Now that’s a Barn Finds-looking photo! We hit all genres here, as you know, and a lot of vehicles aren’t shown sticking halfway out of a lean-to or a barn somewhere, all covered in dust. This 1962 Chevrolet C-10 Fleetside is one that is an actual barn find, and this truck looks pretty nice, despite the dust. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in the capital city of the great state of Montana: Helena, and they’re asking $2,000. Here is the original listing.
Helena is off the beaten path a bit, as in not on the main east/west freeway (I-90) through Montana, but it’s on a major north/south freeway (I-25) just over an hour north of Butte, and it’s worth a visit for sure. As if I have to give the Montana Travel Bureau any help with their marketing. It’s especially worth a visit if you’re going to find vehicles like this solid Chevy half-ton pickup parked and waiting for the next owner to get them on the road again. Is this paint color a very faded Sea Mist Jade? It has more green in it than Desert Beige.
The only real issue I see with this truck is that it appears to have either taken a hit in the back end or backed into something. Both sides of the rear bed have dents as if the rear bumper has been pushed in. I’d want to check that out for any possible frame damage; it sure pushed in those sides. That’s not impossible to fix, but you’re not going to slather 4″ of bondo on those dents, I hope. It isn’t running, of course, or the seller would have driven it out for better photos, but despite that, they have provided pretty good photos for a truck sitting in a lean-to.
The interior looks nicer than I thought it would. I assumed that mice would have eaten everything in here, including the steering wheel and floors. Well, maybe not that, but at least the back of the seat looks perfect. I’m guessing the bottom part of the seat isn’t as nice. The first-generation C-series two-wheel drive Chevy pickups were made from 1960 through 1966, and they’re by far my favorites, along with the GMC counterparts. The ’60 and ’61 trucks had quad headlights, but for the 1962 model year, they came with two headlights. The uber-long shifter is for what I’m assuming is an optional 4-speed manual. A 3-speed with column shifter would have been standard, but a 4-speed was optional on the C-10 and C-20 trucks.
Sadly, the seller didn’t pop the hood, and that’s always disappointing. This one has Chevrolet’s 235.5-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 135 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. Backed by the mystery manual sending power to the rear wheels, through what the seller says is a “positive attraction” rear end. Remember, this is a family show… If the dents in the bed didn’t do any structural damage and the bits of rust on the doors and fenders aren’t too bad, not to mention the drivetrain being an unknown, this could be a fun project. How much would you pay for this ’62 Chevy C-10, and would you restore it or restomod it?
Dangerous location for me. Last of the torsion-bar front ends. GM used them through the ’62 production year and them went to coil springs. My Dad had a ’61 and my uncle had a ’62. I still have to say that I perfer the ’61’s eyebrow hood but I sure wouldn’t kick either one of my driveway. Perform a driver quality restoration and just use it as it was designed for…
Geo, if you have time to pick it up and get it working like new, I’ll be up to take it off your hands!
I already asked Stan yesterday to take me on a test drive and that I’d buy the coffee and donuts. What the heck? Why don’t we just swing up there too. I’ll buy the coffee and the donuts for everyone!!! I’m seriously Jonesing for a Jelly Dunkin Donut right now…… Followed by a Boston Cream one next lol. I’m sure Stan won’t mind.
If anyone here has seen a patern here…… I’m on a diet!!!
This is one of my favorite generation Chevy pickups. And this, really appears to be a true ” Barn find”. I’m 99.999763% positive its a 4 speed ( Creeper Gear 1st). I’m with Geomechs above. Restore it to driver condition clean it up and enjoy every single mile I can in it. And I think thats a very fair price for admission from how solid this one looks. Great find here Scotty. I enjoyed it very much.
LOL We always called it Granny Gear
I owned two of these, a C10 short box that had a broken 235 that i swapped out for a Pontiac 261, and C20 long box with a 292. Both 4 speeds, great trucks, so simple to work on.
Everything in life should be this simple. I’m with Geo, clean it up and drive it!
Had a 62’ years ago. It was a great truck, mine had a 283. Other than the death wobble between 35 and 40 mph I really liked it.
Control arm bushings.
I am with Geo and Jim… Just refurbish it!!! This truck will make someone a very good daily driver / grocery getter and will be able to enjoy being a friend maker at local car and truck shows.
Simple is right. I had a ’65 with the 235. On a trip to the landfill with a huge load of yard debris, a rusted freeze plug sprung a large leak. I grabbed a stick out of the bed of the appropriate diameter and length, shoved one end into the freeze plug hole, and wedged the other end against the inner fender. Fixed! Continued the trip to the land fill and made it all the way home without a hick up. What a great truck!
Box looks like it had a heavy load dropped or packed down with a loader bucket.crushed the box mounts I think.
Reproduction parts are very available for these trucks.. As long as the frame is intact it would not take much to fix the box..
So in my little county theres a handful of chevy trucks, one of the c10 guys came into the little gas station today w a new to him 63 chevy truck looked really good from far away. Same greenish color i asked how it was he said “rougher then a night in jail” he said he traded a beatup honda civic for it. Crazy to see one on barnfinds same day.
surprised it’s still for sale. if wasn’t 2300 miles from me i would snap it right up
Wow! I’ve always wanted a truck with Positive Attraction.
If this isn’t a candidate for a driving restoration I don’t know what is.