Vehicle Description
Who didn't want one of these trucks, lifted and sitting tall, back
when they were new? Well, it's time to relive the past with this
absolutely dialed-in 1979 Chevrolet K10 Silverado 4x4 pickup, which
has recently enjoyed a rather significant makeover. Powered by 350
V8 Blueprint crate motor matched to an upgraded overdrive automatic
transmission, it's loaded with options and wrapped in a gorgeous
two-tone paint job wrapped around a supremely comfortable A/C
interior with a Southwestern motif. Yeah, this big Chevy truck is
very impressive. With in-your-face looks and go-anywhere
capabilities, it's got the hardware to scale a mountain and the
curb appeal to dominate the car show circuit. They don't get much
cleaner than this...
Wearing a period-perfect color combination that really encapsulates
the era from which this truck hails, this K10 looks like a million
bucks. The roof and center shade is called Chevrolet Neutral, not a
very inventive name but tan/beige/off-white monikers never really
are, while the contrasting color looks to be a cross between
Buckskin/Saddle/Camel. Regardless of the nomenclature, the colors
are the perfect complement to the rough-and-rugged 1979 K10 body,
and the truck looks like it was practically pulled straight from
"No Country from Old Men". It was repainted just a handful of years
and only 1,784 miles ago, and judging from the details and the
hard-to-reach areas of the body, these were this truck's original
colors. You can't argue with how good the combination looks on the
clean, chiseled lines of the K10 and the finish quality is on-par
with the higher-end build quality of the rest of the truck. It's
shiny, well-applied, and covering some very straight sheetmetal,
but at the same time, it's not so impeccably flawless that you're
afraid to use this truck to its full potential. It's a top-end
driver-quality rig, likely nicer than what you'd find in 1979
(these trucks were notoriously rushed through the factory and
didn't have the cleanest of paint jobs when they were new), but
it's not some trailer queen that's afraid to get dirty out on the
trail. There's lots of shiny trim to accentuate the paint job,
including the billet-style front grille and headlight surrounds up
front, the factory stainless moldings on the sides of the body,
oversized bumpers fore and aft, and the super-cool chrome roll bar
mounted in the bed. And speaking of that long bed, it's been
fortified with a spray-in bedliner, just in case you're hauling,
say, your collection of bowling balls or a grizzly bear, and a
full-size spare was mounted back there in case of emergencies.
Fresh lights and lenses give it a more updated look, too, and the
chrome step bars, oversized side mirrors, and big exhaust pipes
that jut out from under the rear bumper all add further sparkle to
this vintage rig.
The Saddle interior is mostly stock and for 1979, you'll be
impressed by the luxury accommodations. The wide bench seat wears a
new leather cover that's in great shape, with a super-cool
Southwestern design embedded inside the high-end material. The
ornate door panels feature Western scroll accents around the
handles, the dash pad is crack-free and looks new as well, and the
plush carpets below are protected with heavy-duty vinyl mats. This
truck offers great options, including a modern A/C system, cruise
control, dual fuel tanks (with a dash-mounted switch), and a
later-model leather steering wheel mounted atop the tilt steering
column, so it's hardly vintage-feeling from behind the wheel. A new
retro-sound AM/FM/AUX stereo lives in the dash, and all the gauges
and the bezels that surround them look like newer pieces, too,
giving the cabin a fresh feel. Tinted windows add privacy,
seatbelts add safety, the taut headliner above insulates the cabin
fully, and the sliding rear window lets in a cool breeze whenever
the A/C is not needed.
The condition of the sparkling engine bay suggests that while this
truck looks off-road ready, it hasn't spent much time there in the
1,784 miles since this beauty was built. The 350 cubic inch V8
Blueprint crate motor was Dyno'd at 366 horsepower and 411 lb-ft of
torque, so it has plenty of get-up and go despite the truck's
considerable weight. The engine sports a bunch of chrome and
polished pieces, including polished finned valve covers, bright
brackets and pulleys, a Blueprint air cleaner, and ceramic-coated
long-tube headers. Further improvements include an Edelbrock
4-barrel carburetor and a performance intake manifold, an HEI
ignition system, aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, and a
growling dual exhaust system. Backed by a freshly converted 700R4
4-speed automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case, the
driveline is tough enough to handle just about anything, yet still
civilized enough to be driven regularly. While you're under there,
check out the lift kit with dual shocks at each corner, a Tuff
Country steering stabilizer, and heavy-duty axles (10-bolt up
front; 12-bolt in the rear), and an undercarriage that shows of
tons of work. Of course, a truck like this wouldn't be possible
without power steering and power front disc brakes, so despite its
size it's relatively easy to maneuver in traffic. Great-looking
Rallye wheels with bright beauty rings and center caps suite the
truck's personality and carry mammoth 33x12.50-15 BFGoodrich
All-Terrain meats that look like they'll climb a wall.
A very cool truck with the perfect amount of modifications and a
killer classic look. Admit it, you thought K10s were cool when you
were a kid, and who's to say anything has changed. You want it, all
you have to do is call!
