All right, Picasso, your canvas awaits. This Arizona preserved, well-patina-d ’68 Chevy C-10 is not gonna be a factory showroom Concours-grade restoration. But oh what fun you could have in the restomod world! This solid C-10 pickup is available at a current bid price of $7,100 with a BIN price of $11k here on eBay.
Something so lovely about the simple lines and the round puppy-eyes headlights of the ’67-’72 Glamour Pickup era, the charming good looks and incredible practicality. And the bed is not 4′ off the ground, imagine that? This CC-10 was equipped with painted bumpers, though the rear bumper has gone missing. Side trim pieces, badges, and hub caps are also MIA, but, Picasso, that’s your cue to be daring and do your best restomod thing!
Just to give you a taste of how well preserved and original this truck is, take a look at this underbody view: with the exception of a little surface rust, the steel and sheet metal look good.
The interior is clean; just guessing that the seat cover has been replaced but the dash and pad look unbaked and without a crack. Any damage or abuse of this truck has either not occurred or has been well repaired. Even the door panels are in good shape. (NOTE: phone, wallet, and pistola not included in sale).
OK, since we went with the Picasso “theme,” maybe this cropped shot of the C-10’s bed is appropriate and somewhat artistic as far as barn find photos go. It looks solid, original, yet well used. There are a few dings and dents in the body that need some attention, but can’t see visible rot on any sheet metals or floors. Find this truck now in Plano, Texas.
Decoding the VIN (CS148Z143755), this ½ ton truck was built in Fremont, California, and was originally equipped with a 6-cylinder engine. What we see here is a replacement GM 350 crate engine; the seller claims only 8,000 miles have been ticked since the transplant. The truck has also received a recent rebuilding of the rear end, a new clutch battery, new stereo, and speakers. It’s a three-on-the-tree manual transmission—try and explain that to your teenager. So, patina? Yep. Solid-body, frame, and floors? Yep again. Running well and ready for its transformation? Picasso, that’s all you! Bidding ends this coming Sunday, November 1.
I always thought this generation of pickup was the nicest Chevy/GMC ever made. My first pickup was a ’70 GMC 3/4 ton with FWD; a pig on gas but a great truck. Some nice work done to it so far, all it needs is paint and replace the fuzzy seat cover with OEM covers. I like ’em original on the outside so I’d probably source some steel wheels and original style hubcaps.
It will make a good project, the crate engine is a plus. However, being a long bed will limits appeal and value. The BIN is probably ambitious.
Steve R
“Perfect patina” as noted in the first sentence, unless it was a tongue-in-cheek remark, is a contradiction of terms.
I once had a ’68 Chevrolet C10 camper special, with a V7, never could get that odd cylinder to work properly.
It had a column shift that I had to pull back on the yoke of the steering wheel to get into reverse or 1st gear. The teeth in front of the firewall did not line up properly.
Once I saw something hanging below the cab behind the seat, so I kicked it up from the outside and my foot got stuck in the body. It was the jack hanging down.
It got about 22 mpg at 65 mph, because I flipped the air-cleaner upside down and it did not burn oil that much. I eventually gave it away as only had 942,300 original miles on it. Yes 942,300 is a correct mileage.
About a hundred years ago, as a kid, I worked at a farm that had a fleet of these to accomplish whatever hauling and trucking tasks were needed. We worked them to death and they all looked like this truck on average. They were nothing but a tool like any piece of farm equipment. We would have never believed these things would someday bring near five figures in the condition they were at that time. Life is funny sometimes.
My 69 was a Kelly tire company truck when I purchased it. It had a 307 with three speed manual. It was a great truck. I would love to get this 68 but I’m afraid my budget won’t allow it.
God bless America
HAd a 71 307 3 speed c-10. These have a solid metal sound when you close the doors. Cannot get that today. Was a great truck