Bidding history can be a clear indicator of a classic vehicle’s desirability, and the history on this 1971 Chevrolet C20 Pickup says that it is one that a few people would like to own. It has already received an impressive 44 bids, and there’s still plenty of time left on this auction. I have to thank Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this beauty for us. Located in Covington, Tennessee, you will find the C20 listed for sale here on eBay. All of that action has pushed the price to $3,670, but the reserve isn’t met. Potential buyers will probably need to act fast because I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hits the BIN button at $5,500.

The Medium Bronze C20 isn’t perfect because the body wears its share of dings and dents. It also has some rust issues, and as you can see, it has gotten into the rockers. The driver’s side has copped the worst of it, but both sides will need to be replaced. However, replacement parts are easy to find, and a set of new inner and outer rockers for both sides will only cost around $100. There is also a small spot in the passenger door’s bottom corner, but a simple patch will address that. The rest of the Pickup’s body and the frame are sound, and even the bed has little more than some surface corrosion. Some of the dings and dents are pretty big, but they do look to be repairable. A fresh coat of paint would make a huge difference, and given the ongoing popularity of classic pickups, it would be well worth the time and effort. The glass appears to be in good order, and the Chevy rolls on its original 16″ two-piece wheels.

Since retrieving the C20 from its barn, the owner has put some effort into making the interior presentable. There is still a little way to go, but a few of the more expensive parts have been replaced. This includes a new dash pad, a new seat cover, and a new rubber mat on the floor. My only criticism is that the seat cover color doesn’t match anything inside the cab because the original would have been Parchment to match the door trims. Still, the buyer could choose to repaint the door trims and the steering column, and that would bring consistency to the interior. The wheel will also need to be replaced, but it should look pretty nice with those few things addressed.

Powering the Pickup is its original 350ci V8, which is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. This small-block should be capable of producing 175hp and a healthy 290 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures would have made it an accomplished load carrier, but the story might be even better today. The C20 had been stored in a barn for years, but the owner has returned it to a roadworthy state. He had to replace the fuel tank due to deterioration, and he decided to bolt on a fresh Edelbrock carburetor for the same reason. Combine that with a better air cleaner, and there is a chance that there might be a few more ponies under the right foot. The Chevy is said to run and drive well, even on the old bias-ply tires that grace the original wheels. It sounds like a fresh set of radials is about all this classic needs mechanically.

In recent years, classic pickup values have continued to head north at a steady pace. That’s a trend that I don’t see ending soon, and finding an affordable and roadworthy project truck is getting harder. That’s what this 1971 Chevrolet C20 appears to represent, and that is why the bidding has been so fierce. I still believe that someone is going to hit that BIN button sooner rather than later. Are you going to be the person to beat them to the punch?