Vehicle 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 hardware will blow you away when you see it in person. Add in a
fully functional bed, a sweet-running stroker motor, 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.
This truck combines a familiar look with a bit of patina with
all-new high-performance running gear, and we like the contrast a
great deal. The sheetmetal is in great 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, and you can make a big impact with
just a simple lowering job and the right wheels. Fit and finish are
pretty good, with straight gaps and body panels that were
well-prepped, although the paint is showing some age and use, but
honestly, that's OK with us. All the stock exterior trim remains in
place and in good original condition and the white top adds a retro
vibe that works especially well on these trucks. The bed is a
little dinged up, but that means you can use it without worrying
about scratching some perfect wooden floor, and it's equipped with
a set of bed rails that not only look good but are handy for
securing your cargo.
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 still in place, now wearing an updated seat
cover with comfortable diamond-pleated cloth inserts. The
instrument panel is still there, full of original gauges, and
they're augmented by a tach strapped to the steering column,
something you'll appreciate once you see how quickly the stroker
motor revs. They kept the original steering wheel and column
shifter for the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, which is a
great way to make this truck look subtle, and it's ready for an
entertainment system upgrade, because the radio has sung its last
song. With plush carpets, heavy-duty floor mats, and correct door
panels, it's quite easy to spend a lot of time inside.
Under the hood is a snappy, raucous 383 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 big Holley
double-pumper and an aluminum intake manifold and cylinder heads.
There's a mild cam inside, so it's not overly aggressive, but with
endless reserves of torque, it'll melt the treads off those fat
rear tires. The block wears black 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: a giant
radiator, Optima battery, and a modern dual reservoir master
cylinder. 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 275/40/18 Nitto performance
radials on a set of slick Ridler 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!