Now, this is a truck! Approaching its 50th birthday, this 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne Super pickup has period style to spare. It’s listed for sale here on eBay with bidding fast approaching $10,000 — and there’s a buy it now of $11,000 if you really want it! The seller has the truck in Berryton, Kansas.
I’m a sucker for this generation of Chevy & GMC pickups, even though I am basically a Ford guy who has a Ram at the moment and would love an early Studebaker pickup –but I digress. I’m not alone in my love of these trucks; their clean lines and no-nonsense styling appeal to a lot of folks. In fact, one of the “big three” British car parts suppliers in the US just announced last week that they were selling the British side of the business to concentrate on the truck side — and these were the trucks for which they first started supplying parts!
Back to this truck. The seller tells us they have owned the truck since April 2017 and that it’s a good driver. Some of the newer parts and service work completed on the truck include a replacement headliner, dash pad, and bed liner. There has also been a lot of suspension work done. The seller tells us that the truck was built at the St Louis plant and that they are including the dealer manual, GM Truck Order form (dealer copy) dated 05/05/71, and an authorized selling dealer plant imprint Protect-O-Plate in the sale.
Some of the options on this truck include a big-block engine, automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, and tinted glass. While it originally had air conditioning, there are no brackets or hoses included.
The parchment-colored interior makes for a pleasant change from the sea of black vinyl you see in a lot of older trucks.
The 396 cubic-inch V-8 was rebuilt in 1998 and is said to run well. Overall I can’t see many reasons not to recommend this truck as a good buy — can you? Let us know what you think in the comment section below:
Seller bought it fixed it cleaned it & is selling it. Some people call it flipping some say it’s an opportunity to restore another persons dream. Either way this is a very nice looking truck and should sell well-GLWTA!
BTW the original documents show an option of “below eye level mirror”-anyone know what that means?
Be safe out there on the roads this week, BF readers.
Nevadahalfrack
Hi Nev, I had to look that up, as well. Apparently, a “below eye level mirror” refers to the outside stainless mirrors on the doors, that my truck also has, but never knew they were called that. While the squarebodies get all the thunder, I can see a truck like this actually being worth the money, they are just so rare, even here. Nice truck here, much nicer style than my ’77 Jimmy, I feel.
Good morning and thank you, Howard A. That answers the question of “what” but as you mentioned it leaves the question of “why”; speculation on my part would be that the forsaid mirrors reflect an full length image going below the “belt line” as opposed to that of an ordinary outside mirror showing primarily a horizontal view.. what do you think?
Low mount mirrors, as opposed to west coast style.
Good buy.
The ‘below eyeline mirrors’ are the ones installed on this C10 as an upgrade from the regular small door mirrors ; https://www.classicindustries.com/shop/1971/chevrolet/truck/parts/?q=cx1150#mz-expanded-view-883533445204
https://www.classicindustries.com/shop/1971/chevrolet/truck/parts/?q=CX1164#mz-expanded-view-629396430945
Note that the mirrorheads here are OE units as opposed to typical replacement types with exposed bolt and bracket. The ‘below eyeline mirrors’ could be had as either 3-or 4 point and offer a much better view when pulling larger trailers.
While this C10 is far from perfect it’s still a very decent driver quality vehicle. Considering current bid anyone serious about buying this should consider pushing BIN. As I’ve mentioned before I own a same year K5 built at the same St Louis plant originally also wearing Ochre (long before my ownership). While definately a color in the fugly category it’s also somehow cool as it is so typical 70s. Don’t think anyone will regret buying this one
Thanks for solving that case, Sheriff! 🤠 And I think most of the readers agree with your statement-this is a good price for a decent truck.
Nevadahalfrack
The sales brochure for ’71 Chev trucks actually gives an explanation to the ‘below eyeline mirror’ nomenclature (on page 13) – ‘strategically placed so as not to interfere with your line of sight’
https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/brochures_1971_chevtrucks_pickups
In contrast to the larger big rig ‘West Coast’ type KKW points out (on the RV at page 15)which offers an even better view at the rear but also creates large diagonal blindspots forward
Noticed the cab lights on top & cargo light on tear of cab but did not see anything noting the on the window sticker? Maybe part of Cheyenne Super package?
I would sure like to know what it is that makes a 49-year-old truck worth 11K I bought a 1971 exactly like this one only green metallic with air cond & turbo 400 trans. 350 engine in 1981 for $1900.00 what happened with selling something for only it’s value.
The value is what someone wants to pay for it. Period.
In ’81 this was a 10year old truck of an obsoleted design that very few cared about, of little value other than user value. There’s also a 40years difference in monetary value from when you bought your vehicle and today.
FF to 2020 car guys have realized that a 50year old truck offers way more truck-like properties than anything offered at their new car dealer. Then add in the nostalgia factor, cheap/easy DIY maintenance + good specimens have become scarce because everyone expected there would always be an endless supply of them – then you’ll realize just why so many would like to own one today
The same can be said for any classic vehicle, they’re all worth more now than when new, where have you been hiding?
Might be a day or night mirror? It looks like its hanging from the ceiling. Either way it’s a beautiful truck.
Oh, man, does this truck bring back memories. I had a ’72 Cheyenne in the same color, long bed, but with a small block. I bought it in ’77 with fairly low miles but looking almost new. I’d probably still own it if a young driver had paid more attention to the road instead of his girlfriend in the passenger seat. He drifted off the road and hit the left rear corner while it was parked in front of mom’s house. Bent the frame, cracked the rear axle, pushed the bed into the cab, pushed the truck over a 6″ curb and into a fire hydrant with enough force to break it off.
These are really good trucks. Close the doors and you get a good metallic thunk. No plastic. Had a 71 c-10 307 3 on the tree no power anything. Was a really good dependable truck. These are really keepers and if you would pay 50-60 000 for a new one, this is a good buy.
My family has had several 72 C10’s over the years. This one reminds me of the copper and white original paint 71 Cheyenne Super with 62k miles my late brother bought about 15 years ago. Identical options except it also had a factory tach, tilt wheel, bedside toolbox and dealer add on cruise control, ac delco rear air shocks and onboard air compressor. About the only thing it was missing was bucket seats/ console. Only thing not original was the seat cover. It was re done very nicely in a parchment leather like material. He bought it for $4500 and put new shocks and tires on it and drove it to Virginia. He drove it sparingly for a few years and fell on hard times. He did some minor repairs like installing a new headlight harness, i stalling a nicer used front bumper he came across and tuning it up Sold it for $15k. I restored a 71 GMC swb stepside “stripper” farm truck 250 6 cyl 3ott manual brakes and steering radio delete that i bought for $1000 in 2000 had $6k in not counting all my time and sold in 2015 for $10k to buy a $500 72 Chevy swb step with 350/700r4 factory buckets tilt tach, Vintage air, which was sold to build a house. Had $10k in it not counting all my time. Sold it for $20k. Only thing farmed out on both trucks was final body work and paint and seat upholstery. I have a 70 Longhorn now. These trucks are better than money in the bank if you don’t overpay
I have the ’72 stripper version of this truck with a 250 six cylinder. All original and looks beat to hell. That way, no one wants to steal it. :)
One of the best looking trucks Chevy ever made. This one looks like a good one with every thing you would want in a pickup; just add air. The two-tone paint job looks great and I’m a fan of the cab running lights. I’m a little surprised that nobody had hit the “Buy It Now” button earlier.
Just putting this in perspective…I bought a Chevy truck with these colors back in the late ’80’s. It needed a gas cap, alternator, distributor, and freeze plug for the block. Tires wouldn’t hold air. I got a new gas cap and freeze plug from the parts store along with a filler neck grommet; and alternator and distributor from the junk yard (where I scored a nice dashpad for $10). Got some used tires from the used tire shop and cleaned the rims where the bead made contact to provide a good seal prior to tire install (tire price might have been $40 or $50 mounted and balanced. Went to my buddies speed shop and had him go over the distributor, had the junk yard test the alternator, pulled the gas tank and drained it plus changed all rubber fuel lines inside cab and reinstalled the tank with new filler neck grommet and replaced the dashpad. Installed alternator and distributor, and installed freeze plug and added fresh coolant and changed the oil (maybe added new plugs and wires). Turns out I installed the distributor 180 degrees out (learned to mark location of distributor before removal), fired up the truck, but had a knocking noise. My brother (GM mechanic) told me it was a bent pushrod in the head and we could pull the heads to do a check/fix then reinstall. Then I met a girl that suddenly occupied all my time. Really fell for her hard. Truck was sitting at my brother’s house and he got tired of looking at it. He told me some guy was asking about it and my brother wanted it gone. So, my purchase price of the truck was $75. That’s right, $75. The junk yard serviceable parts didn’t cost much (don’t remember prices); distributor rebuild and testing was maybe $20; gas cap, grommet, and rubber fuel line wasn’t much. Truck body was banged up a little on just about every exterior panel except hood, but bed was super solid as they used plywood for a bed liner which saved the paint and didn’t let the bed get dented. I ended up selling the truck in running condition with the head work needing done for $300. yes, disappointing but a good experience for little money. Now what kind of truck can you buy today for $75, or $300 for that matter. Things are just so overpriced nowadays and much more difficult to work on. It was fun bringing it back to life…and the streets again though.