Vehicle Description
Cool classic trucks like this 1965 Chevrolet C10 4x4 make for ideal
hobby vehicles. With a late-model chassis underneath and old-school
looks on top, it does everything you want an old truck to do but
with a lot fewer hassles. The fact that it looks great and runs
like the factory built it this way are merely icing on the
cake.
If you have a stepside C10 from the '60s, you'll probably be
shocked to learn that it's such a neat fit on an '80s K10 chassis,
but here's the proof. At a glance, it looks like the factory built
it, and that's purely intentional. They kept all the bodywork stock
to give it that 1965 look, complete with the period-perfect
two-tone paint job in seafoam green and white. The dramatically
styled Chevy C10 pickups were some of the most handsome on the road
back then and if you want attention, this truck will definitely
deliver. The bodywork is nicely done, but not so perfect as to
erase the fact that this is still a truck that's willing to work.
Gaps are about the way the factory would have done things and the
paint has a soft shine that's quite appropriate and would really
wake up with a buff job. The stepside bed gives it a muscular look
and the cab has that small winglet up top; I don't know what it is
supposed to do, but it sure looks cool. Add in some recently
re-chromed bumpers, a factory grille, and a new wood bed that's
nice but not too nice to haul stuff, and you get a truck that does
everything well.
The interior is still basic, but the upgrades are visible
throughout. The black bench seat has cloth inserts to make it more
comfortable on long hauls and the tilt steering column is obviously
a perk of using a late-model chassis. On the other hand, the
original gauges behind a single plate of Plexiglas remain fully
functional monitoring the later engine. The original AM radio is in
the dash, but a cool cruiser like this probably deserves an upgrade
and the floor-mounted shifter for the 2-speed transfer case looks
like it was born there. Black carpets on the floor help control
noise and heat better than you'd expect in a vintage pickup, but
we'll admit that it's still pretty Spartan. But that's the look and
it works really well.
The late-model chassis is from an '80s K10 pickup, and that
included a great-running 350 cubic inch V8. Not dramatically
modified, it sports a 4-barrel carburetor on an aluminum intake
manifold, but they were careful to keep it closer to its production
roots rather than choosing a lot of modifications. Finned valve
covers and Chevy Orange paint brighten things up in a good way, and
you'll note there's a big aluminum radiator up front to keep things
nice and cool. The late-model swap also includes power steering and
power front disc brakes, both welcome safety upgrades. For
cruising, there's a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and the
burbling dual exhaust sounds suitably throaty. Newer shocks and
mono-leaf front springs tame the ride quality to make this truck a
pleasure to drive and the late-model Rally wheels and big
32x11.50-15 off-road radials look exactly right.
A cool old pickup with a bit of a modern flair makes for a very
usable package. Drive it, show it, take it to work, there's nothing
this truck doesn't do well. Call today!
