1966 Chevrolet C10

Description

You see a lot of what we call "resto-mods" these days, vehicles that have ostensibly been upgraded to make them more functional without losing the spirit of the original. And that's all good, but so many of them just go too far and erase all that's wonderful about an old vehicle. We would submit that this 1966 Chevrolet C10 pickup is the very best kind of "resto-mod," a truck that's still very much standing in 1966 with a few upgrades that make it daily-driver friendly.

We're guessing that's original paint on this truck, and if not, it's old and still holding up well. Whatever the case, we like the look, just a bit of patina but nice enough that nobody will ask, "When are you going to paint that thing?" It looks like an old truck should look and the silver is an unusual color that suits this old workhorse just fine. The mid-60s Chevy trucks are stylish enough to make folks stop and stare as they drive by and a subtle pinstripe highlighting the crease that wraps around the hood adds a little class. It's definitely no-frills, with minimalist detailing, a painted bumper, and a stepside bed, but that's all part of the appeal and reinforces the old truck feeling that we were talking about earlier. The wood in the bed is ancient and has some issues, but again, is that part of the charm or a defect? I suspect it depends on who you ask. A pair of tubular steps make it easy to clamor into the cab and there's a heavy-duty bumper out back with a hitch, just in case you need to get some work done with your old truck.

The interior has obviously had a makeover, most notably a set of comfortable bucket seats from a late-model flanking a custom-built center console. Carpets on the floor help with noise and heat, but the metal door panels and oversized steering wheel remind you that this is a working-class vehicle from the past. Factory gauges are clearly original and unrestored with all the major functions being monitored by a set of aftermarket dials underneath. We also note with some interest that even in 1966, turn signals were not standard equipment in Chevy pickup trucks, so there's an aftermarket setup strapped to the column. There's a Kenwood AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo system in the dash and it sounds quite good thanks to the more plush surroundings and the shifter was custom built to manage the upgraded transmission underneath (more on that in a moment).

No, there's no small block V8 under the hood, that's the original 230 cubic inch "Stovebolt" six which has been there from day one. It's shockingly smooth and torquey, with a great six-cylinder soundtrack that's quite different than what you'd expect. It has an old-fashioned feel, which is exactly what we're talking about when we say we want to preserve that original integrity, although it's enhanced by a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission that allows it to cruise at modern highway speeds with ease. We're not sure that it's ever been out of the truck but it runs great and doesn't need anything to be enjoyed right away. Underneath, it's totally original, so the factory suspension feels suitably trucky, although the coils out back ride better than you'd expect. A custom exhaust system with dual glasspack-style mufflers sounds snarky and it sits on painted steel wheels with white painted center caps and trim rings for a truly old-school look. Recent 235/75/15 blackwall radials have been fitted and they're definitely tall enough to fill those big fenders.

This is a fun resto-mod that preserves everything we love about old pickups and adds a few details that simply makes it more inviting. Call today!