Vehicle Description
We get a lot of these clean mid-80s 'Square Body' Chevy pickups,
and they're always cool, clean vintage American machines. But every
so often, one like this 1986 Chevrolet C10 Silverado short-bed
shows up and smacks us around a bit. This nicely restored Box Chevy
truck is every bit as clean and functional as the others, but it
packs a fresh 350 V8 crate motor under the hood that makes it more
muscle car than utilitarian hauler, and a host of options that mean
it handle the rigors of regular driving. Oh, and it happens to look
pretty darn slick too, with curb appeal that easily draws a crowd
wherever it goes.
While we tend to overlook trucks in our everyday life, this C10 is
very attention-grabbing in its bright white livery. Maybe it's the
way the black and chrome accents make it look a bit sinister, or
how aggressive the stance on those wheels looks, but it seems like
a tough worker and a clean cruiser all at once. It's pretty obvious
that this one has been personal transportation since it was new,
which is especially unique as a regular cab model from this era,
and most of its hauling was probably limited to personal gear and
helping friends move. As a result, its top driver-quality bodywork
looks clean and laser straight, with a great shine that will really
stand out when it's pulling up to Home Depot or the local car show.
Of course, things like the white-and-chrome grille and shiny
bumpers certainly help, not to mention the way the body sits on top
of the blacked-out wheels wrapped in fat tires. All the stock trim
remains in place, too, so this isn't some custom piece of
questionable taste, and nobody will know anything about it beyond
what you want to show. The finish is really much nicer than you'd
expect from a Square Body from this era, a testament to how much
the owner's babied this truck through the years, and it does carry
a durable spray-in bed liner just in case you still want to use it
as a truck.
The stock bench seat interior gives nothing away, either. That's a
newer factory-style maroon seat cover on the seat, and it matches
the plush, maroon carpets underneath and the factory door panels at
the flanks, all of which are in great condition. Options like R134a
A/C, a tilt steering column, dual fuel tanks, and a tinted big rear
window with sliding glass make it a pleasure to drive even when
you're not using that powerful 350 to its full potential. A flashy,
leather-rimmed aftermarket steering wheel includes polished
aluminum pieces that match the polished accents on the dash, and
because this is a column shift automatic and has responsive power
steering, it's a breeze to manage down the road. Factory gauges are
still in place and monitor the crate motor up ahead, the
wrap-around maroon dash pad is crack-free, and thick, vinyl floor
mat protects the plush carpets underneath and makes clean-up a
breeze. It also received an upgraded AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo in the
dash, as well as power windows and power locks to round out the
all-business interior.
All that's pretty nice, but the thing that got our attention with
this one is the 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood that was installed
approximately 3,500 miles ago. Complete with heavy-duty hardware
like a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, MSD
ignition, and a set of long-tube headers, it runs like it's 800
pounds lighter than it is. It looks fairly stock with just a little
added flash, which is entirely the point, and the Chevrolet Orange
open-element air cleaner and matching orange valve covers tend to
show off a bit and give away the secret. However, other gear looks
bone stock, like the accessory drive, A/C system, wires and hoses,
and other ancillary pieces. A smooth-shifting 700R4 4-speed
automatic works hard behind the lopey V8 motor, sending power to
the original 10-bolt rear end that's filled with highway-friendly
gears and protected by a Summit differential cover. The upgraded
exhaust system uses a throaty chambered muffler that sounds great,
and even though the aggressive soundtrack might give things away,
you can't argue with the killer sound. Power steering and power
front disc brakes means driving is a pleasure, and upgraded
Bilstein shocks help with the handling. And those awesome 20-inch
Boss wheels wrapped in staggered 275/55/20 front and 305/50/20 rear
radials do a great job finishing the killer look without going too
overboard.
Nice truck? Absolutely. But if you're looking for something a
little beyond merely "nice" then this C10 is what you've been
looking for. Call today!
