Classic pickups continue to be highly sought by enthusiasts, especially those wearing the blue-oval or bowtie badges. This 1968 Chevrolet K10 Stepside is a perfect example of the sort of pickup that many people are hunting for, and it has plenty of potential as a DIY project for the right person. It has received an engine transplant and should have the sort of power and torque that will allow it to find its way into some pretty inaccessible locations. The owner has decided that the time has come for the K10 to move on, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Lander, Wyoming, and while the bidding has reached $7,601, the reserve isn’t met. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting the K10 for us.
The Stepside wears its original Medium Blue paint, but it is showing its age. The buyer will probably choose to treat the pickup to a repaint, although I’m equally sure that there will be plenty of readers who would like to leave it untouched due to its character. Looking beyond the paint, the news is generally favorable. A dent in the passenger side rear fender will need fixing, but anything else would be classed as the usual preparation that you might undertake for a repaint. It appears that it has previously had some rust problems because both rockers and the lower cab corners have been replaced in the past. This is no great surprise because these are pretty rust-prone. The bed sports plenty of scratches and scrapes, but none of the dings and dents that might indicate abuse. The grille, badges, and trim look good, while the same appears to be true of the glass.
Opening the doors on the K10 reveals an interior that is a bit of a surprise. I mean, it isn’t going to win a lot of prizes at shows, but it is a lot better than you might expect when compared to the exterior. The seat has received a new cover, and there is a new rubber mat on the floor. Those two items alone boost things inside the Stepside. The dash pad is cracked, and that is a disappointment that will cost some money. The number of cracks will probably mean that replacing it will be the only option. That will lighten the buyer’s wallet by around $430, but if the buyer replaces this and the painted surfaces were given a refresh, the interior would look pretty good. There is wear on the wheel, but I think it could be restored in a home workshop.
The Pickup rolled off the production line with a 250ci 6-cylinder engine under the hood. However, this disappeared back in 1991, and a 350ci small-block has been slotted in its place. The 250 produced a respectable 235 ft/lbs of torque, which made it a pretty reasonable thing when the going got rough. The 350 should improve on that figure, but by how much will depend on its specifications. Bolted to the 350 is a 4-speed manual transmission and a Rockwell T221 transfer case. The owner says that the K10 runs and drives well and that it recently received a new radiator. However, the brakes will need some attention. There are leaking wheel cylinders, and it does pull when the brakes are applied. I’d go right through the system because this is one part of any vehicle that needs to be operating at its best.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Stepside pickups, and this 1968 Chevrolet K10 looks like a beauty. The engine upgrade is a sensible one, and in a vehicle like this, it is a V8 that won’t raise a sweat under normal use. The bidding hasn’t been as strong as I might have expected, although there is plenty of time left on the listing. I wouldn’t be surprised if it picked up significantly in the final hours, and if the reserve is met, someone could be driving away in a great classic pickup.
That’s my kind of truck! I wouldn’t pay a lot
for this,but if I had it,I’d leave it as-is,& drive it into
the ground.
Looks like it came with three on the tree,but changed
to a floor mounted 4 speed.
An unbelievable find. In ’68, 4wd was rare enough, much less a stepside, rarer(?) yet. In the 60’s, there was no reason to buy a stepside, as a truck was meant to work, the bigger the better, and 4wd was reserved for slow rough going, like a forestry dept. and such. As a teen, in the big city, we never saw 4wd pickups. With where the prices of these are going, someone will probably restore it to the nines, just because it’s so rare and that’s okay, I suppose. Me, I think that’s a shame, as not many trucks today will go or do what this one will, and since it makes a lousy road truck, again, live axle front, no PS or PB, it’s a handful, trust me, it should be used what it was designed for, pulling stumps and silos over.
Now this is what I call a truck; obviously seen some hard work but there is plenty of truck left. The spid label tells us it came with the 4spd when new and while there’s nothing wrong with a 350 I wouldn’t mind the 250 either – it would be very strong with the SM465.
Never liked the stepside bed on any ’60up GM trucks, the fleetside bed of this gen however is such a beautiful design particularly in short bed. Wyoming and Montana seem to be the region to locate K-series trucks of this and squarebody gens that aren’t completely rusted away
This is what I’d want in a pickup. The 68 Chevrolet K10 Stepside was always a favorite of mine and that it’s been upgraded to a small block makes it even better. If it was local, I’d be putting in my garage.
healeydays I got one in NC, 68 short bed step side 283 3 speed on the tree
a fleetside long bed would be so much better.
exact truck (inc yr) even bumpers I drove around the acreage for yrs – just a (forest?) green & the spare back in the shed. For 4WD you’d want a short bed, long is for a rd truck…
Built manya mi of board’n post (horse farm conversion) w/it, used an 8ft plow winters and upon occasion carted a huge snoblower (6×4 foot mouth) when the big ones came thru. Drove it slo enuff never needed PS/PB altho had 30 yr younger arms then…some good memories, some good wrk.
Hard to argue the Fleetside is a more capable hauler given the extra voume in the bed. However, the stepside is in my view a prettier truck, especially on a 4X4. Even better if its a longbed (I know that’s against conventional wisdom). Id replace the wood in the bed, do the mechanicals, and drive it, drive it, drive it.
Had one . Keep U joints handy. Full time Transfer case stump puller.
Barn Finds said, “This 1968 Chevrolet Stepside is a rust-free survivor with a healthy 350ci V8 under the hood.” Hate to see the term “Survivor” thrown around when a vehicle has a different motor. The term should be reserved for actual survivors, those that remain as they were when they left the factory.