Believe it or not, trucks used to do actual work. They were designed to help people perform many different jobs. The “Cowboy Cadillacs” of today would stun our ancestors into thinking we had gone soft. Despite this dichotomy, America has a love affair with trucks new and old. However, there rests a special place in our heart for Chevrolet C/K trucks built from 1967 through 1972. These handsome trucks, like the 1970 Chevrolet C/20 long bed step side for sale on craigslist in Franklin, West Virginia, have become very much sought after for restoration projects. While most trucks of this era have been almost used up, this long bed step side stunner is an amazing anomaly. Found for us by intrepid reader Ian C., the odometer on this truck has logged only 18,554 miles. For $15,000, it can spend its next 48 years in your garage.
So, how did this truck rack up so few miles in all of those years? This truck spent its life putting out brush fires for the Highland County Volunteer Fire Department. Headquartered out of Monterey, Virginia and near the Virginia-West Virginia state line, this small department obviously took good care of the equipment the taxpayers entrusted them with. It is hard to find a scratch or a blemish on this truck.
Carrying a 400 gallon tank in the bed with a pumping system driven by a power take off system, this truck was a 3/4 ton model. These heavy duty trucks utilized a stronger suspension with stiffer springs and eight lug hubs. An added four wheel drive system made getting to hot spots a lot easier. The only drawback would be the kidney pounding ride firefighters must have endured when driving this truck down fire roads. Perhaps the added weight of 400 gallons of water made the assignment a little more bearable.
The interior almost looks showroom new. Some wear on the seat and steering wheel are some of the only clues that this truck has ever seen service. A missing brake pad and some worn paint in the door jam are also noticeable. Even the weather stripping around the door jam looks factory fresh. Unrestored Chevrolet trucks of this era usually need cab corners, floor pans, and sills. All this truck needs is fuel and a driver.
Under the hood is a 350 cubic inch small block V-8 that put out 255 horsepower. Noticeably, this truck lacks air conditioning and power steering. It does have power brakes and a heater. The seller tells us that both the siren and public address system still work. You can even turn the red light on when nobody is looking.
How could any red blooded American not want this truck? Some people may not like riding around in a fire truck, and others may find the ride requires a stronger definition for the word “harsh.” You could always take the tank and pumper out, plug the hole in the roof for the siren wire, and strip the lettering off the doors. When finished, this would be a very distinctive red pickup with the rare long bed step side bed. While the price may be high, purchasing and performing a full restoration on a similar truck would likely cost more.
If you plunked down the cash for it, what would you do with this truck?
Uh oh! Red heater hose, Scotty G.!
That doesn’t look like an 18,000 mile brake pedal.
Right? I’d want to look this one over closer before I trust the odometer.
Boatman, have any idea how many different kinds of drivers and bad habits came to this truck in 18,000 miles? I was a firefighter, I know.
So am I, Paul, but thanks.
Cool truck. The best option for this truck would be to leave it as is and take it to car shows.
Steve R
Beautiful & original I hope new buyer Not molest , hot rod or modify this original piece of auto history!
Only take it to car shows? Do that,but also use it like
a truck.
I agree use it for car shows and as a pickup like it was built for.
Surprised this has not sold, its worth alot more than asking price. Doll this gal up and she will easily fetch $27,000 at Mecum auction Dallas.
27k will easily buy you a much more late model pickup with all the things this is missing, namely A/C. But you’re right someone with more cash than sense will pay up for this.
Use it as it was intended…..some Fire Safe Council should buy it and keep it for local duty….
I have a 1968 CST ( Custom Sport Truck ) I’ve had it since 1982 and It is fully loaded with air PS , PB and a 396 engine . I keep it in nice shape but I will still haul a load of trash to the dump in it that I put in a little careful and not dent or wear the paint off.
FD have alot of time inbetween fires and such. Cheif says clean equipment. You clean. Nice truck.
I can believe 18K on it. I bought a 73 F350 from the local fire dept with only 21K on it. A brush truck as we call them does not gets very many miles on them. I worked with the Fire Dept that I bought it off of, and other than a rural or brush fire the only driving it got was once every two weeks for what is call a drive about during meeting nights, done to keep fluids and everything checked out, other than a yearly Homecoming parade. I gave 10K for the one I bought other than the Bright Yellow Color, it was a good truck. I never did change anything about other than removed the 1000 gallon tank, I even kept the Esther Fire Dept signs on it and pulled cars to car show with it, or my camper. It always to bring a question about it as well as my cars at the shows, and when camping I always got questioned about it.
First off remove the 400 gallon water outta the back. And probadly remove siren and light as well? That’s what I would do if I ever have the money to purchase it in the first place.? My opion and we all have them? correct?
Guy,
I agree on removing the water tank. I’d also remove all the “gear” that goes with it as well. By the way…. 400 gallons of water weighs just a bit over 3500 pounds. They were pressing this truck to it’s limits if they filled the tank to it’s full capacity.
maybe only 18K on the clock but these things would sit and run at idle for hours and hours when deployed on a call. Might be more wear on that motor than expected.
Bingo!! Years ago, we called that “motor hours” and every truck tachometer had a hour meter.
As nice of old chevy that it is. Its not and will never $15,000.00 nice. Those trucks were 3-4000.00 new and nearly 50 years later it hasn’t appreciated that much. Just my opinion of course.
Try finding a 4×4 K-10 or K-20 that hasn’t been abused, I think your assessment on the price will change. This is a very fair price for this truck. The market on GM trucks of this era has been steadily climbing. The way it is optioned makes it a bit more of a rare combination and the 4WD adds to the value.
I am familiar with the area the truck is located. It is tough country. While the miles on the odometer are few you can believe this truck has had a hard life.
I know this fire department and I remember this truck when it was operational. They take good care of their equipment. Highland county is quite mountainous. So I believe you could wear out a brake pedal cover in 18K miles. It was always stored inside but I’m sure it’s seen it’s share of salty roads. I don’t think it’s worth 15, but you got to start somewhere.
I would carefully drive it and enjoy it if I were to cross the line into a GM vehicle!
Mileage means nothing if well maintained. Who cares about red heater hose; it does the job. Price might be a concern, everyone wants to think they got a deal. If I could I would is a common complaint on this site. If you like the truck and can afford it and have room for it, buy it and love it. It’s a portable car wash if nothing else, imagine the fun you could have with this truck.
The red hose reference is an inside joke that you’re apparently not aware of, John.
I drove a 72 GMC in high school the pickup was always beautiful it had a 350 with 456 gears. I changed the ignition, put a Holly dual plane intake and a Holly 650 with mechanical secondaries, of course headers etc. The pickup was darn quick. This pickup listed here WILL go for 15k and extremely likely more!!
Remove the water tank? Wait what? You could so turn that into a pressure washing truck easy peasey and go make some money with it. That or put out a fire LOL. Bet them folks in western states would appreciate it for what it is fighting them wild fires. Helicopters and Bambi buckets can’t do it all.
Most Fire Departments remove their name from the side of
sold equipment,due to liability issues.
I completely agree with Arthur this pickup is more unique than most, and the prices of pickup such as this have heading rapidly UP. in today’s world I would expect this will sell for it’s asking price at the minimum, very likely higher!!
drove the standard green 1 (’68) around the farm close to 50 yrs (short bed tho).
Now it just brings out the blower when the snos’ too high for the plow (3 or 4 Xs in the last 5 yrs).