Brian took a safe swing today with the Ford wrecker. Does it tick all of the right check marks? Of course, and it’s in decent shape to boot. While I struggle to understand how someone who speaks with a Boston accent has such an irrational desire to be Cooter from The Dukes of Hazzard, you have to appreciate his thought process behind the choice: that truck worked it’s ass off for years, was taken care of all that time, and could still head out and go do work. It’s the same reason that we like old tractors around here. But there’s a lot of people who don’t want to drive an old tractor all day. While the Ford can work, it’s geared deeper than the Mariana Trench, so unless you’re cruising around a residential neighborhood in 4th gear, your fuel mileage can best be described with a sad face emoticon. Sure, the 292 sounds mean when you’re rowing through the gears, but wouldn’t you get frustrated when after winding out the engine and shifting near redline three times you realize that you’re only doing 45 mph?

So, in the spirit of an actually useful truck, let’s take a look at this 1953 Chevrolet. This sweet little truck is coming out of Houston, Texas, so rust and rot was a minimal concern before the truck was restored. The paint is fresh, the brightwork looks good, and the wood-lined semi-flatbed goes great with the overall vibe of the truck. The owner says that the Chevy is powered by a Cadillac engine, though which particular one isn’t mentioned. Regardless of displacement, there should be plenty enough torque to turn the four rear tires into a nice cloud of smoke at will. Inside the truck is basic without being a penalty box. Vintage Air A/C is a pleasant addition and Classic Industries gauges keep an eye on everything.

Are there faults? Nothing that would sway a purchase: the steering wheel would go away for something a little more period-correct, the engine would be re-detailed and most of the chrome dress-up would be ditched, and the Chevy would look great on a set of Alcoa wheels. But those are matters of personal taste. When the owner is up front about taking a small bath on the sale of the truck, you have to jump, and with all of the heavy lifting done, this Chevy would make for a great alternative to some plasticky new truck.

eBay Link: 1953 Chevrolet Flatbed Dually