Vehicle Description
Here at Streetside Classics we're lucky enough to find some of the
coolest old trucks in the South, which coincidentally makes them
some of the coolest old trucks in the world, and this 1985
Chevrolet C10 is no exception. Coming from warm, sunny Texas - it's
clean and solid - and features a modern 5.3L Vortec V8 mated to an
automatic overdrive transmission, a host of choice options,
luxurious leather interior, and a killer (and intentional) 'patina'
paint job make it a whole lot nicer than your average vintage
pickup.
We're seeing more and more of 'Squarebody' trucks getting complete
makeovers, and someone obviously spend a good chunk of change
getting this Chevy one into tip-top shape. Fortunately, by the
looks of things, this short bed needed very little surgery (if any
- the Vehicle History Report shows zero accidents) to look this
good, and the builders made the right choice to go with a
deliberate, patina-style paint job. We could almost call it a
faux-patina, as all that that 'wear' and 'rust' you see was
purposely applied to whatever minor surface wear that was already
on this very solid truck, but what's important is that they made it
look fairly uniform and very unique, and then buried it underneath
a coat of clearcoat to seal it up for posterity. Sure, it's 100% a
driver, like any vintage truck with this kind of hardware should
be, but it looks just right whether pulling up at Home Depot or at
your favorite restaurant for a night out on the town. They builders
did things the right way and it's obvious that most (if not all) of
the trim was removed for the respray, blacked-out, and reinstalled
to add to its well-dressed look. The short bed and regular cab are
arguably the best combination for a truck that might still do some
work on weekends, and it gives the truck great proportions and a
purposeful look. And speaking of hauling, the bed is a wonderful
combination of beauty and brawn - where a utilitarian tailgate
matches the rest of the truck, and the interior of the bed was
lined with durable, black spray-in bedliner and left 'dusty' rather
than slathered in silicone. By the look of the inside of the bed,
this truck hasn't done much hauling in its life, as it's free from
any of the major dents or dings that are typically found in work
trucks. New headlight lenses are the perfect contrast to the 'old
beater' look, and the front chin spoiler, LS1 and Vortec MAX
badges, and bespoke 'Sandman Sand and Gravel' logo on the doors all
add to this Chevy's awesome curb appeal.
No sign of 'patina' inside though, where instead the builders
elected to line the cab with comfort and modern amenities. The
testament of a true restomod begins and ends with how the driver
feels behind the wheel, and because we've driven this Chevy a
couple times since she entered our inventory we can certainly
attest to the truck's comfort. That all starts with that
beautifully upholstered bench seat, stitched up with high-end
Saddle leather in a gorgeous pattern that's matched by the flanking
door panels, drop-in arm rest (complete with cup holders), and the
impeccably wrapped dash pad up ahead. and split by a matching
center console. Plush dark brown carpets line the cab floor and
insulate it from the outside world, and a taut suede headliner was
installed above with surrounding brown trim that really sets it
off. A leather-wrapped billet steering wheel mounted atop a tilt
column anchors the cockpit and feels great in the hands of the
driver, joined on the column by a chrome shifter that manages the
4L60E automatic transmission below. Beyond the steering wheel, the
instrument panel was filled with a full array of fresh-faced,
factory-spec gauges that keep an accurate eye on the modern block
under the hood, although an extra FAST air/fuel pressure gauge was
added below to supplement the stock units. The original radio was
swapped in favor of a Kenwood double-din, multi-media stereo that
fits neatly into the lower part of the dash and power a host of
upgraded speakers inside the kick panels and behind the bench seat.
Options include seatbelts, power windows and locks, cruise control,
and cold R134a A/C, rounding out the uber-comfortable cab.
Under the hood is a 5.3L Vortec LS V8 that was swapped-in so
seamlessly it looks like it always belonged. The modern,
fuel-injected horsepower is just about as impressive as the torque
curve, easily pulling this half-ton short bed anywhere it wants to
go, regardless of speed. Dressed to show-off in a simple, clean
Vortec engine cover, cold-air intake system, and a full complement
of newer belts, hoses, and tune-up parts throughout. Topped with a
modern ECU and lightning quick fuel-injection, the powerful small
block gets its fuel-air ratio instantly and with great aplomb,
stock exhaust manifolds at the flanks help it breathe, while an HEI
system and modern alternator ensure it cranks every time. Power
steering and power 4-wheel disc brakes with drilled and slotted
rotors are just what the doctor ordered for a truck this size, and
the custom dual exhaust system underneath sounds great breathing
through a set of FlowX mufflers with turn-downs that dump just
behind the rear axle. The undercarriage is clean and neatly coated
with satin black paint, with newer-looking shocks and springs that
help set the ride height. A 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission
shifts smoothly via the column shifter inside the cabin, and it's
more than capable of handling all that power as it spins heavy-duty
10-bolt rear end out back. 20-inch Eagle alloys are the perfect
modern touch, and they come wrapped in staggered 275/45/20 front
and 285/50/20 radials with plenty of grip.
Don't think too long or she'll be gone before you know it, pick up
the phone and call today!
