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.
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.
But do you think it’s worth 24K or higher in it’s present condition?
Is that the radiator overflow that’s missing some parts?
A great driver, if you live in a desert climate. Otherwise, you’ll only take it out on sunny, dry days. I always thought this was a weird trend. I can understand if you build it. But I don’t understand the appeal to the buyers. “Oh, cool! You left all the rust on it! Here’s $25k!”
I’ll say it’s because the work they’ve done so far is comparatively affordable, a paint job and associated body work to make this truck look slick is going to cost $20k, so then he’s going to need to get $50k for it and that is a bit of a gamble.
I like patina as much as the next guy but this is a strange build. Really should be listed as an unfinished project. The rust needs to be addressed, plenty of guys (ie. Jerome Borris) who can match the patina later…
Patina is another word people use when they don’t want to finish a project. Nice drive train and interior a person can use them on a project that’s not rusted out.
I’ll never forgive “Pickers” for making the term and idea of patina mainstream. I know we all have different tastes and fads come and go but this one’s is way past it’s time to go. Just an excuse for not having $$$ for bodywork and paint. An old car is just an old car if it doesn’t shine. It’s the shine that separates it from the crowd. I’d put this thing back behind the barn where it looks like it belongs. That’s just me of course.
The paint wear on the inside of the driver’s door qualifies as patina. The large patches of surface rust are signs of neglect and not honest wear.
The thing which makes me wonder the most is when artificial patina is added directly to a new paint job. Repair the body on this truck and paint it. If the goal is to make it look like a rust bucket, wrap the vehicle providing images of various patina’d vehicles as examples of the desired look.
Earlier I failed to rant about this truck’s interior. The leather interior looks good but the multiple shades of blue are not too attractive. Worse yet is the blue courtesy lamp. The whole vibe (yeah I’m hip) is ruined by the tacky *** door and window handles. If those aren’t sold in blister packs, they should be. Power windows and door locks would be drastic upgrades.
Yeah. Nice truck.
Is it just me, or is the whole, “patina” trend about played out?
Nice truck but I would give a nice paint job
With all that rust at that price they can keep it
Do any of you guys know what you are talking about, leaving it unpainted is all about keeping the history and character of the vehicle and showing its led a life and not making it shiny like every other vehicle, yes keep it sealed with a coat of clear or whatever but keep the individuality too much same ol same ol, long live original and patinated cars
nota fan. Kinda makin a truck into today’s. A suburban commute, grocery, kid bus, etc. Well said “…a truck I’d drive every day…”. Turns it into an appliance. I’d rather its orig use – a tool, as built/designed. Gettin into the ‘good yrs’ of the C/K cheb line ’60/91 and to do THIS to it?
I hate patina, esp fake, esp cleared over. A lill ona entirely ‘survivor’ grade is fine. 1st mis-take (4 me) is the lowered stance makin wheel/fender look “off’. It’s all opinion, style anyway. For me I like sleeper mods (unseen performance) but ina truck? no they’re not racers. OEM w/mods to improve their original purpose. They wanna work? Let’s help them (not turn it intoa car)~
Natural ‘shadow’ patina from my backyard storage
Ya, that old patina will never come around again. All the modern stuff just flakes off in chunks. Might as well appreciate the patina while we can!