These days, finding a vintage vehicle that has been in long-term family ownership for literal generations is almost as significant as uncovering a forgotten barn find. The provenance of hobby cars is sometimes as important to buyers as the general condition, so to find a classic 1971 Chevrolet C10 pickup that has been with the seller’s family since 1971 and still presents well is a hard combo to beat. This truck was listed here on Barn Finds Classifieds and the seller is the owner’s son who notes that his dad bought the truck as a lightly used vehicle in ’71 and has owned it ever since.
These days, we all know that C10s are in demand. But when you read the recounting of the truck’s history with the seller’s family, you’re reminded these were just conventional workhorses back in the day, much like any modern full-size pickup. This one features the familiar two-tone paint job which looks like it will clean up nicely with a wash and polish. The long bed may not be the hottest ticket in town, but that doesn’t mean that a clean C10 like this won’t have a few potential suitors wanting to bring it home. The seller is asking $12,500 for the Chevy, which is parked next to a Monte Carlo, another project that didn’t get the restoration the owner intended.
Life just gets in the way, sometimes. The seller confirms that the truck has been in Tennessee all of its life and as such, it’s not a rust bucket. The interior looks quite nice for an unrestored truck that has been parked, and the matching blue paint on the dash suggests the exterior is the original finish. I can’t tell if the dash pad is cracked, but there’s a chance it isn’t if it’s been inside for ages. In general, climates like Tennessee aren’t exposed to wild extremes in temperature, so there’s a good chance the dash has survived. Based on the seller’s description, it sounds like this Chevy began life as a manual and was later converted to an automatic, which the seller notes is a 700R-4.
The seller notes the chassis mileage is 167,000 but that his dad pulled the original engine for a lower mileage unit at one time, before swapping the matching mill back in. It currently needs some love as it has a burnt valve, and the seller further notes his dad swapped on 327 heads to improve the gas mileage. The original heads are still available and will come with the truck. The price is on the high side but the seller admits freely that this is the number his dad wanted to start with. The C10 is a project but one that looks worthy of the time and money to bring it back to life.
Its originally equipped with an auto trans, a sun gear is in an auto tranny not a manual…..I guess he really did like working on cars, a lot of engine, engine parts, tranny swapping going on and some for no real gain such as putting 327 heads on for fuel mileage, what do you gain putting original motor back in with a 127k on it and not rebuilding it first, the od tranny would be good upgrade for someone that’s not concerned with originality….as far as the price, everything has been so far out of Wack for the last several years, who knows what is good value anymore, as far as I can see 5k is minimum for a 4dr sedan in poor condition I would of just “swiped left” 10 yrs ago….
Would like to see a picture of the inside of the glove box door. That would give you the information about the truck. Suspension, rear differential gears etc… price isn’t too far off, some better pictures maybe the door sills, rockers and cab corners
Surprised its still available
Neat old truck, even has the AC in place. Wouldn’t take a lot to make this one real nice. Seems priced right, at least in today’s market. Get rid of that glass fuel filter quick though. They have caused more burnt cars than ex wives have…
I owned one of these AND a Monte Carlo like the one in the background. If I had enough life left, I’d like to have both. Asking price doesn’t make a rat’s ass to me – the relevant marker would be “do I have that much?”