I’m glad this 1974 Chevrolet C-30 Dually pickup isn’t “murdered out.” I’m just about filled to the brim with reality show-wannabe everything-is-black vehicles, right down to illegal window tint that nobody cares about enforcing anymore. Well done, seller. It’s posted here on craigslist in beautiful Mooresville, North Carolina, and they’re asking $10,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
Oddly enough, Chevy didn’t offer black as a “color” for this truck in 1974, but I like it. If your Chevy “truck” was an El Camino, you could get black for a color, but every color chart I’ve seen while researching this one doesn’t show black as being available on pickups in this era. I’m sure I’ll hear if (when) I’m mistaken on that, if someone’s neighbor’s cousin’s uncle’s friend’s boss had a black truck that they’re almost positive came from the factory in black paint… I’m nothing if not regularly wrong and a glutton for punishment when giving way too much information that can be disputed. Page 7 of this 1974 Chevy truck brochure doesn’t show black as an available color, nor does this official 1974 color chart.
It would be cool if that little “custom sleeper” on the back opened to the front cab, and I think it does, but there’s no real photo of it inside. I’m fairly sure that this truck was meant to haul a trailer of some sort, maybe even a fifth-wheel trailer, but the bed doesn’t show anything related to hauling a fifth-wheel trailer. This truck sure looks nice, but the seller mentions there’s a bit of rust here and there.
Sadly, even though the seller provided a lot of good photos, including three engine photos (!), they don’t show the “sleeper” cab at all. The cab itself looks pretty nice, especially for a $10,500 truck. Not knowing the rust situation – they say “no major rust” – Hagerty is at $16,700 for a #3 good-condition truck, but that’s with a 454 V8; this one has a transplanted 396/402 big block, according to the seller.
And here it is. Not knowing the particulars of the year and other things, they say it’s rebuilt, and I can see headers, so I’m guessing it gives a nice punch to the drivability of this big one-ton pickup. It’s backed by a THM-350 automatic sending power to the rear wheels, and this C-30 is said be driven, so the 91,510 miles will go up a bit as time goes on. Any thoughts on this big dually C-30 pickup?
Cool find Scotty and Rocco!!! When I was a kid and these had come out in thr early 70’s it was a rate sight indeed to see a dually. Looking at those color charts is definitely helpful for two things, one, you can definitely see black was not offered from the factory which is a huge surprise to me, I never knew that. If you can get a glimpse of the firewall in the one photo my guess is Hawaiian Blue? But its just a guess. I’m guessing that the “sleeper ” cap is from the 80’s, but just a guess. I always thought those were neat. I also forgot about the factory wheel covers they offered for the dually trucks. The 454 and THM 400 were bullet proof. The 396 transplant was an interesting choice ( you’d have thought that would have wound up in a Malibu or something). Great write up Scotty, nice to see a regular cab dually on here.
Thanks, Dave! I also thought for sure black would have been a color. Maybe it could be specially ordered or something? A VIN would have been nice to see to see what engine was originally in this one.
I agree. I’m questioning the seller saying it has a THM 350 also, I would think that this would have had a THM 400 from the factory. Especially since this is a One Ton Big Block truck. The smaller trans could be had in the half tons with a 250 straight six and the smaller 307 V8s. I’m not sure about the 350 V8. But….. As quite often, I could be wrong.
I have to make one correction already, according to the brochure Scotty provided the link for, theres no 307, the smallest V8 was the 350 2 barrel believe it or not.
Looks like “Resell Black” to me.Doesn’t look like a
really good paint job either.The dimensions just don’t
look right with that passenger compartment add-on in
the front of the bed.
Back in the day these trucks became immensely popular from the getgo. They did suffer from some not very flattering comments. I remember my MIL making references to training wheels. However, they picked up the cattle ranches and rodeo crowd like they were going out of style.
Trucks that we sold were all 454 powered and either ran TH400 transmissions or 4-speeds. I have to say that with the 402 series engine I’d be nervous about running a TH350 behind it. It would be grossly overworked.
Another gripe I have is the headers. A set of dual exhausts would be all you need. Headers, in addition to raising the engine bay temperature to nuclear meltdown don’t last and unless you’re going full race you don’t even notice a significant improvement. Besides that they don’t last.
I’m curious if that truck ran A-C at one time…
These often seem to have a big 5th wheel, or trailer in tow. And the driver can without fail back them into a postage stamp size spot perfectly 👍
Sorry, “Midnight Black code #500” was offered on Chevy and GMC pickups in 1974. It was featured under the “commercial ” color chart. It should be noted, these were incredibly popular at the drag strips. No, not as racers, silly, before the transporters of today, many pulled trailers, mobile shops, really, and racked up a ton of miles going cross country. Naturally, the truck brand was the same as the race car. And what was the biggest name in drag racing then before Toyota? ( who has since pulled out of drag racing),,,Pontiac, and these duallys got the whole shebang there. Splitting hairs which was better, Ford, Dodge, GM, but one thing crystal clear, best trucks EVER!
I stand corrected. Please excuse this mess of an article, based entirely on that black wasn’t available for this truck. It was, I see it listed just now on a color chart, even though there isn’t a color chip attached. It clearly says “Midnight Black.” Damn. I was going by the official Chevrolet brochure and official Chevrolet truck color chart (both attached) not showing black as a color. When I start making mistakes like that, it’s time to take a little break from Barn Finds.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hjIAAOSwmeNdvye1/s-l1600.webp
Scotty. We are all human, not one of us is perfect, and we all put our pants on one leg at a time. I would have come to the same conclusion, in fact I did when ai saw the info. You, and really all the writers do a great job on here. And I appreciate the time and research you all do. I can’t imagine the hours it takes to hunt information down. Please keep the great writeups coming. We enjoy it.
-Dave
Just a ding dang diddly minute, you’ll do nothing of the sort. I want to make clear, I don’t post any “corrections” for self gain, but more like contributions to the writers articles. You aren’t expected to know everything, and where the peanut gallery can help out. Many times I see where the writers get their information while searching for less important issues, like color or prices, keeps me from going completely nuts, and I enjoy it.
So, just sit down, you aren’t going anywhere except back to the tip line, don’t make me come up there,, thanks man, :)
Thinking about black being available I was trying to think about all the trucks that ran through our shop. I had one customer who bought a new K1500 every two years, starting 1976, and they were always black. First crewcab dualie we sold was in 1975; it went to a rodeo cowboy near the Sweetgrass Hills and it was black (seems to me THAT one was stolen at an NFR event; he bought a new black one in ‘77). Yeah, black was available, at least from ‘75 on.
With the 396/TH350 combination I wouldn’t be surprised if it started life as with a 350/TH350. It’s a lot easier to swap in a big block for a small block than to swap in a TH400 to replace a TH350. The amount of rust is a big question, the wording chosen by the seller is not reassuring. Black without AC likely won’t be popular in the mid-Atlantic region. This might prove to be a tough sell.
Steve R