When it comes to hot-rodded trucks, the image of a cool cruiser or a straight-line terror usually comes to mind. There are not many hot rodders that choose to build a hot hauler that can be the ultimate cruiser that can take on any corner in a hard-charging fashion and laugh on the way out. That is unless that truck is Ryan LeBlanc’s 3100 Chevy.

When you first see Ryan’s 3100 pickup, the exterior appearance might lull you into thinking this is an exceptionally well-built show pony. Well, it is exceptional in its construction, but it’s more than a showstopper — thanks to Total Cost Involved (TCI). But before we get into that, we need to introduce you to the truck itself.

The project began when Ryan contacted Donnie Hall of Streamline customs. Ryan was interested in having a ’50 Chevrolet truck as his next ride and after seeing what the guys at Streamline could do, the decision was made to build what many would call the ultimate 3100 Chevy truck.

The project began when Streamline procured an all-new steel body from Premier Street Rods. Just because it’s a new body doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a few tweaks and changes here and there. Did you notice the frenched headlights? They really set off the front end. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the ’50s, bumpers were an eyesore. Streamline remedied that condition by tweaking and cutting a custom set to fit snugly against the cab and bed.

That new metal is mounted to a TCI chassis that offers both performance and reliability. The frame features taller-than-stock main rails for increased rigidity and clearance between upper and lower crossmembers while retaining the original profile. The front suspension is engineered for enhanced drivability and a broader range of alignment adjustments. TCI has re-engineered the original spring towers to utilize a vertical metal plate for mounting the upper control arms. This new design allows easy camber and caster adjustments via shims instead of alignment slots. This design eliminates the T-bolt design that was prone to slipping and thereby altering your alignment.

Opening the door and looking at the interior, the attention to detail is readily apparent. Streamline has its own upholstery shop and covered the bucket seats and custom console with distressed leather. The distressed look is a great compliment to the custom brown exterior. In 1950, the designers at Chevrolet never imagined a truck looking this good — and modern.

Ryan’s truck is the perfect blend of old and new as well as show and go. What’s more, it was something he wanted and received as a 40^th birthday present. We could all be lucky to have such a happy birthday.