If you need “a station wagon with the stamina of a truck”, or “a truck with the convenience and easy ride of a station wagon”, look no further than this 1965 Chevrolet C10 Suburban Carryall, there’s “plenty of comfort, plenty of room for people, packages . . . or both.” The seller has this interesting truck/wagon/Carryall posted here on craigslist in Maple Valley, Washington and they’re asking $7,250. Here is the original listing.
The first-generation C-series Chevrolet pickup was made from 1960 model year until the end of the 1966 model year. Most of us know that the C-10 stands for the 1/2-ton version, the C-20 was a 3/4-ton, and the C-30 was a 1-ton truck. The Suburban, which was a two-door model at this time, also used the same numbering system and this truck is rear-wheel drive, it’s not a 4×4.
Having grown up in Northern Minnesota and lived with at least six grueling months of cold, icy, snowy, salty winters for over five decades, along with rusty vehicles, this Suburban doesn’t look that bad to me, but the seller says that it’s sunburnt and rusty. Most if not all of the body panels should be available for the next owner to weld up any rusty areas and in restored condition, this two-door Suburban would be popular at any car show.
The interior looks surprisingly decent here, but it’s a pretty simple interior without a lot of soft surfaces to crack and rip. The seats look good as far as we can tell, although the above photo is the only one we see of the front seat. The back seat looks great and this appears to be a six-passenger model with a second-row three-passenger bench seat. If it had a third seat in the far back, the second row would have been a two-seater so passengers could get back to the third row, as shown in this photo from a brochure. The rear cargo area looks good and it would be a very nice vintage motorcycle hauler for small oddball bikes – if I only knew anyone who had any of those…
The loose gas can under the hood gives me the shivers, you’ll want to install the brand-new gas tank still in the box that the seller is including with the sale ASAP! They don’t give an engine size or VIN, but I’m assuming this is Chevrolet’s 283-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 175 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a four-speed manual to the rear wheels via a 373-positraction rear end and the seller doesn’t say how it runs, but I’m guessing that it does. Hagerty is at $8,600 for a #4 fair-condition example, how much is this one worth?
Timeless design. Easy to upgrade to make practical for daily driving. Still functional 60 years after it’s construction.
Steve R
Does it come with Blutooth? At least tell me the air works. Where are the cupholders for my favorite road drinks? Somethings in life can not be denied.
Best chuckle I’ve got from a comment in a long time. Made an old man’s day!😅😅😅
Now here’s a longroof that’s a lot closer to my lifestyle than the Mercedes wagon a few spaces up. I like the idea of a stock 283 and 4-speed manual trans. If this came my way I would keep that combo, even the anemic air cleaner. Sure would like it to be a 4-door though. International at least offered a 3-door but it took GM a while to offer an extra door.
Full restoration for me. I would give it the works but stop short at the extortionate cost of paint. Harry’s Hardware would handle the paint mixing…
Could make a pretty cool rusty semi-rat rod, some restoration and even a rattle-can or home brew paint job.
I could use one of those.
Sometime during my second marriage in the 70’s I bought a 65 like this one but with 250 c.i. inline 6 cylinder and 3 speed manual on the column. It was a good truck for the times, I can’t place where Maple valley is in Washington state but it sounds like it’s probably in apple country high in the mountains. I live in that state for many years but always on the Western side of the mountains. Now I understand the authors statements about cold icy weather, that’s why I moved to the south, no need for 4 wheel drive in Houston, Texas where cold weather is about a week long. My heart still lives in Redding, California where I grew up. If I had this Suburban I would just make it safe to drive and show it off at Freddy’s Steak burgers on Wednesday evenings in Katy, Texas.
God Bless America
I grew up in Maple Valley and moved to “Apple Country” (Yakima Valley- not high in the mountains)
Maple Valley is East of Renton /West of Enumclaw, at the edge of the Cascade Foothills. Had to chuckle about the “sunburnt” comment. “Rainburnt” maybe.
Bunky just said what I was going to !
Maple Valley used to be great , don’t know about now with the population explosion
I would get this truck in a heartbeat! I own a 64 Carryall with the 292 cu inch 6 cylinder and 4 speed transmission combo. I used to have the short middle seat, but it disappeared years ago, so the back seat became the middle seat.
I met a guy on the Walter Byam Caravan some years ago. He was driving a ‘63 Chevy K-20 Suburban with 292/4-speed. That Airstream trailer he was pulling had to be a 27 foot. He said 50-55 was fine and he really didn’t want to travel any faster…
Wow! What a utilitarian Chevy Suburban. So easy to work on engine wise. I could see a repaint of Marina Blue with a white top and some period correct Crager wheels. Fair and not crazy price either. Someone will have some fun with this one!
Simple and practical….good then…just as good now!!!
I like this a lot. It’s a rarity, but you could probably still use it today if you stayed off the interstate. I’d sort it out mechanically, maybe spruce up the interior a bit, and use it as it is.