Details are scarce in the description for this 1980 Chevrolet C10 pickup, a desirable “Big 10” model that is listed on a Chevy dealer website with just 1,381 original miles. The photos aren’t working as they should, so you’ll have to use your imagination at times if you check the pickup out here on the Joseph Chevrolet website. Fortunately, of the ones that are working, there’s no denying the sort of condition this pickup is in. Looking at the clean bodywork, gorgeous paint, perfect chrome, and tear-free interior tells you what you need to know – and the perfect “Big 10” graphics on the bed are the icing on the cake.
The Big 10 was a very clever way for Chevrolet to skirt newly-imposed catalytic convertor requirements for trucks of a certain GVW. Chevy and Ford both introduced models that just barely exceeded that threshold so as to offer models unencumbered by these new emissions standards. It was quite brilliant, actually, to do this, and the Big 10 models effectively remain quite desirable today. They’re hard to come by, however, especially in condition like this one is in. The interior is absolutely perfect, with the bench seat showing zero signs of use – and someone had to have sat in it to at least get it to the current mileage. The photos also show spotless paint and a bed that’s clearly never carried anything except showroom dust.
The steering wheel may not be eye-catching, but you can be sure that greasy hands dare not clutch it when moving the truck around the showroom. While this truck is already collectible for its low mileage, I’d argue the Big 10 trim is one of the few times an add-on package actually enhances the collectability. Knowing that its full-size 4×4 pickups would have no issue remaining above the cut-off for catalytic convertors, Chevy didn’t need to touch those trucks – but it knew plenty of shoppers looking for a lighter-duty 4×2 would still be eager to avoid the performance penalty of having a cat. Imagine that – catering to light-duty pickup truck shoppers – hopefully a concept we can return to, soon.
Nice truck, but note to staff, please don’t post these sellers, to see the pics, you have to go in their website, and they won’t stop bugging you. I’m amazed that this was the color of my truck. Like all these ultra low mile beauties, it’s not a new truck, and will nickel and dime you accordingly. In my usual candor, I can’t help but think, someone, again, with good intentions, plops down $35g’s, thinking they are getting a “new” 1980 truck, and then the fun begins.
“Nickel abd dime you”
I have a rust bucket 1978 Big10 that was resurrected from a 25 year snooze in a farm pasture. I can assure you there’s very little to be nickel and dime you on these trucks.
You’re going to replace parts, sure. But they’re all the same maintenance parts a truck that was driven all it’s life would need.
You wont be replacing rocker panels, floor panels, cab mounts, inner fenders, outer fenders, bed sides, bed floors, paint, wiring harnesses, etc
Hi Sean, you misunderstood. By “nickel and dime”, I meant on this particular truck, or any 40 year old vehicle with ultra low miles. Sitting is the kiss of death for seals, electrics, gaskets, fuel systems, brakes, a non-stop process. It’s true, AFTER all that, you shouldn’t have to do anything, but if you aren’t handy, ( and I’m sorry, people that spend big bucks on these, generally aren’t too handy, except for pulling out their pocketbook) one could add thousands to the cost of the vehicle, paying someone to do that stuff. My ’77 GMC sat for a while, and I had to replace EVERYTHING on the motor. Carb, starter, fuel pump, water pump, P/S pump, heater motor, all from sitting, but now, it’s as dependable as it was in 1977.
What Howard said: When you go to their website they ask you to take a quiz. Too bad it’s a long bed truck. A collector or just someone like me who likes old trucks isn’t going to buy this truck to use for work, so the long bed is a negative in this case. Years ago I was looking for a used truck and I looked at a used Big 10 that was this same color combination. It had been well used and abused, and the price didn’t reflect the condition, so I passed on it.
I went to the dealer website and I didn’t have to take a quiz. I’d like to think I’d have passed, though. Regardless, while it’s interesting, I wouldn’t buy this truck for $30K, even if it has really low miles logged. Meh.
The ONLY reason old trucks like this were cool is because they were cheap and useful. Why in the name of all that is holy would you pay that kind of money for something like this? You can’t use it for truck duty anymore, you have to take care of it like a garage queen, they’re not fun to drive, they’re slow, get horrible gas milage, they’re ugly and people see you driving one and think you’re a farmer. Also, ethanol gas will require you to either use really expensive non-ethanol fuel in it, drive it regularly, learn to rebuild carbs or all 3.
This new trend of expensive old workhorse trucks is biblically stupid.
there’s some truth to the slow and get horrible mileage comment, but ugly is subjective and there’s a lot of people that think these trucks are beautiful. They are also a blank canvas for ANYTHING you want to do to them drivetrain wise without any emissions inspection ramifications. BTW, nothing wrong with being a farmer, especially if you like to eat.
I couldn’t have said it better myself Jim.
This ’81 came in handy when Dad had a lot of tree damage. I think we loaded the bed with brush 12 times. This is why they were created.
Useful? Yes. Fun? Yes! 350 auto with 4:10 gears. Used premium fuel – no worries. With all that usefulness, still maybe driven 200 miles last year. A lot more than 200 smiles from the driver, passengers and passersby. Everyone has a ” Squarebox story” to share.
Do you even own an older truck? Have you ever even touched a cmall block? I not only daily drive a 66 C10 but I run my whole business out of it. It’s sporting a 1970 Buick 350 and I run it on regular gas through a quadrajet carburetor. Best truck I’ve ever owned.
And yes if I bought that truck I’d use it as a truck. A new Silverado with 1500 miles is 70,000. This one is 30 and way easier to work on and wont throw a million codes when I change the oil.
You really sound like an armchair mechanic.
Spot on, Jim, perhaps I’m not so far off base with my views. As I’ve said many times, I like my ’77 GMC, and I’ve had these kinds of trucks for 40 years. While these have come a long way from the spindly 50’s trucks, it’s still a 40 year old truck. Certainly nothing I’d spend 5 figures on. Slam the doors, pump the gas, check the oil, all things modern truck buyers don’t understand. I don’t know about “biblically stupid”, just not informed, and again, with the crappy choices today in vehicles, vintage trucks like this offer a buyer a glimmer of hope.
In a sidebar, I read, there’s a serious shortage of a certain computer chip that many newer used vehicles need, practically FORCING one to buy new. Sounds fixed to me, and people are obviously willing to spend $30g’s to avoid that.
Jim, I must disagree with most every thing you said. Please explain “biblically stupid” as it relates to buying a collector vehicle. Obviously you have never owned one.
One more comment about Jim’s take on things here;
While I have worked briefly on a farm, I do not consider myself a farmer. But if I was, I believe I would be offended by that callous remark about being mistaken for one.
I wasn’t insulting farmers, I’m just saying when I see an old C10 like this I expect Richard Farnsworth to be in it chewing on a piece of straw not an investment banker. This trend of preposterously expensive old trucks is like if Dolce and Gabbana started selling $3,500 overalls and $1200 John Deere hats. I don’t get it.
Beautiful Truck!! (for the right person, the money is ‘chump change’)
One of the best trucks I have owned. very comfortable & roomy, even more so when considering what else was selling at the time. Good mileage if you had the right rear gears, and able to haul anything you wanted. Thanks for including!!
Nice looking truck but everything GM built during this era is suspect IMO.
Owned 2 SWB C-10 Custom Deluxe pickups. Bought a nearly new ’76 in ’77 – very basic with only an am/fm mono radio I requested the dealer to swap in to replace the am radio. 250 1bbl, 3 speed on the column – never left me stranded. Sadly, it began dissolving in rust as soon as the warranty expired (12 months, 12,000 miles). No issues otherwise.
Traded for a new ’81 with deluxe two tone paint, 250 2bbl, auto, ps, am/fm stereo radio. Never left me stranded. No rust issues but the paint fell off in sheets – numerous water leaks. Instrument failures similar to what I experienced with the ’78 Monte Carlo. Paid out of pocket for a major repaint and sold it to a co-worker in 1986 with about 34k miles.
My last GM product since. Buy GM in the future? Who knows.
Well, I am not a Chevy/GM truck guy. And I really do not like brown vehicles. But, price aside, I love it and would drive it all the time.
A high school buddy has been known as “The Farmer” since 1976. Alway drives half ton pick ups. Never owned a car. Nothing derogatory about the name. Owns a sod farm. Net worth is at least 2 million dollars.
Hi Tony, Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick showed them too!!
2wd regular cab longbed, top trim level loaded with everything except a/c, in two-tone brown. This is They Don’t Make ‘Em Like This Anymore: The Truck. Someone sent back in time 40 years couldn’t have done better speccing out a combination that doesn’t exist anymore.
Right up the street from me. I used to work for the Josephs on two occasions.
That’s an older picture. I wonder how long it’s been on that showroom floor? Weird I’ve never noticed it when walking by.
That Golden Corral sign across the street has been gone for months now. Buffet restaurant that went out of business due to the pandemic.
I sold parts for these things back in the 70’s and 80’s. They were all over the place.
I drove a new ’77 model as a parts truck driver in my first dealer job.
This would be a nice old vehicle for show but I’m not sure I’d ever lay a thing in that bed. It’s too clean.