LQ4 Upgrade: 1968 Chevrolet C10 Pickup

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This 1968 Chevrolet C10 Pickup features a look that some readers will find enormously appealing. Beneath the baked exterior beats a heart of gold, with this classic featuring mechanical upgrades designed to unleash exceptional power and performance. The buyer could elect to treat the exterior to a cosmetic refresh, though this Pickup is guaranteed to draw admiring crowds as-is. The seller has listed the C10 here on eBay in Fort Worth, Texas. Bidding sits below the reserve at $24,600 as the auction heads into its final days.

Scrolling through the seller’s image gallery tells us much about this 1968 Pickup. The Light Blue paint is heavily baked, there is plenty of surface corrosion, and the rockers exhibit penetrating rust. However, delving below the surface reveals a clean frame and rock-solid floors. That made me wonder whether the exterior is genuinely aged, or if the builder added touches of artificial patina. Replacing the rockers and applying fresh paint would be easy, but I don’t believe that this old Chevy would draw as much attention as it undoubtedly would in its current form. Therefore, my instincts tell me that most readers would leave the exterior essentially untouched. The trim is intact, and the tinted glass is in good condition. However, the slammed appearance and the wider White steelies with color-matched hubcaps confirm that there is more to this C10 than meets the eye.

Lifting the hood reveals that the builder wished to create something genuinely special. The entire factory drivetrain has gone the way of the dinosaurs. The engine bay now houses a fuel-injected 6.0-liter LQ4 V8, featuring a Stage 2 camshaft upgrade. The LQ4 produced at least 300hp in its factory form, though this motor may pump out considerably more. It feeds its power to a 3.73 Eaton Truetrac limited-slip rear end via a heavy-duty 4L80E four-speed automatic transmission. An aluminum radiator with electric fans keeps temperatures under control, and the Pickup also features power steering and upgraded four-wheel power disc brakes. That’s a pretty comprehensive package that should guarantee excellent performance and safety. The seller confirms that the Pickup has only clocked around 8,800 miles since the build ended. They supply this YouTube video in their listing. It delivers a comprehensive walkaround, allowing us to see and hear this classic in action. The V8 sounds as smooth as silk, and the vehicle rolls smoothly down the road with none of the squeaks and rattles that you might typically expect from older Pickups.

It is common to find builds of this type in which the creator has refurbished the interior to perfection, contrasting with an aged exterior. This Pickup offers a fascinating compromise because the painted surfaces are original and untouched. However, it features new Light Blue door trims, matching carpet, and a contoured bench seat clad in supple leather. The story doesn’t end there, because the dash houses Speedhut gauges and a potent Kenwood stereo with Bluetooth and other modern touches. Vintage air conditioning keeps life comfortable aboard this old Chevy, and the buyer also receives a tilt steering wheel and cruise control. I love the look of this interior, although I am not a fan of the wheel. That’s a matter of personal taste, and I will respect your view if you feel it is perfect. This interior needs nothing, and is another aspect of this vehicle that should win its new owner praise.

Although this 1968 Chevrolet C10 Pickup has attracted only eight bids, the listing statistics suggest that this figure will climb during the auction’s final hours. That is understandable, because this gem has so much to offer. The mechanical upgrades should deliver a dramatic performance improvement over this Pickup in its factory form. Fuel injection, a four-speed automatic transmission, and significant brake improvements will make this a safer and more user-friendly package than when it left the line. The big question surrounds its presentation. Would you leave the exterior as is, or would you raise its appearance to match the interior? Personally, I wouldn’t touch a thing.

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Comments

  1. Terrry

    Good grief, I don’t mind a little “patina” (aka rust) but over half the truck? And the seller should have fixed those rocker panels anyway because the “patina” has completely eaten them. Otherwise I like the mechanical work and interior. This is a truck I’d drive every day in between times I worked on the cosmetics.

    Like 0
  2. Mr Billy

    Is that the radiator overflow that’s missing some parts?

    Like 1

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