1965 Chevrolet C10

Description

Old pickups are just plain fun and don't need to be perfect to fill their role. Take this 1965 Chevy C10 pickup, for example. It's got a bit of patina on the period-correct paint, a functional bed, and a rumbling 350 cubic inch V8 that neatly balances power and economy, all for a price that's easy to handle. Now how hard is it to imagine yourself driving this truck every day? Not very, I bet.

That bright turquoise green paint is what you pick when you care about keeping a period look. It'll always look good, it'll never go out of style, and it's the kind of color that you will turn around and admire in a parking lot as you walk away. Refinished in January of 2013, the two-tone combination seems to emphasize the details in the C10 bodywork, including the crease that starts at the grille and wraps around the body, as well as that ultra-cool cab-top "wing" with its own chrome stanchions. Then there's the side trim that adds interest without resorting to cheesy graphics and instead ties it together in a very OEM fashion. Top it off with a lot of bright chrome, a nicely finished oak bed, and an honest face, and yeah, this is definitely a truck you could drive every day for a long, long time.

It'll be easy to get comfortable inside, too, with a simply and tastefully upholstered interior that is as timeless as the bodywork. Just a simple bench seat with neutral black vinyl, matching carpets, and neat door panels that tie it all together perfectly. The dash has been repainted to match the body, and all of the gauges appear to be original. The column shifter now operates a TH350 3-speed automatic instead of the original PowerGlide 2-speed and the wheel is wrapped in black leather to make it easier to grab, kind of important since there's no power steering. It's otherwise pretty spartan, which is how pickup trucks used to be before they were fashion statements, although it would be easy to install the radio of your choice in the dash, which is the first project I'd tackle if this were my truck.

Reliability is ensured by a 350 cubic inch GM motor, the same one that has been powering rods and family cars for decades, and the formula flat-out works. Thanks to an Edelbrock carburetor, long-tube headers, and a mild camshaft, it makes great power to move the truck with real authority, but is happy to cruise at highway speeds or idle in rush-hour traffic without getting cranky. A few dress-up parts ensures that it matches the bodywork for eye-appeal, and all the components are easy to service and durable, perfect for a vehicle that doesn't mind doing a little work around the house. The suspension is pretty stock and having coil springs out back really makes a difference in ride quality and makes you wonder why they ever went back to leaf springs. A pleasant-sounding exhaust system is neatly tucked up into the body, and shiny aluminum wheels look great wrapped in 255/70/15 white letter radials.

So forget perfection and grab a truck that has a few bumps and bruises for a right price. You might just find out that it's a lot more fun and a lot more practical than you expected. Call today!