1982 Chevrolet C10 Silverado

Description

You see a lot of 80s Chevy pickups at car shows and cruise nights around the country. But what you don't see are trucks like this 1982 Chevy Silverado, which has been treated to a frame-off restoration that would humble any concours show piece. To get a truck to this level takes a lot of money, yet here it is, complete with a price tag that wouldn't seem unreasonable on a truck that's half this nice. Wow.

Built by John King of "King Rods and Customs," this truck is simply spectacular. Fresh from the paint shop, the black urethane on this awesome C10 instantly made a lot of the other black vehicles around it look dusty gray. We don't use words like "perfect" and "flawless" around the shop because obviously no car is perfect, but the bodywork on this Chevy comes pretty darned close. The point is, someone spent time and money all out of proportion to the truck's value to get it to better-than-new condition in every conceivable way. Laser straight body panels, expert alignment and tight gaps, plus a shine that was color sanded and buffed into the surface so it looks like it's still wet. Those of you familiar with these trucks will note that there's been a subtle de-badging, and real Chevy experts will easily spot the badges on the fenders that were lifted from a 1962 Chevy C10 pickup. Original chrome bumpers, a very nice original grille, and a spray-in bedliner for the bed all add up to a truck that looks stock but is taken to an entirely different level.

The bright red interior is extremely clean and nothing looks better against black paint. A new bench seat cover replicates the stitching patterns of the factory equipment and duplicates it in supple, comfortable red perforated vinyl. They somehow created a matching dash pad door panels, complete with arm rests and door pulls in matching bright red, while keeping all the bright hardware. Factory gauges are crisp and bright, suggesting that maybe this truck was pretty nice before any of the work started, and they're all surrounded by a brushed stainless applique that brightens things up nicely. If you're going to restore one of these, it's also a good idea to get one that's loaded with options, so this pickup includes factory A/C, power windows and locks, a tilt column, and the original AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit. And they really did go the extra mile – even the seat hinges and headliner are red!

For power, this C10 uses a reliable 305 cubic inch V8 engine which was rebuilt about 9000 miles ago. They kept it pretty stock to ensure reliability, and the torquey V8 makes plenty of power in the relatively lightweight short bed pickup to be quite entertaining on the street. The engine bay is detailed like it was fresh off the assembly line, with only a set of finned valve covers to set it apart. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission feeds highway-friendly 2.92 gears out back, and the exhaust system has been modified to give it dual tailpipes and a great sound. It's every bit as clean underneath as it is up top and with dual gas tanks, cruising range is bladder-busting impressive. Factory Rally wheels with fat 235/75/15 blackwall radials set it apart by keeping things subtle.

Beautifully built, you just won't find a truck built to this level at this price anywhere else. If you think it can't possibly be as nice as it seems, just come see it and you'll understand. Call today!