1971 Chevrolet C10

Description

A lot of dealers say "Must see!" in their ads, but this 1971 Chevrolet C10 stepside pickup is one of those cases where it probably matters. While the photos show a handsome turquoise truck, the actual finish will blow you away when you see it in person. Add in a beautiful wooden bed, a sweet-running small block, and an interior that looks a lot more civilized than you'd expect, and you have what is essentially a muscle car with a bed.

The odometer shows just 828 miles since this truck was completed, so it's still extremely fresh. The sheetmetal is in exemplary condition, indicative of an easy life somewhere warm, and the build gives it a brand-new lease on life. We see a lot of these trucks, and it's clear that they're becoming A-list collectables, but when you shave the door handles, remove the emblems, and smooth the rear end, well, you get something that goes beyond just a mere pickup truck . Fit and finish is excellent, with straight gaps and body panels that were well-prepped before the two-stage urethane went on. The original grille was ditched and replaced with a billet piece, and the taillights are a row of LEDs neatly tucked just above the rear roll pan. The bulging stepside fenders always lend an aggressive, muscle-bound look, and this truck is no exception, although the wood-lined bed is so gorgeous that you'll probably think twice about hauling anything in it.

The interior keeps everything that's great about these trucks but dumps anything that screams "pickup truck" too loudly. That means the factory bench is in a dumpster somewhere and a pair of period-perfect buckets with a console between them was used in its place. The instrument panel is still there, but it's full of Dakota digital instruments now, and the steering wheel has been upgraded to a fat, small-diameter billet piece that works with the truck's sporty demeanor. THis is an original factory air-conditioned truck, but all the components are new and use R134a refrigerant for reliability, and a new AM/FM/CD head unit has been fitted in the original radio's location. A B&M shifter manages the TH350 3-speed automatic underneath, and with carpets and fresh door panels, it's quite easy to spend a lot of time inside.

Under the hood is a snappy, raucous 327 cubic inch V8 that seems to think it lives in a Camaro. Seriously over-achieving, it moves the tidy pickup with an aggressive attitude thanks to a 650 Holley double-pumper and a chrome Edelbrock intake. The block wears a coat of Chevy Orange paint that shows well with all that chrome around it, and it's obvious that someone built this as a runner, because the smart upgrades are all there: an aluminum radiator, billet pulleys, and a modern dual reservoir master cylinder, polished, of course. Power steering and front disc brakes are included, and with a pair of Flowmasters mufflers, the soundtrack is definitely part of the fun. The suspension was tastefully lowered just enough to fill the wheel wells with fat 275/40/20 Goodyear Eagle radials on a set of chrome American Racing alloys.

This is a fantastic example of how to do it right. Not excessive in any regard, it's a nicely balanced package that is as fast as it is handsome. Call today!