I know long bed trucks aren’t as desirable as short beds, but this C10 looks like it could be a good project to learn on. Most of us aren’t professionals when it comes to restoration work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn the fine art of reshaping metal or welding in patch panels. Personally, I wouldn’t want to learn on a high dollar classic, but a big old pickup seems like a good place to learn. Parts are readily available, they are reasonably priced and most panels are easy to access. This rig has some rust issues and plenty of dings to practice smoothing out. It already runs and drives, so you could put it to work while you work on it! You can find it here on eBay in Bend, Oregon with a current bid of $425.
The seller admits it has issues, like rust, mushy brakes and the engine idles high. The last two can be fixed easily enough, but the rust is going to be a more pressing issue. There are several companies manufacturing patch panels for these trucks though, so fixing it won’t be impossible. I would recommend checking the frame for serious rust though, as that’s one thing I would leave to a professional.
I’ve spent a lot of time pounding out dents and it really is a fine art that takes a lot of practice to master. The first couple cars I worked on looked better once I was done, but I wouldn’t say they looked great. I’m glad though that I learned on those cars rather than my Fiat or our MGA! I think this truck would be a fun one to learn on and it might actually turn out to be a great parts and junk hauler.
If you take your time and figure out how to smooth this truck out, you could even end up with a rig that’s worth more than you put into it. Of course that’s assuming the rust issues aren’t so bad that you end up replacing all the of metal. For the right price though, you might still be able to pull it off! So would you take on this C10 or would you hunt for one that has less rust?
This can’t be worth $800, right?
I had a 69 C10 longbed for years. I loved that tank of a truck. Unfortunately due to limited parking in an apartment complex, I was forced to sell it. Wish I had it today.
I don’t know why longbeds are less desirable. They are TRUCKS. I want that carrying capacity. I don’t want to lower it, shorten the bed, chop the top, or customized it. I want a good solid running classic truck made of real steel. I want to USE the truck for what it was meant for. Hauling, towing, being a big bad monster of a real truck.
Back when I had my C10, there were indeed rust issues, but today I have the skill set and a good availability of parts that would make me smile at the ease of repair. Door sill plates rust out (easy fix), outer door skins at the bottom, and depending on your area, the lower lip of the wheel wells. It used to be interior parts like the heater controls were made of unobtanium, but today pretty much every part is available, including every bit of sheet metal on the truck. You can buy a new frame, new body, etc. You can build a new truck. And it’s not horribly expensive.
These were made of thick steel. No 22-24ga stampings. These are heavy and solid. They lasted because they were built to last.
I would love to get another 67-72 C30 one ton as a flatbed.
Unless I’m mistaken, the ’69 had a steering column lock.
I don’t believe so. I have a 71 and over the years family members or myself have had several and I don’t ever remember a steering wheel lock on any of them. The ignition is still on the dash on these.
Maybe the trucks or GM didn’t but my 70 Mach1 has the ignition in the column and the 69 version is in the dash. I wanted a tilt column from Ididit but they said because my ignition is in the column they don’t make those yet but they did for 69 and earlier because they had theirs in the dash.
Its close enough to me that I might bid on it. I would not pay a lot though. It would be fun to get it straight and spray it with the gallon of silver I bought of the computer. BTW one day I typed in cheap auto paint and found all these sights selling complete paint kits-just the paint,reducer clear coat,hardner ect. $75 plus shipping. First thing I thought was quality,you get what you pay for.I bought the gallon of silver with the other componants all less than $100 with shipping and want to try it on sonthing that doesn’t reguire much prep and see how it goes. I did prepped a fender I did not need and sprayed it. It came out great. Its been outside for a year nowno wax just as I sprayed it so far it still looks as good as it did when I sprayed it. FYI that’s cheap. just don’t use on a good car
I learned how to weld in replacement rockers on my 68 K10 long bed truck, it was a work truck and I didn’t care but the whole truck turned out pretty nice. The featured truck could make a nice daily driver for the right price. LMC truck parts is just across the Missouri / Kansas border from me so parts would not be a issue, me getting to old to kneel down to do the work is the problem.
@Jim L… I think the anti theft locking steering columns were not mandated until 1970.
Could be wrong, but I think it was the new body style in ’73 with the locking steering wheel.
longbeds are better