When cars are left to pass away the time in a carport, it’s not hard to spot them from the road. While I like the idea of a carport for sticking my daily driver under for cover from the rain, my projects would live elsewhere, not visible to wandering eyes. This 1965 Chevy C-10 here on eBay is neither a driver nor a project; however, it was once the former and is now destined to become the latter. The seller’s father stopped driving around 20 years ago and this classic C-10 has been parked ever since.
Despite being used as a driver, the interior looks very clean for the age. The 52,000 miles on the clock could be genuine with such a clean, clear gauge cluster and unripped bench seat. The pedal box area looks solid as well, and the dash appears practically new. If nothing else, this Chevy remains in virgin form without any clear signs of modifications or extensive damage. The seller says there is some rust but it’s hard to tell if it’s in the floors or just surface-area only.
Impressively, the tires are stuck to the pavement! I checked the weather in Raleigh yesterday and it’s well into the 80s. I suspect many a hot North Carolina summer has helped this C-10 lock lips with the pavers beneath its tires. No word on mechanical health but it doesn’t sound like the seller wants to go too invasive in his investigation, simply noting it hasn’t run in quite some time and will need to be towed to its next location. The engine bay continues the theme of being just an honest, used truck that hasn’t been subjected to personalization.
Do any of our readers have a guess as to the car its parked next to (visible in this photo and the one above)? This carport setting makes me think the owners got up in the years and stopped driving, leaving the Mr. and Mrs. vehicles to gather dust outside, perhaps catching the eye of gearheads wandering by and wondering when the owners would sell. Bidding is currently over $3,000 with the reserve unmet, so I imagine this long bed’s authentic appearance is catching some Chevy enthusiasts’ eyes. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jim S. for this carport find!
Well, there’s no way it’s 52,000, but it wouldn’t be 152, as these rarely lasted that long. Speedometers do quit working, which is what I suspect here. Emergency brake handle worn, and wrapped steering wheel ( I’m sure the paint is gone) and the engine bay looks pretty rough. Great find. These are getting scarce. Be a good ol’ truck. I’d leave it as is. The car next to it has to be a late 60’s Chrysler product, with those turn signal indicators on the fender.
Great truck will probably double in price. Beside it, my guess early to mid 70’s Mopar. Possible a Dodge Coronet .
Cool old truck. The Mopar next to it…looks to be early 70’s Chrysler Newport or New Yorker.
My 65 GMC, known as the Old grey mare has over 300,000 on it, although its on its 2nd engine and was used motor before i swapped it in, and is pretty tired now. With maintenance these things are perpetual, will never die. I like the styling and will only become more collectible. Some of the quirks, Like the brakes and steering (Cant tell but unlikely its power steering) can leave you wanting better, but pretty basic well built trucks. Preserve it or do some upgrades (Brakes, steering, overdrive or different tranny for MPG)
I like this truck much better than that Ranger GT.
Needs a whole lot of cleaning then driving. I don’t think I’d make a lot of plans from there. Just use it as the builders intended.
Mid 70’s New Yorker is my guess.
Ebay ad says 348 motor not with those valve covers 283 or 327…..
Correct, (maybe) its not the V6 seen sometimes in these. And you are probably correct its a 283 assuming its the original and stock motor. Note the engine breather next to the top radiator hose, That is typical of 283s and their intake manifolds. But in reality it could be any number of small block chevy’s. More details and better pictures would tell. The 283 Powerpack heads are distinctive. Small little rectangle with a small triangle on top and no exterior bolt holes (For power steering, alternator etc) Theres a number of heads the 327 could/would have but in that time period would often by camel hump heads and again distinctive markings. I used to own several 283s and loved them. I had a late 60s 327 as well. Used to spend a lot of time with my SBC spotters guide book but now with the internet its faster to just look up casting #s and Markings
Hi Doug. The ID symbols were a good guide for identifying SBC heads. One thing I found to be confusing was the rectangular pads with the single and double spikes. The 327 Industrial engines used in the Massey Ferguson 510 combines used them. They were substantial, having.202 intakes plus the heads featured larger ports, but they also ran sodium-cooled exhaust valves. I might add that they all ran forged cranks. I worked in a GM dealership and customers would bring them in for rebuilding. Tempted many times to swap out some pieces.
Description also says they don’t know what kind of motor is in it. I saw those exhaust manifolds though and figured it was a SBC of the same two displacements called out above.
I meant to also mention those exhaust manifolds. Those are Rams horn manifolds and I dont know about lately but for a long time those were in demand as they flow better allegedly than the later smog manifolds. they look better, and for class restricted racing can be EXTRUDE honed and made to flow pretty good. (Abrasive paste forced under pressure, pretty amazing stuff) Ive seen them cleaned up and polished with ceramic coatings and they look really nice not to mention the ceramic coating cutting down on radiant heat. Im not sure if there are reproductions of them made now or they are even more valuable now?
But I have a couple sets stashed.
Hi Geomechs!, Wow, thats a really neat substory to these engines. I still have my 327 although it has not run in years. Pulled it out of a wrecked 60s corvette back in 1982. (Driver dozed off or was asleep and did and end-over-end off marine drive here in PDX). I will have to keep an eye out for one of those industrial versions of the 327 as you never know what turns up around my neck of the woods. I still have my SBC spotters guide book, Because of you im going to be looking thru it again tonight. Over the years when the opportunity came up, I bought up old early 70s Chevy trucks for the core 350 mtrs. A few tell tale signs will get you the Forged cranks, HD Rods, Hi nickel (& Seasoned) blocks. I have several of these mtrs in storage and my wife is building her first SBC engine this summer using one. Its for her 69 Chevelle project, She is commandeering one of Muncie trannys as well. If you have any more gems of info from days past I always appreciate hearing them!
Today though, its hard to find good cylinder heads for vintage, And some really good aftermarket heads out there very affordable (Alloy and cast iron, see Summit racing, JEGS, etc) AND>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Drumroll please!!! See how a post on here can send people off on a tangent??? I spent an hour yesterday looking at postings and websites researching Rams horn exhaust manifolds. YES YES YES, You can buy NEW Rams horn manifolds, and tubular and ported Rams horns and repop ramshorns for very affordable prices, Some chromed, some ceramic coated, some au natural. This lead to several forum threads on Headers vs Rams horn manifolds, dyno tests, and then pages of debate on engine breathing, tuning, and optimizing exhausts and vintage engines. Fun and interesting. I know many people have moved on from these vintage motors, and the new gen chevy mtrs are all the rage, but I guess i still like living in the past. So does my wife as well. Her 69 Chevelle is her dream car. Nothing too fancy, just a period hot rod like what we grew up with back in the day. All of our relatives kids are drooling over it as well. “When is it gonna be done Auntie?”
Only the GMC Trucks had the 305 V-6 not Chevy.
Based on the pictures the sheet metal looks good.
No pics of the bottom edges of anything, these notoriously rusted along the fender bottoms and inside the cab where the floor meets the rocker panels. Probably a 307 or 283. Shake, rattle and roll as soon as the clutch comes up. Lots of memories there!
This may be what was sitting next to the truck, 78 Chrysler New Yorker
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Chrysler-New-Yorker-Brougham-Hardtop-4-Door-/201552009256?nav=SEARCH
Yep, same seller as the truck. That 78 New Yorker had a 440 4 bbl!
Nice old Truck, I can see it having only 52000, I have seen a few that look this good and have about the same mileage, you have to remember in the 60″s and early 70’s a lot of older people did not put a lot of miles on their cars, because the older American’s did not do a lot of unnecessary anything. They stayed close to home. I can guarantee my Grandparents when they got into their upper 60’s they drove only when they had to. In 1982, My Dad’s parents bought the house next to him and Mom, and Dad took them just about everywhere or My Brothers and I did. The last car that my Grandparents had was 20 years old when Dad sold it for them and it had about 30,000 actual miles on it.
I am thinking that the car next to the truck looks like a late 60’s early 70’s Chevy Impala, with the flowing body style side that is seen. That and the placement of the passenger mirror.