Are you a Fleetside or a Stepside person? I must admit that I find myself on the Fleetside side of the coin, if only for its front-to-rear styling continuity; however, if a truck as clean and stylish as this 1964 Chevy C10 came along when I was looking for a truck, I’d gladly change my mind. Barn Finds reader Jack M. snapped up the link from craigslist in Hastings, Michigan, where the seller is looking to get $16,500 for a truck that will “go anywhere without worry” and look great doing it.
The Chevy is equipped as so many were back in 1964, in a fairly spartan manner: There’s no power steering, no power brakes, no automatic. The engine looks like the basic 230-cubic-inch six, a fairly new addition to the Chevy engine lineup, having replaced the old Stovebolt in 1963. Dubbed the “High Torque 230,” it made 140 horsepower (120 net) and 220 lb.-ft. of torque (205 net). As is typical of six-cylinder truck engines, the torque peak comes in at a low 1600 rpm. The standard rear axle ratio in the C10 was 3.73:1, so this is a two-lane hauler by modern standards, but the seller says that it “runs and drives perfectly.”
The interior appears to have few of the “custom options” shown in the dealer sales materials, but does have “easy to clean vinyl upholstery.” It’s hard to tell in these pictures, but it most likely has a rubber mat covering the floor as well. It does have a Custom Autosound stereo, so you’ll be able to have a soundtrack for your summer rides.
The bed of all Chevy trucks was made of wood, and the Stepside bed was 50 inches wide. Fleetsides had the same width bed between the wheel tubs, but widened out to 72 inches everywhere else (and had double-sided walls). On the other hand, you have to admit that a Stepside looks sporty, especially in its shortbed configuration. This truck is a trim 186 3/4 inches in length, just a few inches longer than a Corvair.
Painted light blue with contrasting white wheels and hubcaps, this ’64 looks as if it just rolled off the assembly line; of course, it’s not perfect, but the seller says that it is “absolutely perfect the way it is.” Given its condition and the general popularity of this bodystyle, I imagine that this truck won’t be up for sale long, and who knows—maybe you’re a Stepside person after all.
Love it!!! One of my favorite generations of Chevy and GMC trucks. I’d enjoy this one exactly as it is. Straight 6 3 speed on the column, manual steering and brakes. I wouldn’t be running this old workhorse on Route 80 every day, but for local runs around town its perfect. And Aaron, with these trucks, I’ll take either a step side or a fleet side, especially in such nice condition as this one. Heck, I even like the color. ( although turquoise is one of my favorites in these). I like the spare mounted up high on the bed too. Thanks for the write up Aaron and finding this gem Jack M.I enjoyed it.
I sure wouldn’t kick this one off my driveway; this is one NICE truck! The only one I liked better was the ’61 with its “Eyebrow Hood.” This style of GM was one of the best ever. Truth be known, I liked this style better than the two that followed it.
The 230 engine is one of the best engines ever made by anyone. Easy to work on; easy to get parts for and cheap to build and run. I had a 230 in my ’69 Chevelle and even though I harbored a dream of repowering it, the more I ran it, the more I decided to leave it alone. I would love to have it back…
The seller said it best. And it’s perfect because it’s not perfect. This is a truck meant to be used as a work truck but like every real professional that works with tools it was well taken care of. Some might balk at the price but the real value is in the way it’s been treated.
Stepside or Fleetside choice? How about Option 3:
”It doesn’t matter as long as it’s Myside of the driveway”!
Having been a career mechanic, I got to see the entire spectrum of owners/drivers and it was quite a revelation to see who looked after their vehicles and who didn’t. There were those who maintained to the nines and those who read the “Maintenance Free” decal on the battery and thinking it applied to the whole vehicle. I had a few who drove 20 year old vehicles and other than a little bit of road rash, they looked new.
The latter group I always went to bat for if I felt they deserved warranty on something that failed prematurely. And most of them didn’t expect it whereas the majority of the first group regarded warranty as an insurance policy for abuse.
And we’re going to disagree as to whose side of the driveway this should be parked on…
“.. and those who read the “Maintenance Free” decal on the battery and thinking it applied to the whole vehicle.”
That’s hilarious and incredibly true way too often than not.
As to the driveway bit-😆👍🏻
Aaron and Jack…NICE!!!.. I really love and appreciate the original condition of this truck. I would take this truck over a six figure restomod any day.
I’m like you geomechs, I prefer the 60/61 with the eyebrows but, this truck is a beautiful ride!!!
“Eyebrows,” I like that you call them the same as I do. My son has a 1961 Apache with the “eyebrows.” Too many 60/61 trucks had their hoods replaces with the 62-66 hoods. He actually has a spare ’61 hood in case anything happens to his current one.
I’d love to own this nice pickup but I’d be looking to place a 455 Buick or Pontiac motor in it to improve the pulling ability. LOL.
I drove enough of these 6 bangers back in the day to not want to do it today.
This is a very nice truck!!! Thank you Aaron for the writ up.. I would take it in a heartbeat.. This truck will make someone a great daily driver / weekend work horse that he can take to cars & Coffee and be a hit. I also like the side mount spare on the step side bodys.
You’re welcome! I also like the spare tire; score one for the Stepside. :)
nice looking truck. don’t see them like this anymore
Give me a Dodge of the same vintage. I’ve had Chevys and Fords also but something about the Dodges pull me back to them. Could have been my uncles 67 shortbed Sweptside. He bought a new A12 6 BBL RoadRunner that was rolled over and swapped the engine, 4 speed and Dana into the truck. He would take my cousins and I (10 year old gearheads) for rides and Ho Lee Chit, what a ride that thing was.
Yes! Sweptys, especially the pie plates, rock.
Very nice truck and the price is fair, If you don’t think so you haven’t been looking at older trucks for sale. What the seller said was perfect. I would say it needs nothing but you could also give it everything, if so inclined. I can’t imagine this listing lasting long!
This price is definitely fair. If you think that you are going to save money by purchasing a rust bucket and fixing it up, you are setting yourself up for a rude awakening.
great rig mid 50s -somewhere-, into 80s full prts interchangeability (not all of the body tho I believe). “Me’n my cheb p/u” became an international icon due to the C/K ( along w/others: ‘blue’ jeans, leather jackets, boom boxes, etc.)
I built miles of fence, fed out stock, plowed 1 mi driveway (hada huge sno blower for the frnt that was used a coupla times for the Nor’Easters that shut down the whole 9 state region) w/a ’68 4W’er. Granny 1st, i forget but think it had this same engine. I DO remember the NP205 and T-18 w/‘granny’ 1st . Only stuck 1X (due to snoplow frame & ‘off rd’ w a y back on property. Since I was building post’n board I was able ‘to get off’ w/some of the fence stock. Wheeew, (woulda been a long walk for a tractor back @ shed).
– -Chad
I still say there is a demand for trucks built just like this today. $16,500 ( which I have no doubt he’ll get!) for a 60 year old truck. Build the same new for less than 30k, delete the power windows, locks, mirrors, seats (heated of course!), touch screen, climate control and 10sp auto, all the crap that’s just more stuff to go wrong. I see 10 guys, right here, lined up to get theirs! Show of hands?
Cool looking stepside p/u. Not many around this clean!!
I really like Chevy stepsides and this one is about as good as it gets for a 60 year old truck that isn’t restored. I have no doubt that he’ll get his asking price. My father had a white ’65 with a 283, which as I recall had less than 70k miles on it when he sold for $500 in the early 70s. It has some bumps and bruises but it was still a nice solid truck. He offered it to me when he first put it up for sale but I told him no, and now here I am looking for one, but I want a 4×4.
Oh, if only I lived closer! Beautiful truck and I’d love to have it.
I learned how to work a 3 speed on the tree of my Grandpa’s 64 chevy truck. He wanted to get some Bails of Hay from the field. So at the tender age of 10 my lesson in driving/shifting a 3 speed transmission began. Biggest obstacle being I was just too short. He put a chunck of hay behind my back & problem solved. Good times.
Nice CLEAN Chevy truck here!! Nice and simple to work on too.