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Fire Rescue Survivor: 1971 Chevrolet C-10 K20

Old fire department vehicles continue to appear on eBay with some regularity, indicating there are still vintage workhorses with low miles hiding out in small towns and municipal garages. This 1971 Chevrolet C-10 has just under 40,000 original miles and even retains its original tires! The seller recommends changing those, but otherwise says the truck is a nice driver. Bidding is now over $5K with no reserve, and you can check the listing out here on eBay.

Hanover isn’t exactly an uncommon name, making it possible for the Chevy to have resided in townships from Massachusetts to Virginia and beyond. It seems most of these trucks are purchased at town auctions and rarely still reside where they did duty. Of course, many of them didn’t even have any actual duties given the low probability of brush fires in places like Pennsylvania (another possible Hanover location). Therefore, these trucks tend to live easy lives more as errand runners than brush fire fighters.

And we’re fine with that, as it means trucks like this one remain largely preserved. The seller says this is an automatic truck, but that sure looks like a manual box to me (disclaimer: my eyes could be playing tricks on me). The interior is holding up far better than anyone could have guessed, and it speaks to the fact that municipal owners took care of their rig even if it wasn’t out fighting forest fires. I’d love to bring back the days of the fire chief vehicle’s being painted bright red with a big strobe siren on top, traded in every few years for the newest model.

The bed appears quite nice on this Chevy, despite likely being used for more than a new hours’ worth of dump runs and hauling supplies. The lack of rust and high levels of originality will give the next owner a nice baseline to work with, but I’d be sorely tempted to simply keep the exterior as-is and just drive the thing, other than maybe adding a winch to complete the look.

Comments

  1. Avatar Terry Cantwell

    Transfer stick in floor. 4×4 adds to the prize

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Jimmy

    Yes put a new set of tires on it and check all fluids then drive it.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar AF
  4. Avatar Christopher Muse

    Colorado Springs
    Its replacement Shown

    Like 5
  5. Avatar Todd Zuercher

    Definitely a 4 speed manual, Jeff.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Mike

    I would not re-paint it , people pay thousands of dollars to replicate the exact look this unit now sports .
    Back home in Elk City Oklahoma, the Fire Dept would keep the smaller units indefinitely 25-30 years isn’t unusual . When it became time to replace one it usually went to a volunteer fire company before being sold as surplus .
    I once bought a 66 Ford 1/2 short narrow bed four wheel drive from the Sweetwater Oklahoma volunteer company for 800.00 had 60k miles on it and carried few options like a higher amp alternator , external battery connection , 4 wheel drive . I drove it as a parts getter for a couple years finally selling it to a neighbors son . That old Ford can still be found roaming western Oklahoma.

    Like 9
  7. Avatar JamestownMike

    This isn’t a C10. C=2wd, 10=1/2 ton. This is a K20. K=4wd, 20=3/4 ton.

    Like 17
  8. Avatar Eric g

    And the only stick I see on the floor was for the transfer case. But maybe my eyes are bad

    Like 2
    • Avatar Todd Zuercher

      If you look through the steering wheel, you can see a large rubber boot. That’s the transmission shifter.

      Like 4
    • Avatar Mark

      If you look closely at the pictures on eBay you can see there are 2 sticks coming out of the floor. A taller one which is the transmission and a lower one which is the transfer case.

      Like 6
    • Avatar Mountainwoodie

      This is The Shizzle………………2 sticks on the floor

      Like 4
  9. Avatar Barzini

    I miss the old hand-painted lettering and pinstriping that was once so common on commercial trucks. I understand why we’ve moved to wrapping and modern graphics but it does not have the same charm for me.

    Like 5
  10. Avatar Eric M.

    The ad on Ebay says it’s an automatic. The shifter is for the transfer case.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Mark

    Unless it’s a floor mounted shifter for the automatic it’s definitely a manual transmission! If you look at the seventh picture there are definitely 2 sticks coming out of the floor. A tall one which would be the transmission shift and a short one which would be the transfers case. There’s also not a stick coming out the right side of the steering column which would be where you would see an automatic transmission shifter.

    It’s hard to tell by the picture but it also looks like is a clutch pedal to the left of the brake pedal, all you can really see is the arm going down to it however.

    Like 4
  12. Avatar Tim W

    It’s a K-20. Owned one for 28 years. Look at the 8 hole wheels and big Spicer hubs. And it’s a 4-speed, look at the big rubber boot on the trans shifter. Nice truck. Had a K-5 and a half dozen C-10s this vintage, also. Best looking Chevy trucks ever built,IMO. It’s a non-air cab, but still worth the money…….

    Like 3
  13. Avatar newfieldscarnut

    Fire vehicles are parked indoors . This truck has been stored outdoors for quite a while judging by the steering wheel .

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Ken

    The Hanover Fire Department is located in Colorado Springs, which, according to the listing, is where the truck is located. Brush fires are probably a common occurence.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Pete

    She has jumped up to 9800 already. Not even surprised as solid as this thing is. Me likey. LOL.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Michael Shaffer

    Hanover Colorado southeast of Colorado Springs and Fountian, Security and Widefield also east of Interstate 25.A fire department and a school are what make up the town. Intersection of Peyton Hwy and Hanover Rd.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar treg forsyth

    Count the pedals…I see three.

    Like 1

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