For many years, second-generation C/K trucks were likely the most popular trucks on the collectible vehicle market. Now that “Squarebody” third-generation trucks have moved to first place in that category, there may be a chance for a fan of the gorgeous lines of the 1967-1972 versions of General Motors trucks to find a good example at a reasonable price. This 1970 GMC K10 for sale on eBay in Fulton, California is a weathered but solid example of the GMC version of these trucks. With a short bed, four-wheel drive, and a few other desirable options, bidding on this truck has already reached $15,100 with just two days left. Is this the solid, original California truck you have always wanted? Are you ready to throw in your bid with the 37 already made to garner a nice truck with an honest patina?
I am happy to report that we are finally given a back story in the ad. It was sold at Allison Pontiac-GMC in San Jose, California. According to the seller, the second owner purchased the truck in 1971 in the little town of Yreka, California. The ad implies that it stayed in the second owner’s possession for some time. Five years ago, the seller became aware of the truck and tried to get the second owner to sell it to them. That persistence must have paid off, for it seems that the seller has owned this sun-bleached GMC for three years. During that time, their focus has been to make it a reliable daily driver. In the good news department, a “ton” of original paperwork and documentation will come with the truck upon the sale.
The seller has also shared a lot of information about the condition of the truck itself through print, pictures, and video. We are told that it has been painted once. In the process of repainting it, the previous owner decided to paint the top of the cab the same color as the body even though this truck came from the factory painted white above the door line. The truck does still have the original style grille guard and the Protect-O-Plate is still in its proper place. It will even come with a set of original California black license plates.
Additionally, the truck has what the owner calls a “small older lift kit” installed and a new steering stabilizer has been installed. The front end has also been recently rebuilt as well. The wheels are 15×6″ steel wheels (referred to in the ad as “4-nub” wheels) which are said to be correct for trucks with disc brakes. The tires are B.F. Goodrich KM2s in size 33×10.5×15 and they still have 50% of their tread left. As you can see from the picture above, the truck does sit a bit tall but not to the point of being outrageous.
A peek inside reveals that the cab of this GMC looks like the day it left the factory. Just looking at the vinyl seats brings back painful memories of summers past, when the surface temperature of GM vinyl such as this could reach egg-frying temperatures quickly. You can almost feel the pain of jumping into such vehicles as a child with shorts on by looking at that green vinyl. At any rate, the seller shares with us that a new old stock rubber mat and dash pad have been installed. The truck also came with a tachometer, which is a seldom-seen option. We are also told that the radio in it is still an AM unit, and it works to this day.
Under the hood is not, sadly, the original engine. We aren’t told what happened to the original. However, a 40K mile 350 cubic inch small block V-8 with a Quadrajet carburetor was secured from a similar 1970 pickup and installed. That replacement engine is said that the “seal (has) never been broken.” If any of the readers can explain this, please do so in the comments. Several components have been replaced or updated in the seller’s pursuit of making this a reliable vehicle. Listed in the ad as such are a Pertronix ignition, a newer Harrison 4-core radiator, a new battery, a new alternator, and a new heater core. Backing up the replacement engine is an SM465 4-speed manual transmission featuring the famous “granny low” that working trucks used to have. A new clutch for that transmission has also been installed.
The rear end is fully rebuilt, with a 3.73 gear ratio. This rear end is also equipped with Positraction to help with those pesky low traction moments that such a truck may encounter. A completed disc brake conversion with OEM parts will greatly help in slowing this truck down, and a new master cylinder and power booster have been installed. All of the hard brake lines have also been replaced in the truck.
Single cab, vinyl bench, rubber floor, four wheel drive, reasonable bed height, and a V-8 paired with a manual transmission. When trucks practical and knew how to work, not be flimsy $80K statements to excess…. Nice find.
You can buy a lot of gas with the savings, even in California, sold for $23,500.
Steve R
What’s with the GMC hate? I would rather have a GMC over a Chevy any day of the week..
Totally Agree. GMC is my preference too.
Professional grade!
I’m inclined to prefer the GMC side myself. I don’t know why it was but there was a stigma about GMC that began long before I was around. It seemed that GMC was a work truck and for a spell it was. Different engines, parallel leaf springs on the rear when Chevy went to coils. GMC was like the red-headed stepchild. But I still liked them.
I hear you Raymond
Check the bulkhead in the area of the rain gutter. Leaves (and in Yreka, pine needles) get in there and and rust it out.
Other than that these are great trucks.
A real truck, and were it a long-box with an automatic vs a manual it would be the exact twin of the true farm truck owned by our farmer neighbor in Oregon. The now real old timer is a legendary hazelnut grower and as a punk kid I was hired by him to help plant hazelnut trees in the gloomy winter weather of Oregon. I was amazed at how that truck could grind through muddy, plowed fields with a load onboard. I am sure they were bias-ply tires that kept it going. It never seemed to get stuck.
I’m assuming by him saying “the seal has never been broken” on the replacement engine, he’s saying that engine has never been opened up (heads, intake, or oil pan removed) for any work. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
I’d like to have a truck like this. I much prefer this over the “square body” rigs. I’m thinking about getting an older rig more and more as my 2005 model ages and the prices keep going up on the new stuff. My kids are almost grown, so I won’t need a crew cab or even an extended cab. I don’t really need 4wd 99% of the time. I’ve got my eye out for a long bed 2wd in hopes that it’ll be less desirable to most folks and cheaper to buy.
Yes I would agree with you about the seal never being broken my dad and uncles business had a 1970 Chevy c/20 350 4speed Muncie stone crusher 8 ‘utility body and also a 1983 c/20 customer deluxe 8 ‘reg. Bed 305 barrel carb with a automatic overdrive transmission both were Awesome pick-ups both had over 300000 miles on them before retirement I do love the 70 Chevy better though
Friend of mine had a square body GMC ,had front air brushed plate that got made at the Carl Casper car show in Louisville that said ,Generic Motor Coach..
still I’d take 2nd gen, this 1 a yr too old? Now the Blazer? gotta B this model…
4WD short bed step side 292 (’68) p/u. Cant say how many hundred mi of fence or tuns of sno it moved 4 me (even hada snoblow on it 4 when really bad).
This here is an also ran and that’s nota put down~