Leading up to model year 1973, Chevy pickups topped out at 400-ish cubic inches of displacement, variations of the epic 396 Mark IV big block. This 1970 Chevrolet C20 gained a Pontiac 455 at some point, probably because someone had one lying around and the Camper Special’s original mill bit the dust. Fast forward to today and the beat-up but not horrible pickup comes to market here on Craigslist where $4000 makes it yours. The seller states it ran about five years ago and “could” drive under its own power but for safety reasons should be towed. Thanks to reader Jack M. for spotting this Los Molinos, California classic.
As 4xx cid engines go, this ZW-code 1973 or 1974 Pontiac mill (assuming it’s healthy) makes (cough) 215 HP according to AllMuscleCars, and while that turbo 1.6L I4 micro-SUV in your driveway makes more peak HP, you can expect this big-inch bruiser to deliver enough stump-pulling torque to fry the tires or lug a car carrier up a mountain pass. Speaking of pass, the seller’s comment, “signed pink slip in hand,” suggests they plan to skip the title over to you, which is illegal in all 50 states. Caveat emptor. Give them credit for passing the IQ test of getting the entire vehicle in the pictures, though, a low bar that many sellers fail to achieve.
It’s not every day you see a lift gate on a pickup of this vintage, and the seller states that apparatus does not convey with the sale. It would be interesting to learn the story of the interesting combination of a green interior (see below) and a mixture of green and gray panels. I’m guessing the cab and fenders are original and got a re-spray in gray, but that doesn’t explain why the bed seems to match. My Grandfather had a 1967 pickup in this body style, appliance white with rubber floor mats. When it got dirty inside, we’d spray it out with the garden hose, being careful not to blast up under the dashboard, then let it sit with the doors open to dry out. Try that with your 2026 pickup and you’ll fry three computer modules and make it smell like a wet horse.
The odometer shows nearly 38k, but clearly that’s at least 138k. Nevertheless, condition sets the value on a rig like this, and only someone experiencing nostalgia plus a twinkle for the novelty of the Poncho motor would buy this dent-ridden ride. That cab gas filler makes a total of three total as each bed side hosts a fuel door as well. Does the Pontiac 455 entice you to buy this hard-knocks Chevy?
Giving a buyer the signed pink slip without transferring over to their name at the DMV, can lead to all kinds of future surprises. Parking tickets, toll charges, hit and runs or getaway vehicles are just a few of them.
…or 238,000, or 338,000 ! looks like this one has had a hard enough working life…judging by the lift-gate, and generally roughed-up condition… mind you, that is actually what pick-up trucks are really for, right?
It would be a desirable vehicle if fixed up, but looks like a pretty major project.