Where I grew up, vehicles don’t typically rust. Imagine my surprise when I moved to the Midwest and discovered all of the “typical” rust areas for various vehicles! I was totally unaware of how common it was to see cab corner and rocker rust on older trucks. Now that I know, I can fully appreciate trucks like this! This 1978 Chevrolet C-10 Big 10 is an 88,000 actual mile California truck wearing not only its original sheet metal, but also its original paint. California was good to this truck, and it shows. Find it here on eBay in Kentucky with bidding at $10,100 and reserve not met.
The interior shows signs of sun fading, but otherwise looks as you would expect for a truck of this vintage! This goes to show that whoever owned it took good care of it. The dash appears to be in excellent condition, and aside from what looks like a worn out driver’s seat the bench is in nice shape too. I’m not sure what color the door panels were originally, but I’m fairly certain they weren’t salmon colored!
Naturally, the engine is a Chevrolet 350. The seller states “Runs and stops great, everything functions as it should.” For those not familiar with the Big 10, it is the same as the GMC Heavy Half. These trucks were optioned with stronger springs, heavy-duty power brakes, and other small upgrades that allowed for heavier towing and hauling. The Big 10/Heavy Half option allowed these trucks to have a higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Not only did this package make towing easier, it made towing safer.
Aside from being a Big 10, this truck is a two-wheel drive short bed which is one of the most popular combinations among classic truck enthusiasts. While this truck may appear small compared to its long bed brethren, the Big 10 option gives it superior towing capabilities to “normal” half-ton trucks. Plus, you get that cool Big 10 decal on the bed! Overall, this C-10 is in great condition and ready to be enjoyed.
I had an ’80 GMC Sierra in this color combo. The door panel color didn’t hold up to the sun well, so you ended up with the color you see here. My truck had the much maligned diesel. I did not have any problems with it, and wish I still had it.
Shortbed ???? Nah
So true! A truck is a truck, it needs a full box, and 4wd.
A nice solid looking old truck. Other than the dent in the nose of the hood it looks show ready. Glad to see quality photos.
Being a Cali truck, I’d place PAC 10 stickers over the BIG 10 logos. Beautiful truck! If she was a long bed truck with a manual shift, I’d be bidding!
The heavy rating was for emissions purposes over 6k had no cats in early years and lesser standards to follow
Exactly. Big 10 was available with GVW ratings of 6050 or 6200 lbs., which put it over 6k, which exempted them from catalytic converters and unleaded gas.
Maybe better towing was some marketing spin, but the Big 10 and the Heavy Half were about being able to burn Regular leaded fuel, which was a huge benefit in 77 and 78 as unleaded was becoming mandatory.
Very nice truck. I’m not much of a brown vehicle person but, I would take this one. I for one, like the short bed. I know some people say the long beds ride better and you can haul more in them but, I don’t have that much to haul anymore and I can live with the rougher ride.
I think GM lead the way with cushy pickups. Ford and Dodge were still a little rough around the edges, but these were high class all the way, AND it was still a good hauler. I’ve posted enough pictures of rusty vehicles, so you get the idea, these didn’t look like this for long. I’m sure this was somebody’s dads pride and joy.
With the exception of the roof color, my ’79 GMC left the factory in the same livery. Mine survived quite well too, but there are some areas that need attention now. Of course the Chinook Belt is usually fairly good to vehicles. It also helps to be vigilant with the pressure washer and spending a little extra time washing out the fender wells and undercarriage. ’78 and ’79 were two of the best years for GM trucks. You could still get heavy duty suspension and the engines weren’t completely stifled with smog controls. Things started changing in 1980 and IMHO, they just weren’t quite the same anymore.
My Dad had a 76 long bed on the farm, which was a follow-up vehicle to a 65 Ford F250 he had had on the farm. Add a stock rack and it hauled a lot of cattle, hogs and feed over the years he had it. It was ironic that the floor of the box in the Ford had a lot of rust issues while the body of the Chevy had the usual rust issues. I know Dad liked driving the Chevy over the Ford for creature comforts but both vehicles held up their end of the bargain on the farm.
That example is in very fine shape, glad it’s made it to where it has today. I wonder what they have on it for a reserve?
My grandad bought this same truck in Gray/Silver in 78. First vehicle I ever drove – though it was really just steering it across the hay field as we stacked square bales as high as we could. So funny, I was just thinking about that truck the other day. Nice to see such a great example here.
Reminds me of the ’78 3/4 ton Chevy pick up I had for awhile. Same color scheme, four wheel drive, 350, stick. I liked it though a real gas-guzzler. Tough as nails, great for hauling my Polaris Centurion sled in Northern Maine.
Nice truck!! I have owned 10 or so through the years and some rusty and some not. I loved them all-tough trucks.
The best was a 78 3/4 2wd auto and a 454. the orig.owner passed away and wanted me to have it since in the 15 years as my neighbor he knew a had a thing for them. I paid $2000 for it. It was blue and white with white oyster int. always garaged and only 80ish k miles. Only bad was the gas mpg-horrible. that truck was a brute though.
I have a 77 four door dully the same color, that I bought new. But I’m afraid that sure looks like a repaint, just toooo nice. Mine has always been inside, has 100,000 miles and the original paint just doesn’t look like that. Because mine is original paint, I’m just going to touch up the minor disturbed areas.
My first new vehicle was the GMC version of this.350/4 speed,it had a 6050 lb weight rating.No cat converter on it,was able to run regular gas in it until it was no longer available.Wish I still had it,but after 14 years in upstate NY it became a rust bucket.Still have the trans in the barn…
The truck reminds me of a ’79 Scottsdale package diesel pickup we ordered new in ’79 with dual tanks, two piece sport rims(like ones on truck above), done in silver with red interior. We got 50,000 miles out of the truck before engine problems including new injector pump and 3 cracked heads appeared over the next 20,000 miles before we luckily sold it and got a used Red ’82 Beauville Van to accommodate our family which would grow to 5 kids. Kept the sport rims for the van, but the original tires and van wheels went with the pickup which we had fitted with 30″ paneled and insulated cap and a slide in bunk unit. The truck had an 800 mile traveling range with the 2 twenty gallon tanks. It was a great road truck but had absolutely no power. GM covered the cost of replacing an injector pump and the first cracked head but did nothing for the two cracked heads on it when we got rid of it. I was absolutely thrilled to be about to get rid of it for $1600 in cash in 1983.