Quick, choose your favorite child. Do you have one picked out yet? It’s tough, and hopefully it’s impossible, as impossible as it is for some of us to choose our favorite pickup brand. I love them all, and I would really love to have this 1965 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside with a V8 and a manual floor shift. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Thornton, Colorado, and they’re asking $6,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
Unfortunately, the seller only says this truck has a V8 and a manual transmission, but they don’t provide any more info than that. The 283 was the only V8 offered in 1965 for Chevy’s C10-series 1/2-ton pickups, although 3/4-ton and 1-ton truck buyers could get the new 327 V8. In 1966, even the 1/2-ton trucks could get the 327, so I’m guessing this is a 283. The manual transmission is another head-scratcher. A couple of 3-speed manuals were available, and a 4-speed, so this one is either a 3-speed or 4-speed. Why no mention? Why no close-up photo of the shift knob? At least they provided two engine photos, so that’s great.
Clearly having been repainted, we don’t know if there’s any bodywork or not, but the right front fender liner under the hood shows a rust hole, so I’d brace for having your magnet fall to the ground as you move around this truck. I could be 100% wrong, though; maybe there’s zero rust, zero bodywork, and it was just repainted? I hope so. Here’s what it looks like inside the bed. It could use some freshening up back there, but it looks pretty solid overall, no?
Random underdash wires always give me the heebie-jeebies; you never know how many generations of owners have messed with wiring up things here and there. It looks pretty nice inside otherwise, though. The steering column-mounted tach is a nice feature with the V8 under the ol’ bonnet. This is definitely the base level cab, the Standard Cab, as it looks pretty hard and sparse without even a driver’s side armrest. Page 3 of this 1965 Chevrolet pickup brochure shows the cabs and other interior features. Here’s a view of the interior from the passenger side so you can see the great shift lever. Bob_in_TN: any thoughts on that one for your upcoming book on cool shift levers?! I just made that up, but he could write a book about that, and many other things.
Here’s the mystery V8, and as much as I’m usually a staunch keep-it-original-spec guy, I don’t mind seeing that Edelbrock carb. If this is a Chevy 283-cu.in. OHV V8, it wouldn’t have been orange as most folks think; they were gray in 1965, and this one would have had 175 gross horsepower and 275 gross lb-ft of torque. Whether it’s a floor-shifted 3-speed or 4-speed manual transmission, power is sent to the rear wheels only on this C-10, and they say it starts and runs (rarely a glowing review), the carb has been rebuilt (it looks new?!) and it has new tires. Is that a new power brake booster? And here’s a close-up of the little rust hole, next to the new-looking-but-disconnected (?!) battery. I would absolutely love to own this truck. Any thoughts on identifying this engine?
One of my favorite generations of Chevy trucks. I’m thinking this is a 4 speed Scotty. With a granny low. This looks like it’d be great for Home Depot runs and kids or grandkids for ice cream runs. It looks pretty good, I’d paint the bumpers and grill silver. Thanks Scotty.
the only floor shifters for that year were four speeds according to the literature.
You are right SG, that is a cool shift lever.
Actually looks like it’s been “clipped” the term used for a cut frame and later front frame from say a Nova/Camero…..could be a later 4sp overdrive or 5 speed overdrive…..guess we could ask….brake boosters been changed so it isn’t a virgin…..nice orginal bed…..I’d say a buy at that price….
The engine has a long water pump, which means the heads are 1969 or later, the short block likely is too.
Steve R
The dual reservoir master cylinder and power booster appear to be aftermarket, which suggests, at a minimum there are disc brakes up front.
Who knows what else has been upgraded. The price seems reasonable, most people have probably overlooked these upgrades.
Steve R
$6500 seems like a good price, besides the Edelbrock carb w/electric choke its been changed to HEI and a single wire alternator, also a manual temp gauge. The transmission should be an SM420 (reverse to the driver and back). If your looking for bondo run a magnet along the back lower edge of the front fenders, never saw a 60/66 that wasn’t rusted through there.
I too read, only 3 speed column shift in the C10. In the mid 70s, I lived with 2 other guys, and 1 guy said he wanted an old pickup. This was in Milwaukee, and a short distance to “Farmland, USA”. So we takes off in my MG, just wheeled into several farm yards, always greeted warmly on everyone, we asked, “do you have any old pickups you’d like to sell”? Remember, no internet. They scratched their heads, “yep, by golly, I think Uncle Freds truck is still in the barn”. LONG before a website by that name. One place had a truck just like this, buried under a heap. We cleaned it out, got it running, albeit poorly, gave the farmer $100, everybody happy, well, almost. Get this,,,it was a 6, and it ran poorly, so we TOOK IT BACK, and he gave us the $100 back. Try that today. Great find.
This is great info, folks; thanks for adding all of those things to close the loop a bit on this great-looking truck!
Page 6 of the brochure link in the 4th paragraph shows the specs and which engines and transmissions were available in which trucks. I took a screenshot of that chart and tried to darken the figures a bit so you can see what the standard transmission was and what the options were. You can see that the 283 was the only V8 available in the C-10, but a 327 was available in the C-20 and C-30. And there was no automatic (Powerglide) available on the C-30. Charts and graphs… (in my best Ross Perot voice)
Here is a link to a great Hemmings article going through the 1964 through 1966 C-Series pickups:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/1964-66-chevrolet-c10-pickup-buyers-guide-0422/
Ross Perot, “now lookit these here charts, & stop lookin’ at my ears!”
This screenshot is from page 5 of that brochure link, showing the transmissions available on which trucks.
Not a 283 no oil fill tube in manifold so engine replaced I would say probably a 350 96 or later long water pump
Thanks, sir. I was wondering about that and wasn’t sure if it was somehow modified or not. I’m guessing you and the other folks are right, and it’s some sort of replacement engine. And with the power brake conversion that Steve R pointed out, the price seems great if the body checks out.
I believe these trucks could be had with factory power steering, but it was a “helper” for the steering drag link rather than a traditional power steering pump. As long as it’s already been modified, I’d add power steering as well.
Scotty, aftermarket aluminum intake manifold typically don’t come with oil fillers, Edelbrock does make one, but it sells for $345. Even used aftermarket intakes manifolds with oil fillers in usable condition are thin on the ground. It’s much cheaper to swap out the valve covers for some with oil filler holes, so that’s what people tend to do. The best way to identify old vs newer engine is by the holes at the end of the cylinder head which are used for accessories. A long water pump would be using 1969 or later heads, the center bold valve covers started in 1986.
Steve R
69 or later?
Whenever I see one of these on pages or in person, I’m reminded of the new ’66 Dad bought from a small dealer in N. Mn. His was basic, 250-6 with a 3 on the tree, no frills other than heavy duty shocks. No radio either which was solved with a Sears push-button radio & a spring antenna added later on shop time at the mine. LOL! He added a heavy duty step bumper & with a ’56 International “corn binder” in trade it was $1900.00. I still have the dealer brochure.
With this example, I’m with everyone else in that this engine was replaced & from Scotty’s evidence the 4-speed was a convert. I guess it’s not a bad deal if someone wants to spend enough to get it presentable. I’m also with Scotty in keeping it original as possible. That’s how I kept my Cutlass Brougham.
Lovely looking truck. My late maternal grandparents had a 1964-65 Chevy C10 truck. I was way too young at the time to drive a car, but I seem to remember it had a 3-on-the-tree manual shifting gearbox. I can’t remember what powered the truck, whether it was a V8 engine or a straight six engine.
When I returned home from the army in 1967 my dad was driving a 1966 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. It had the big 292 straight 6 and automatic with an/fm radio. It belonged to the carpenters union where he was a representative. These were nice trucks for their time. No a/c, power brakes or power steering so you still had to ride with windows down on hot summer days and keep the vehicle moving to ease steering.
Someone with love for these old trucks should get this one and make it their personal truck. As for me I’m a Ford guy. lol
God Bless America
Well I sure can’t tell you which child is my favorite but, I can tell you in a second which child was the easiest to raise and best behaved. Hint…It wasn’t either one of my boys!
60/ 61 were my favorite GMC/ Chevy pickups followed by the 62-66. My dad had one of each back in the day. The 65 was yellow with a white top. Being the original thinkers that we were we called it “Old Yeller”
I’m with Scotty; I would go see about this truck if it were closer. Unless it’s a complete body by bondo; it’s a good deal in my opinion. GLWTS.
I’d love to buy a 65 Chevy C10 or a C20. I’d keep it as stock original as it came while also upgrading what needs to be upgraded.
hard to find a vintage truck for what this seller is asking for it.
This was a stripper of the era. Power steering was an option and it was the same set up as the Corvette. My 66 came from the factory loaded to the gills, even factory A/C. This is a well priced unit that is a blank slate! Look what they are asking for (and getting) for immaculate units and this is a bargain!
While off to college in the late-1960s, I didn’t have many chances to drive my Dad’s beige 1964 short-bed, step-side Chevy pickup. It had a white painted grille & front bumper, factory 283 V-8 & 4-speed, plus a nifty driver’s-side fender-mounted spare tire. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but I sure wish that I still had it. The seller’s truck reminds me of just how great they looked and ran.
I hope the new owner comments someday; this one has been sold.