Alright, I’m laying it out here. You know, I’m going to cut to the chase on this Patina thing. I gather from most of my esteemed readers’ contributions that the entire “patina thing” is overdone and not in favor. I’d have to agree. Today, however, we have a 1963 Chevrolet short wheelbase C-10 pickup that is claimed to have “authentic patina“, courtesy of a life spent in California. Now, this truck has a bunch of other stuff going on, too, but the Patina hogs the visual impact. And that being the case, let’s see if California patina differs from general, everyday patina…Located in Menlo Park, California, this low-riding Chebbie is available here on eBay for a current bid of $12,300 with the reserve not yet met.
We’ve seen how collector interest has propelled the visibility of Chevy Action Line pickups (’67-’72) and the Square Body edition (’73-’87), so it makes sense that the first-gen C series (’60-’66) would follow suit. There’s not much detail in this truck’s listing, so the images have to do the talkin’. It’s a safe bet that light blue was this truck’s original hue, but the natural patina looks too “organized” as to where it’s evident and where it’s not – note the passenger side door vs. the cargo bed side. It’s as if there is a specific line of demarcation that has somehow been established. Whatever the case, this truck is wearing a better suit of worn-out-ness than I have seen on other examples. As for the cargo bed, the seller tells us, “Brothers oak bed kit and stainless rails installed in June ’23. Stained to match the aged look.” Ok, so there is some manufactured look going on here. Round out all four corners are wide whites, courtesy of Coker Tire, and evidently attached to a lowered suspension.
Under the hood is one of about 110 million Chevrolet small block V8s that have been manufactured since the beginning of time. The seller offers zero details as to its provenance, but it’s a tale of two eras. The passenger-side-mounted alternator and “long” water pump dates it to ’69 or newer, but the intake manifold oil fill tube says ’68 or earlier, so I’ll put this one in the search me fish category. The seller does claim a rebuild by a previous owner, along with the inclusion of a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, where it’s curiously patinaed too, we find a stock interior with a bench seat covered in an obligatory Mexican blanket. Beyond that, it looks like a worn, stock, 60-year-old pickup interior, complete with a rubber mat. It’s hard to say with certainty, but that blanket is probably there for more than just show. It’s an easy guess that the seating upholstery has gone kaput.
I hardly find this look objectionable (as long as it’s not clear coated), but I guess I just don’t get it. Of course, a prospective new owner could always just paint it, but then I guess that defeats the entire existential vibe of this old truck. Let’s take a Netflix approach and have you rate this one: “Love it”, “Like it”, or “Not for me.”
Not a fan of “lowered” trucks, hate the tires and “patina” has become popular only because paint is so expensive. Just my 2 cents.
Jim,
I’m with you on all counts.
If those are stainless rails. Then it’s safe to say they used the same acid to wipe down the bed.
I like it. I don’t care for the wide whites. If it were mine, it would have black walls, painted wheels and dog dish caps. I’d at least reupholster the seat. I don’t care for the price of paint, either, and maybe would leave it just like this…..or paint the inside of the cab.
As far as the small block, it’s easy to come up with a fil/breather tube intake and some solid valve covers to put on a later model SBC.
Overall, I like it, but I’d make it mine with the changes mentioned.
To answer Bill’s question, it’s a huge “not for me”. I see absolutely nothing about this junk yard dog that has any value in its current state. Now I am aware that there are folks out there the cherish this body style and I get the attraction, but does anyone really see over 12 grand here? As Joe Walsh would say, “but seriously folks”!
I’ve liked patina since the days when it was just called “old”. Cars, trucks, bikes, guitars. All my toys have “patina” and not because I can’t afford to paint or restore them but because I like my stuff to show it’s age and where it’s been. My hair is grey and my truck only has about 75% of it’s original paint remaining. Neither bothers me at all in fact I wouldn’t have it any other way. Nothing against those who enjoy restoring theirs but don’t tell me I’m too cheap to paint my truck. Or I’ll remind you that you don’t actually use your truck as a truck. :)
But is only about 75% of your original hair remaining? 😉
50% of my hair is gone, as was 50% of the sheet metal on my old K10!
Got all my hair just not all the original color. Same as my truck.
If those are expensive Coker white wall tires, it was money that should have been spent elsewhere. I guess they were an extreme opposite statement of sorts. $12,000 and still not accepted. It looks like someone is looking for a big profit or just being greedy with this fad. If the truck were mine, I would sell the Coker tires and replace with decent radial black walls, fix the bench seat and protect the “patina” rust by applying “cheap” paint or maybe sanding and applying a semi-gloss clear coat (I hate the gloss over rust look). Looks like someone put in front and rear master cylinder system. Check brakes and hoses for safety. What else?
Spot on Dave!
It would look better with rustoleum applied with a roller. Just not into patina or the lowered look.
Update! As of 11:47 AM Eastern, the bid is over $15,000 and still not reached the seller’s price. I guess California is a different place now, definitely different from my days there in the poorest county and county with the most deer supposedly. People, including me, ate the roadkill if it was still slightly warm or not there the day before. I paid $25 a month rent several places, the most expensive was a “luxury” room with shared bathroom and very nice sitting room for $75 a month, owned by a fastidious older woman. It was well kept. This was Mendocino County in the early 70’s before the grape vines were producing. The most common work was in redwood mills, sheep or apple ranches, about 130 miles north of SF. I left with my little Rambler American, towing a trailer, in 1975 after the Philo Lumber Company shut down for six months. My wife and I returned to Philo in Anderson Valley, 35 miles from the ocean, in the early 2000’s. The valley was a big tourist destination then due to the various winerys. At that point we stayed in a nice room, but I think it was $150 a night, 60 times that I paid for my nice room in 1974! Times change, of course, but a truck like this one back then might have sold for several hundred dollars.
I remember the first time I heard the term Patina. I was in Southern California with my rather tired looking 32 5-window and the event was The L.A. Roadster Show. When two old timers walked up to my 32 and asked me how I did the Patina? I thought it was a joke and I laughed. It wasn’t until later,Y I realized they were serious Patina was a thing, and it still is! So you can either like it or hate it, but it wont change. I have done several Patina builds and a lot more that were not. You just can’t say one is OK and the other isn’t when it comes to creativity there are NO rules.
I’m leaning towards a 327 with the oil filler cap.
This Chevy is all patina which is a distraction from the clean classic body lines of the truck. If it were mine, I’d paint it myself or save up the money to have it painted. Then I’d re-install a comfortable, reupholstered seat back in the freshly painted cab. If the engine isn’t original to the truck, I’d put in a chesty little 327, put on black painted wheels and dog dish hubcaps, and I’d have a truck that looked good and was comfortable to ride in. Hell, that’s the whole point of owning it in the first place.
Can you buy chesty parts at Summit?
Pretty sure you can John. Wouldn’t take much. Up cam it a little bit, Highrise intake, 650 double pumper carb, headers, turbo mufflers and you would have a very peppy engine that wouldn’t use too much fuel if you had the right final drive ratio.
John: I get it, even if no one else does.
Ah, another discussion about patina and the sub-category of real patina vs contrived patina. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. On this truck this level of patina is not for me. I would be inclined to at least rattle can or Rustoleum this one. Or maybe even have a go with some single stage paint. As they say to each their own.
What I would really like to know is who exactly is the marketing genius that was the first to apply the word “patina” to a vehicle with a weathered finish and sell it as desirable. What they did was open up a whole new genre of the old vehicle hobby. It’s not a coincidence that patina became more in vogue as quality paint jobs became so expensive. I honestly think that the patina idea is somewhat of a sea change for the hobby. Its definitely given me a different outlook on what my goal for a collector vehicle can be. When I acquired my current hobby car five years ago, I decided to actually embrace all the defects in the paint and trim. The car is seventy three years old and unabashedly wears its warts and wrinkles for all to see. Not unlike its old geezer owner.
Pretty sure the Japanese played a huge part in the popularity. Google it but for now here’s a snipit. “In Japanese culture, patina holds a significant place, particularly in metalwork, where it’s not just a natural surface alteration but a cherished aesthetic element deeply tied to the concept of “wabi-sabi,” appreciating beauty in imperfection and the natural aging process” Personally I’d take original unrestored over a perfect restoration everytime.
I’m Pa Tina, and I approve this truck.
Tina, are you in PA too or Pa as in father? I’m in Philadelphia. I usually check out the Fords, have a 66 F-100.
“Pa” as in Pappy. Fan of Chevy cars and Ford trucks. 1955 F-100 would be my choice.
I have a 67 C10 short box 383 auto.. 100 times nicer than this I would sell for $18k
I doubt seriously that your truck is 100 times nicer as 2nd gen C10 shortbeds often sell for more money than the 1st gen. If truly that nice should easily be a $20K truck. This ain’t 100 times nicer but sold for more than $18K https://tinyurl.com/4un8hyrd
Meh
Tina, are you in PA too or Pa as in father? I’m in Philadelphia. I usually check out the Fords, have a 66 F-100.
You can have patina, faded or thin paint. Then you can have rust. This truck is rusteeee. Period.
Bought the same truck for $300 in 1981 but black with no patina … working in the Louisiana oil fields a guy said he needed money and would I like to buy it … it had a 327, four barrel, three-on-the-tree (which I later put on the floor) and said he’d put a new clutch in for an extra $50 … drove it a couple years before I over-revved it and threw a piston into the block … put another 327 from a ’67 SS Impala in and sold it for $1500 after my daughter was born … and my grandfather had the same in a ’65 model – sold it for $100 about the same time … who knew forty years later they would fetch so much …
I like it because it’s lowered, all trucks look better lowered, and I like the wide whites too. Patina is not for every one, but to paint it with a rattle can or roll on Rustoleum is just tacky, as in red-neck tacky. I’ve lowered my ’58 GMC 7 inches front and back on a modern chassis and people want to tell me how much they like it everywhere I go. These trucks are a lot of fun no matter the paint condition. – CT Dave
Love it!
It has 2 strikes against it for me ! The lowered body, and the Amount of Surface Rust ( Patina to some ).To me if not taken care of now, means lots of Metal work later, or if you wait to long, the loss if the Body and bed ( even clear coating will not stop the Rust in all Places ) . Save the Truck now with a Rotisseris Restoration before it is no longer Salvagable !
Amen.
Kind of like it! Love the white walls. And I enjoy Patina to a certain point. Not crazy about lowered anything
My brother had a ’64 as his first vehicle and we put a pretty hot little small block in it with a Muncie M22 behind it. He ran the absolute crap out of it until it started taking up too much of his time with the constant repairs a broke young man couldn’t afford so he sold it.
He sold it to some guy and as soon as my brother handed over the title he told the guy, “Now get this piece of crap out of my yard before I call the cops.” Of course he was joking around but dude took him seriously and began to stammer and yammer asking for time enough to go get his trailer, etc.
He figured out my brother was joking when I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I still crack up thinking about that 40 years later.
Why does everything now has to be lowered. Seems all the trucks are on the ground.