Vehicle Description
1980 Chevrolet C30 Custom Deluxe Long Bed Pickup
"The Chevrolet C30 was a variant of the 3rd Gen C/K that was
introduced for the 1973 model year. The C30, which was a 1 ton,
rear wheel drive pickup truck, was offered with a wide range of
engine options. These engines included inline six, V6, and V8 units
whose power ranged from 105hp to 230hp, with drive sent to the rear
wheels through manual or automatic transmissions. Starting in 1987,
Chevrolet changed the name of the C30 to the R30, in order to avoid
any confusion with the forthcoming Fourth Generation Chevrolet C/K.
Production of the 3rd Gen C30 lasted until 1991."
Thxclassic.com
For consignment, a 1980 Chevrolet C30 Custom Deluxe long bed pickup
truck from the great state of Nevada, showing an unverifiable
20,940 miles as the title reads Mileage Exempt, and after serving
the government there, ended up in Pennsylvania in 2015. Its
distinctive color means it likely was in service within BLM lands
(that's Bureau of Land Management) or other public lands of which
there are many in Nevada where the entire population is just over
three million.
Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by
the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws
to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public
highways in your area.*
Exterior
Forest Service Green kind of says it all, since it's not a color
typically seen on civilian cars. But eventually, these government
vehicles are put out of service and occasionally offered as surplus
to the general population. And having been retired for at least 10
years, the truck retains some patina that you'd expect on a work
truck, or at least one that's left government work. This square
body is rough around the edges and is ready for enlistment in your
backyard brigade. The single stage paint shows blemishes
throughout, scratches, scuffs, chips, surface rust, and an oddly
colored dinged and dented tailgate. Fantastic! A heavy duty diamond
steel bumper with a hitch is out back and a tonneau covers the bed
and we don't think that's government issue. The Chevy hubcaps on
the 16.5-inch steel wheels are just right, and an exhaust tip
protrudes behind each rear wheel. Trailer mirrors take up a good
portion of the doors and the flat nose with eggcrate grille leads
the way with a slight aggression. The bed itself is covered with
surface rust and the walls tell the story of heavy use. It's all
perfectly imperfect and we wouldn't change a thing!
Interior
Pretty rough here too with plastic door cards that show age and
tell all kinds of stories, some of which are probably classified.
The green paint spills into the interior where the government did
not spend extra tax dollars to make it luxurious, or even stylish,
on the interior. The vinyl bench seat is definitely from the era
and shows a large rip on the driver's side. A standard steering
wheel looks fresh from the field and shares its column with a Sun
Tach tachometer, leading to the black plastic instrument cluster
that stepped right out of 1980. There's also an AM/FM radio and a
three pack auxiliary gauge cluster mounted under the dash. The dash
pad is faded and heavily cracked but fear not, there's lots of
aftermarket support for these trucks and new dash pads can be
bought, but likely not in Forest Service Green. A manual shifter
rises from the floor which is coated with aging rubber covering.
The roof is shiny and green above our heads, some of the nicest
paint on the truck!
Drivetrain
Here's where we find the boss, a 454ci LE8 V8 in a bay that is
driver quality and relatively clean. In the time our consignor has
had it, it's received a new carburetor, belts, hoses, a tune up,
and full exhaust beginning with headers. He does recommend new
valve guide seals. A Saginaw SM465 4-speed manual sends power
rearward to a 14 bolt semi-floating axle with 4.10 gears.
Meanwhile, power disc brakes are found in the front with power
drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
Between the LT series tires, we find a driver quality underside
with generally clean conditions. Some build up by the wheels,
minimal surface rust, and no leaks we could detect. The exhaust is
indeed fresh and includes stainless steel mufflers, but no
catalytic converters are present. Coil springs are up front and
suspension is served by leaf springs out back, more heavy duty than
your C10.
Drive-Ability
The big 454 started right up and the exhaust let everyone know with
a healthy growl. The truck almost feels lightweight when you step
on the gas as the V8 carries the pickup with more than adequate
power. The truck tracks well and the ride height allows for great
visibility while the tonneau cover provides some aerodynamics at
speed, probably. The radio doesn't work and we're no conspiracy
theorists, but we think a GS-15 employee probably had it
disconnected when new. Anyway, all other functions on the truck
worked as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that
these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we
cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of
your purchase.
About 90 minutes north of Las Vegas is the Pahranagat National
Wildlife Refuge and in the wintertime, Bald Eagles gather at this
desert oasis around the man made lake. It's entirely possible that
trucks like this one were utilized in this incredible, wild spot.
Trucks tasked with such jobs have to be reliable and capable and
the green paint means that it was likely well maintained during its
tenure with the government but it's not ready to retire yet.
Pension be damned, put this truck to work in the private
sector!
CCW34AZ108800
C-Chevrolet
C-Conventional Cab
W-454ci 4bbl LE8 V8
3-1 Ton
4-Pickup
A-1980
Z-Fremont, CA Assy Plant
108800-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
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