyers are looking for both unique design elements and high-quality craftsmanship.”
“Part of the appeal of a vintage Chevrolet truck is the opportunity to build the custom truck of your dreams,” said Sandor Piszar, U.S. marketing director for Chevrolet Trucks. “Solid trucks can be found for relatively low costs, but the sky is the limit in terms of bodywork, chassis and performance upgrades. As such, Chevrolet trucks are a great option for collectors of all ages.”
As we look back at 100 years of Chevy truck history, here’s a list of the nine most expensive Chevy trucks sold at Barrett-Jackson auctions to date.
Barrett-Jackson will host its next auction Oct. 19-21 in Las Vegas, with more than 60 Chevy trucks on the docket ― more than double any other competitive truck brand. With so much interest in vintage Chevy trucks, this list of the most expensive Chevy trucks will be changing very soon.
1. 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Truck, sold for US$214,500 in 2016
This 1957 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Truck, better known as “Quicksilver,” is a 2014 Barrett-Jackson Cup winner and has been recognized as “one of the finest custom truck builds of all times,” according to Barrett-Jackson Auction House. These honors came with a hefty price tag, and the truck was sold for US$214,500 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2016. Nearly everything on this vehicle, from the 540 Big Block, 650-horsepower Chevy engine, to the handmade and reshaped body panels, was customized by Hot Rod Garage in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
2. 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup, sold for US$205,700 in 2017
You’d be hard-pressed to find a single part on this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup that has not been customized. First showcased at the SEMA show, this vehicle sold for US$205,700 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2017. The truck features extensive modifications including an all-new TCI custom chassis with independent front suspension and a 500-horsepower Chevrolet Performance Hot Cam LS3 crate engine with 4L65E automatic transmission. The interior features a reshaped dash and a handmade redesigned bench seat, console, door panels and headliner.
3. 1957 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup, sold for US$159,500 in 2007
This 1957 Chevrolet Cameo Pickup, finished in full custom Orange Pearl paint, sold for US$159,500 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2007. The orange masterpiece features a 500-horsepower Big Block Chevy engine and a 400 transmission with Electric Overdrive. Interior upgrades include a full leather interior, vintage air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows and a 400-watt stereo.
4. 1957 Chevrolet C-6 Custom Pickup, sold for US$148,500 in 2011
It took 7,000 man-hours and thousands of one-off hand-crafted parts to build this 1957 Chevrolet C-6 Custom Pickup, which sold for US$148,500 in Las Vegas in 2011. This truck comes with a 402cid LS3 motor, a complete Corvette C6 suspension and drivetrain with a six-speed transaxle and a full Air Ride suspension. The truck won a GM Design award at SEMA 2009 and a Mothers Choice Award at SEMA 2010.
5. 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Custom Pickup, sold for US$143,000 in 2013
This professionally built 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Custom Pickup features several eye-catching outer modifications including a tailgate inspired by the 1955 Nomad, reformed cab corners to flow with the 1957 Bel Air side trim and an engine bay smoothed over with covers. The Titanium Grey and Lipstick Red exterior is complemented by a red leather interior, complete with Dakota Digital VHX gauges, a graphite-wrapped Billet Specialties wheel and a Kenwood stereo system. The vehicle is such a hot collector’s item that it made our list twice! After selling for US$143,000 in the 2013 Scottsdale auction, the Cameo Custom hit the auction block again a year later in Las Vegas and sold for US$132,000.
6. 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup, sold for US$132,000 in 2006
With six years of customization work and six magazine appearances, it’s no wonder that this 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup made its way into the top nine. This pickup sold for US$132,000 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2006. The Kandy Orange exterior is complemented by a tan leather interior, both of which were meticulously detailed by Cimtex Rods in Jarrell, Texas. Named by Street Trucks Magazine as one of the top 50 trucks of the decade, this award-winning truck can boast about being the Goodguys Truck of the Year 2002-2003 and a Boyds Pro Pick at Scottsdale, Arizona, and Columbus, Ohio, as well as top awards at ISCA events and Super Chevy shows.
7. 1960 Chevrolet El Camino Custom Pickup, sold for US$126,500 in 2017
This one-of-a-kind 1960 Chevrolet El Camino Custom Pickup sold for US$126,500 in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2017. Nearly every piece of this vehicle has been customized, from its GM ZZ 502ci crate engine with a Ram Jet fuel-injection system to its fully custom leather interior and highly detailed and painted undercarriage.
8. 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup, sold for US$121,000 in 2014
This gem of a vehicle, a 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Custom Pickup, sold for US$121,000 in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2014. The truck is completely rebuilt, keeping nothing but the body from the original vehicle. It was built from the ground up beginning with a high-strength chassis complete with a four-link setup, chrome 9-inch Currie rear end with 3.70 gears and a Detroit Tru-Trac differential. A look inside reveals a white leather interior with black accents, added air conditioning and green-tinted glass.
9. 1971 Chevrolet C-10 Custom Pickup, sold for US$110,000 in 2014
This 1971 Chevrolet C-10 Custom Pickup, lovingly called “Adel” by its previous owners, sold for US$110,000 in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2014. After being donated to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, the truck was rebuilt and customized to be sold on behalf of the foundation. It features a Chevrolet Performance LS3 E-ROD “connect and cruise” powertrain with a 430-horsepower LS3, 4L65-E transmission, transmission attachment hardware and Chevrolet Performance controller kit. Additional components include Odyssey Batteries, a complete air ride suspension from Ridetech, BeCool radiator system and Goodmark Industries body panels.
