Skip to main content

This is what $1.3 million worth of classic Chevy trucks looks like

The nine most expensive classic Chevrolet trucks to cross Barrett-Jackson
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’re a fan of the world-renowned Barrett-Jackson auction or simply a fan of vintage Chevrolet trucks, then you probably noticed that some customized classic Chevy trucks crossed the block, only to sell for some hefty prices.

But if you missed the last couple Barrett-Jackson auction, don’t worry. Chevy thought it would be a good idea to take a look back on some of the most expensive customized classic Chevy trucks ever to be sold at Barrett-Jackson in lieu of the auction last week. If you have a liking to some vintage Chevrolet trucks, particularly ones with a few mods, then you will love seeing these examples that sold for as much as some houses.

1971 Chevrolet C10 Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kicking off the list is this 1971 Chevrolet C10 Custom Pickup, which sold in 2014 for $110,000. It was originally donated to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. The C-10 then underwent an extensive restoration and was rebuilt with a list of new bits and pieces. Under the hood sits an LS3 crate motor with 430 horsepower, a four-speed 4L65-E automatic, Ridetech air suspension, a Be Cool cooling system, and custom body panels from Goodmark Industries.

1959 Chevrolet 3100 Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Next up is this 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Custom, which went in exchange for $121,000 when the final hammer smacked down in Scottsdale, Arizona. Rebuilt and modified from the ground up, it features a reinforced chassis with four-link suspension, a chromed-out 3.70 rear Detroit Truetrac differential, and a white leather interior with aftermarket air conditioning.

1960 Chevrolet El Camino Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Chevrolet El Camino is one of those trucks with a big cult following. More car than truck, the El Camino offered utilitarian practicality without the cumbersome driving experience of a truck … sort of. This specific example went for $126,500 in Palm Beach, Florida just this year. Everything was extensively refurbished or customized. Under the hood sits a GM ZZ 502 cu in crate V8 with a Ram Jet fuel injection system, and a completely custom leather interior.

1955 Chevrolet 3100 Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dating back to the 2006 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, this 1955 3100 Custom sold for $132,000. Believe it or not, there is some inflation missing when compared to 2017, with $132,000 in 2006 equaling about $164,300 in 2017 dollars. With a custom Kandy Orange exterior with a fully done-up tan leather interior, this 3100 was named as one of the top 50 trucks of the decade by Street Trucks Magazine. It also won various awards prior at Boyds Pro Pick in Scottsdale as well as other Super Chevy shows.

1955 Chevrolet Cameo Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This 1955 Cameo Custom crossed the 2013 Scottsdale auction, ringing in the invoice at $143,000, only to be sold for $132,000 a year later at the Las Vegas auction. With a two-tone Titanium Grey and Lipstick Red paint theme, and a completely redesigned interior with Dakota Digital VHX gauges, a tricked-out Kenwood stereo, and Billet Specialties wheels, it certainly is a truck to remember.

1957 Chevrolet C-6 Custom Pickup

Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of this custom Chevy truck’s claim to fame is that it took around 7,000 man-hours and a whole bunch of custom fabricated parts to make this 1957 C-6 Custom a reality. Once completed, it crossed the Las Vegas 2011 auction and sold for a solid $148,500. It features an LS3 402 cu in V8, a full C6 Corvette suspension setup, and a six-speed transaxle with Air Ride suspension. It won an award at SEMA for the best GM Design in 2009 and the Mothers Choice Award in 2010.

1957 Chevrolet Cameo

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This bright orange Cameo crossed the Scottsdale auction in 2007, selling for a cool $159,500. Busting out the inflation calculator again and that’s close to $194,500 in 2017 money. It’s party piece, aside from the Orange Pearl Paint, is a Big Block Chevy crate motor with 500 horsepower and a 400 four-speed automatic transmission with Electric Overdrive. The interior was also redone with leather all around, a refurbished original air conditioning system, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, and a decked-out 400-watt stereo.

1950 Chevrolet 3100 Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just this past year at the Scottsdale auction, this 1950 3100 Custom reeled in $205,700 when the hammer came down. Its chassis was extensively modified by TCI with independent front suspension and other tweaks. Powering this beast is a Chevy Performance Hot Cam LS3 crate motor good for around 500 horses, mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission. Of course the interior was also reworked with a new dash design, a custom-made bench seat, headliner, and door panels.

1957 Chevrolet 3100 Custom

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last but not least is this 1957 3100 Custom, colloquially known as “Quicksilver.” This took the 2014 Barrett-Jackson Cup winner, It sold for a whopping $214,500. That is almost as much as a brand-spankin’ new Aston Martin DB11. With a price like that, it means some special things happened while being rebuilt from the ground up. Everything on the truck was supposedly handmade, from the remolded body panels, to the 540-hp Big Block V8. Hence, it’s probably why it was named as “one of the finest truck builds of all times.”

Editors' Recommendations

Chris Chin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Since picking up his first MicroMachine, Chris Chin knew his passion for automobiles was embedded into his soul. Based in…
Tesla’s fix for faulty Cybertruck pedal is simpler than you might think
Tesla Cybertruck

Less than five months after handing over the first Cybertrucks to customers, Tesla has had to recall the electric pickup to fix an issue with the accelerator.

In a notice issued on Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the recall impacts Cybertruck vehicles manufactured from November 13, 2023, to April 4, 2024. This suggests that all -- or almost all -- of the 3,878 Cybertrucks being recalled are those that have been manufactured to date.

Read more
Ford Mustang Mach-E 2024 vs. Mach-E 2023: What’s new in Ford’s electric Mustang?
Blue Ford Mustang Mach-E on a rooftop

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is easily one of the best EVs for the price, offering a solid range, sleek design, and pretty good tech on the inside. In recent years, it has gotten even cheaper -- thanks in large part to a price war between it and the Tesla Model 3. And, the company just took the wraps off of the latest and greatest version of the Mach-E, labeled as the 2024 model.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E is notably different from the 2023 iteration in some meaningful ways. So much so that we decided to take a look at the two head-to-head -- to see if it was better to pay for the 2024 model or save some cash on any remaining 2023 stock.
Design
The Mustang Mach-E looks relatively unique -- in a good way. And thankfully, Ford has largely kept the overall design the same for the 2024 model, at least when it comes to the more consumer-focused models. The car retains the slatted taillights and crossover size. It also offers a large selection of colors, including the very blue Grabber Blue Metallic, as well as Rapid Red Metallic. It's a good selection of colors, and there should be an option for most buyers.

Read more
Tesla to begin production on new, more affordable models
Tesla Model 3

With competition increasing from Chinese and other automakers, Tesla boss Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that his company is planning to begin production of new, more affordable models in “early 2025, if not late this year.” Notably, that's earlier than the previously stated date of late 2025, though whether Musk actually succeeds in meeting the earlier production time frame is another question entirely.

The news came as Tesla released its latest quarterly figures. Revenue for the electric vehicle maker came in at $21.3 billion, down from the $23.3 billion it reported for the same three-month period a year earlier and also down from the $25.2 billion reported in the previous quarter. Profit reached $1.1 billion, marking a 55% fall compared to the same period a year ago.

Read more