This 1972 Chevy K20 four-wheel-drive pick up is one that really appeals to me. Claimed original, with a nice brawny 350 engine. My first new vehicle was a 72 Chevy 4-wheel drive pickup (mine was a no option, short bed, six cylinder, 3 speed on the column, which was tiny and poorly equipped compared to this beast). Truck is located in Bristol, Connecticut (home of ESPN and not all that far from Hartford airport) and is listed here on craigslist with an eye watering $9,500 asking price.
The seller’s description is detailed, clear, and makes me want to go see this truck as soon as possible. The pictures, on the other hand, are pretty dismal. Not very clear and you have to wonder, what is that tarp over the bed hiding. And what is that wooden box on the driver side floor?
If the seller’s description is for real, considering this is a 40+ year old New England truck, it’s an incredible find. Unrestored! Original paint! Cheyenne package with gauges. And a new bumper too (not installed). The asking price actually seems sane for once, and the seller will give a “discount price for going to a good home!” What more could you ask for in a craigslist ad?
What do you think? Will some other New England based Barn Finds reader grab this beauty? If so, let us know what happens.
Lose the cheesy striping and custom touches and then we’d be talking!
This is an amazing find in this condition. I believe this Cheyenne was the top of the line. Remember, classy pickups were just gaining steam, and this was one of the classiest. I’m not sure what Jesse means by “lose the stripes”. This was the “Cheyenne” package, and I’m sure someone paid a lot extra for that. Most of these rusted to bits in the rust-belt, as many were used for plow duty, or work trucks ( this is what the boss would show up with at the job site) I think the tarp covered the whole truck, and they just peeled it back to show the truck. Again, well worth it. Quite a find.
I’m sure he is referring to the custom pin striping seen on the tailgate and just in front of the drivers door. Not my cup of Budweiser either but along with the “keep truckin” artwork on the dash somebody shelled out some bucks for the “custom” artwork. Most likely a sign the truck has seen loving owners even if its not to everyone’s taste
Cheyenne Super was the ultimate. It’s a nice truck and lose all the striping crap.
This truck must not have seen many Connecticut winters. For several years truckers in particular have complained that the road salt compounds in wide use the last decade for snow and ice removal are corroding vehicles faster than the older methods of sand and salt. Judging from the underside of my father’s cars, I think they may be correct.
By the way, I get a kick out of the period features on this truck. It’s remarkable that they’ve lasted this long.
I had a plain jane K10 with a owner install 327 that I truly miss, sold it in 2002 to buy my last GTO. These were simple but effective work trucks but this one has more comforts than mine did. I would love to have this one and the only change would be to lose the flowers up by the windshield but leave the pin striping. I would drive this truck quicker than the fancy over priced plastic behemoths they call trucks today.
I do vintage car appraisals and was sent to evaluate one of these (a modified ’71 shortbed). I was astounded at what a nice, tight driving vehicle it was, had literally never wanted to own a truck until driving that one. Had a hard time not gushing too much on the written evaluation.
Seems like a nice buy….68-72 were some of the nicest-driving pickups made by GM…If it’s as sound as it seems, I wish it was closer
I agree, the “artwork” has to go. The wheels give it a retro 1980s look, which is interesting, but I probably wouldn’t keep that look. These factory 4 wheel drive high-boy type trucks are coming in to their own. Cool find.
The more I see these square-bodied vintage trucks the more I like them. Good ones aren’t as cheap as you might expect an old truck to be, but a good one is probably worth it if you consider the practicality, good looks, and fact that they seem to be appreciating in value.
This seller is willing to negotiate on price and even cut a buyer a break if it’s going to a good home.
The box is simply a center console. A much appreciated addition as there are no cubbies to keep ANY loose items and certainly no cup holders.
Remember it’s a column shift the shifter to the side is just the 4WD.
It IS a wonderful time capsule and while these are generally few and far between on the streets in the rust belt, any car show has a number of them.
The dry southern states continue to export these in droves. We have two sellers in Ontario that depend on these imports as their sole income.
Price seems right on the money, though a losing prospect for us north of the border. This exchange rate is killing the chance of importing without an immediate loss.
I’ve owned a lot of these over the years. They are a nice driving truck. This one is listed as a Cheyene, but not the Cheyene Super. It has the factory cab lights, with the embossed mounts on the cab roof, which I like. I hope the dash isn’t cut where that tach goes. And installing the new tach requires a new bezel and tach wire harness. Radio hole has been cut.
I’d be careful with the rust. It is showing up in different spots than I am used to seeing, which leads me to believe this truck has seen new rockers and cab corners, and now the cancer is going further and deeper. Previous repairs would need to be looked at carefully for a nice fit and finish.
The 4 wheel drive system on these is usually the older type, which requires manually locking the hubs. Mine didn’t have any clutch in the transfer case, so driving on dry pavement in 4WD would ruin it.
Surprised at the $9500 price. It’ll need lots of cash to bring it right back to top shape! Might be underwater before you’re done! Might be why he’s unloading it.
Manual hubs were the norm for another two decades unless they were full time 4WD.
And no 4WD drive train should be used in good traction conditions read your manual.
Dad owned a 67 C20 with the “optional” heater and nothing else. It had a 292ci straight 6 with a 3 speed column shift. It had no power steering. It went well over 500K miles. At 400k miles it went up the Alaska Highway to visit my sister. It was rough riding. It was crude. It was indestructible. It got a clutch at 200k. It got a new alternator and an engine bay wiring harness at about the same time.
It had a white Fiberglas shell over its bed and an 80 gallon fuel tank in its bed.
It finally rusted away in 2002 and he put it to sleep. We have never quit missing it.
If this truck could be anything like our old yellow one I’d be on a plane. Alas, our brand new 2005 Silverado WT lost a valve at 27k, had its steering column replaced at 30k, and ruined both of its catalytic converters at 37k. Upon finding that it required $1800 in repairs, we sold it. Its bed was unscratched. The heaviest load it ever carried was two mountain bikes. I would never have tried a trip to Alaska in that truck. Sad.
These were the best trucks GM ever made loved mine regret scrapping it.
IMO the ’67 – ’72 Chevy trucks were the best ones they ever made. I’ve had a dozen or more through the years and regret selling each one. The last one I owned was a ’69 long bed that had a gas tank behind the seat with additional 25 gallon/each saddle tanks. It had a 3-way valve handle on the floor by the driver’s seat. It was my daily driver and it was driven everywhere. It had almost 400K miles on it when I sold it. This one is priced well or would be in our area. These trucks go for big money in central Texas, even ones that are in bad shape. The days of finding a $2000 project truck are long gone here.