It is always easy to develop respect for a classic vehicle that is amazingly well-preserved, but sometimes that respect can be misplaced. That is the case with this 1979 Chevrolet K-10 Silverado. While I respect the truck, that pales next to the respect I feel for the person who has managed to keep it in this state for the past 40-years. Sadly, that gentleman has recently passed away. That means that not only has the classic world lost an enthusiast with an eye for detail, but this Silverado needs to find its way to a new home. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, you will find the K-10 listed for sale here on eBay. The seller has set a BIN of $39,500, but the option is available to make an offer. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Boot for spotting the Chevy for us.
When the original owner ordered this K-10, he chose to tick plenty of boxes on the options list. One of those choices included selecting Midnight Black paint, which gives the vehicle a distinctive look. It is also a brave decision on vehicles of this type because the color is the perfect way of allowing dings, dents, and other defects to stand out a mile away. That hasn’t happened here, with the overall condition suggesting that the K-10 has been treated with complete respect. The panels are wonderfully straight, while the paint shines beautifully. The deceased owner treated the Silverado to a repaint in its original color in 1998, and a receipt for the work is included in the sale. The bed sports a few minor dents under that paint, and they are the only evidence to suggest that the Silverado has worked to earn its keep. There is no evidence of exterior rust nor any prior accident damage. The original tinted glass is in excellent order, and the same is true of the chrome and trim.
The beauty with this Silverado is more than just skin-deep. The seller supplies some excellent photos in his listing, and this one graphically demonstrates that this is a rust-free survivor. The K-10 has received two rust treatments during the 1980s, with a refresh performed by the good people at Ziebart in the 1990s. The coating appears intact, and I can’t spot so much as a hint of surface corrosion. The underside of this truck is so clean that it would be easy to mistake it for a near-new vehicle. That it looks this way after 42-years is pretty astonishing.
Chevrolet designed vehicles like the K-10 to be workhorses, and it’s common to see the interior trim cop a hammering as time passes. That hasn’t been the case with this one because apart from some wrinkling on the seat, there’s nothing visible that reveals the Silverado’s age. There is no wear, no UV damage, and nothing to indicate that the Chevy has been treated with anything other than complete respect. Helping its cause is the low odometer reading. With 38,000 documented miles on the clock, the interior hasn’t had an opportunity to look worn or tattered. It’s not an interior loaded with luxury appointments, but air conditioning, cruise, and an AM/FM stereo radio should make life on the road a pretty pleasant experience.
Buyers faced a range of choices when deciding what sort of engine found its way under the hood of their new K-10 in 1979. The original owner ordered this one with a 400ci V8, a 3-speed TH350 automatic transmission, a 12-bolt locking rear end, power steering, and power brakes. With 185hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque, the K-10 would be well-placed to utilize its dual-range transfer case to get well out into the best that Mother Nature has to offer. The original owner also chose to equip the Chevy with an auxiliary fuel tank and a heavy-duty transmission cooler. If the buyer decided to install a hitch, this could potentially be an accomplished tow vehicle. The truck received a long-block replacement in 1998, and a receipt for this is included in the sale. While the Chevy has accumulated 38,000 miles throughout its life, only 4,800 of those have been on the replacement motor. The engine bay presents as impressively as the rest of the vehicle, but this is about more than looks alone. The seller says that the 400 starts easily and that the Silverado runs and drives perfectly.
This 1979 Chevrolet K-10 Silverado is an amazing survivor, and its condition stands as a testament to the person who has owned it for the past 40-years. It is easy for these vehicles to become tattered and battered as the years pass, but this one has been treated with care and respect. The BIN price is a long way above the market average, but then again, this is not your average example of a ’79 K-10. Will it sell at that price? It is hard to be sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Forty people are watching the listing, and they have to be doing that for a reason. Maybe one of them will hit the button, or perhaps you will beat them to the punch.
Black trucks like this look great.There was a ’68
that I used to see that was always kept up,that I always
admired.
I found one just like it (same truck?) before I left Eureka.
I got as close as almost knocking on the door of the house
it was kept at.After looking it over,I decided that there was
enough rust that it was best to pass on it.
Nice truck,but the asking price is aimed at someone who
probably won’t use it like a truck.
Besides not being dual, i would think that exhaust system is very restrictive – with the GM 70’s pellet converter & huge muffler.
Surprised the turbo 400 trans was not used – would it not fit on this big truck?
Was this ever used as a truck was MEANT to be used, or even driven in bad weather or on dirt/muddy roads?
Can you now drive it much w/o destroying its low mileage value?
I don’t recall these having cats as trucks with a GVWR over 6000 pounds were exempt. Interesting that this is a K-10 as most of the ones sold in western PA were K-15s, competing with the Ford F-150. When Ford began selling its black and gold Steeler Specials local dealers began stocking two-tone Chevys in a similar color scheme and they sold like hotcakes!
Since their owners used them every day they all rusted out fairly rapidly too, contributing to their scarcity today.
If I remember correctly, the 6000lb GVWR exemption went away for the ’79 model year.
K-10 is correct for a Chevrolet, K-15 would be a GMC.
I bought a 79 Chevy K20 new in November of 79. Dealers could hardly give the gas hogs away. I gave $6700. cash and drove away. My first tank of gas gave 7.3 mpg! After break in, “tuning” and installing Lock out hubs, it manages 11-12 on good days. It’s been a beast of a workhorse. It has the original red dash pad with no cracks and one home paint job 20 years ago.
One thing this shows off is that there was, at least in the lower trim levels and I think also for at least the vinyl bench seat version of the top-trim Silverado, there was no black interior available. I seem to remember red or tan being the most common interior colors with black, blue is really striking though.
My dad had a dark blue, base model C-10 (a GMC Sierra) in dark blue with lighter blue trim. Even that seems to have been less common than pastel or bright colors.
remove the 3 and you will have the correct price for a 40-year-old vehicle.
Nobody asked, a truck this clean and cared for…..Why a new engine at 33000 miles? I’d like to know.
I was wondering the same thing, and did they keep the original engine?
With a repaint and a replacement long block (at 33,000 miles??), is it really a survivor?
To avoid the Cats, you had to have a 14,000 lb GVWR. The theory being you deduct the GVW (in the case of this truck which would be 6,050-6,200 lbs) and you have at least 8,000 lbs to avoid a Cat. Again, in this case it’s only7800 – 7950. Just missed it!
Very nice truck but has some concerning issues. The full time transfer cases in these makes for sorry on road use. I would find it hard to believe that when they replaced the engine they put another 400 s.b. back in it. I have a 74 k20 that had the 203 transfer case and t.h. 350 trans. in it. I replaced it with a 205 and t.h. 400 and lock out hubs. Best of luck to the seller.
This truck will be for sale forever at 40k.