Vehicle Description
Here at Streetside Classics, we're often able to spot trends before
they become widespread, just by watching what our inventory does.
And lately, exciting 'Action Line' trucks like this dialed-in 1970
Chevrolet C10 Custom have been red hot on the market, perhaps
suggesting that these handsome trucks are finally coming into their
own as legitimate collector pieces. Of course, it's hard to argue
against them when they look this good and still offer a great
measure of practicality that most hobby vehicles can't touch.
The short bed/regular cab setup is by far the most popular today,
combining rugged good looks with the most compact and lightweight
body style. This handsome C10 originally came from the factory in
code 504 Medium Olive and today is finished in a pretty close -
light green matte paint that continues to complement it's
squared-off body-style perfectly, and although the driver-quality
paint job is far from perfect, it really looks like a million bucks
when it's bombing down Main Street. That butch-look reaches back
into the '50s and '60s when single cab trucks were all the rage,
and the slightly lowered stance updated the curb appeal on this C10
into the 21st Century. This one features plenty of dress-up items
that keep that green color from getting bland, including the bright
chrome bumpers fore and aft, a gorgeous original grille, and that
doubled-up side trim and body molding that's not often seen on the
profiles of restored C10s these days (partly because all that
brightwork is so expensive). But it breaks ups the paint just
right, especially with the optional black inner channels on the
lower molding that's typical of Custom Cab C10s. Smoke-tinted glass
adds to the allure, as do the clear headlights/taillights at the
bookends, and the and the embossed CHEVROLET letters on the
tailgate are a traditional touch that works rather well. The fully
refinished bed shows little indications that it was ever used to
haul heavy, sharp stuff, a tradition you'll probably want to
maintain once you get it home, but if you do choose to put it to
work it's been sprayed with color-matched bedliner material that
not only protects the metal from abuse but also finishes off this
C10 perfectly.
In the same way the exterior has been given a modest makeover to
disguise the truck's blue-collar roots, the same can be said inside
where you'll find a very comfortable cloth bench and matching door
panels complete with Custom/Cheyenne style woodgrain applique and
Western scroll accents. Black carpets on the floors insulate the
cabin far better than any stock vinyl would, and in concert with
black pad atop the color-matched metal dash, the cabin feels far
more elegant and comfortable than you'd expect from a hard-working
hauler of this vintage. The factory gauges are simply gorgeous and
are aided by a full array of auxiliary instruments under the dash
that keep a good eye on the engine's operation, including a
white-faced tachometer strapped to the steering column that minds
the revs. A fat-rimmed, 3 spoke steering wheel is a great upgrade
over the original unit and feels incredible in the hands of the
driver, and it's joined on the column by a shifter that manages the
TH350 3-speed automatic transmission below. Sit back, pop it in
gear, throw your arm around your significant other and go make some
people jealous at the cruise-in. Other 'amenities' (at least they
were for the time, of course) include a set of seatbelts and a
factory heater, while entertainment is vastly improved via the Sony
Xplod AM/FM/CD head unit in the dash and the upgraded speakers in
the doors that it manages, although it looks like it might need a
little service to get it working properly again. And although
there's no A/C, the rear window does slide open, meaning airflow is
not restricted resulting in a very comfortable cabin
experience.
Sometime simple is better, and the mechanicals in this truck have
proven themselves over the years. But sometimes adding a dash of
spice to that simple recipe transform the experience completely, as
is the case with the very strong 350 V8 Crate motor under the hood
of this C10. Augmented with GM Performance heads, Hooker long-tube
headers, and a stout Holley 4-barrel carburetor atop a GM
Performance intake, the small block has plenty of performance, but
it's not so overwrought with torque and power that it's a burden to
drive on a lazy Sunday. Basically, it's an ideal cruiser with
plenty of firepower available should anyone care to tussle a bit at
the red light. Dressed neatly with black valve covers and a tall
open-element chrome air cleaner, it's obvious this truck has always
been cared for, and with the uber-clean look of the freshened
hoses, wiring, and big aluminum radiator up front, the owner built
this C10 to drive regularly. A modern power steering system and
upgraded power front disc brakes add to that end, as they are the
perfect additions to a vehicle weighing nearly 4000 pounds.
Although, to be fair, it drives like a much smaller machine, and
the A-arm front end, coil spring rear suspension, heavy-duty
shocks, and trailing arms all definitely improve ride quality. The
transmission is a smooth-shifting TH350 3-speed automatic spinning
what could easily be the original heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end, so
if it's a forest you wish to pull out of the ground, this C10
should be capable. Always classic 15-inch Rally wheels with bright
beauty rings and center caps are the perfect rolling stock for this
Green Machine, wrapped in fat 255/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear
Mastercraft white-letter radials that give the truck a sporty
look.
This C10 represents a great way to get into the hobby, and is a
practical way to drive a cool old vehicle for not a lot of money.
With values of these 'Action Line' pickups shooting through the
roof these days, make haste before this one is long gone. Call
today!
