As pickup trucks continue to gain popularity and market share as everyday drivers, so do their predecessors as collectibles. And among the most popular varieties are ’67-’72 Chevrolet C10s (Action Line) and their corresponding GMC stable-mates. That being the case, today, for your review, I have a 1968 Chevy C10 that’s in sound and complete condition. Yeah, it has that unfortunate “patina thing” going on, but let’s consider it existentially and see what else it has to offer. Fredericksburg, Texas, is where you’ll find this 1/2 ton long-bed, and it’s available here on eBay for a BIN price of $15,500. There is a make-an-offer option available, too.
Today’s subject is the less popular long-bed version of Chevrolet’s always-in-demand C10; apparently, the big money is with the short-bed version. There’s enough of a value disparity that some restorers have made their mark by converting long-bed trucks (127″ wheelbase) into the more valuable shorter-bed variety (115″ wheelbase). The seller claims that this C10 is a two-owner truck, and adds, “It’s a true Southern survivor that’s never been over-restored or disguised; what you see is the real deal.” As for its obvious patinaed finish, we’re told, “The factory Saddle paint and solid Fleetside body give this truck an irresistible patina – the kind that can’t be replicated with paint. It’s not perfect, and that’s exactly why people love it.” OK, so this one’s not wearing a “manufactured” look, but I gather its originality has been preserved with clear coat. Structurally, this truck shows well; no noted indication of rot is evident, though there is a Bondo patch in the lower passenger side of the cab. Fortunately, the cargo bed reveals just some surface rust and nothing more invasive than that – originality does abound!
Powertrain-wise, we have a first-year 200 gross HP, 307 CI V8 engine paired with a three-speed manual (three-on-the-tree) transmission. The seller suggests that the 79 K-mile motor “runs with that smooth, unmistakable small-block Chevy character.” If you look closely, you can see where this small-block V8 was originally equipped with an A.I.R. pump. The supporting bracket is still attached, and the ports in the exhaust manifolds have been plugged.
The interior’s bench seat has been reupholstered in correct patterned material, and the rubber floor mat is a replacement, but the remainder of the environment shows as being untouched. The seller mentions that the weatherstripping and door sills are new, and states, “Everything works as it should – lights, blinkers, horn, and a new radio and speaker system add a touch of modern functionality. The heater core will need replacement for heat…”
I found this listing comment to be interesting: “Other original-style features include manual steering and drum brakes all around, giving it the pure, mechanical feel that modern trucks just can’t replicate.” Well, I’d suggest that it’s a good thing that modern trucks don’t replicate the “feel” of manual drum brakes, but I get what the seller is trying to convey. Other than the patinaed finish, I’d say this truck is a nice find, if for no other reason than its not-messed-with originality. Even the pricing seems more reasonable than I would have initially expected. And, regarding that matter, what’s your thought, priced right or not quite?
Never thought I’d see the day when an old truck in this
condition would go for that kind of money,let alone be in a
car dealer’s showroom.
Trucks like this are great,just not much fun to drive all
the time.I had a really nice F250,but would drive my ’94 Dakota
often,as it was SO much more comfortable,not to mention easier
on gas.
$15,500? if that’s the case the ’68 short stepside with 4sp and posi-rear that was in better shape and I sold for $300 would fetch 50k today! ( sure wish I kept that old horse)
I think to high but see make offer.
I would paint it then rebuild the drive train and add modern ac (electric type compressor) and leave the rest alone.
Good luck with sale…
The show room puts lipstick on the pig 🐷 but this is a desirable model for myself. (Do they mop the trans and oil dripping daily) 😎
A little high on the price. Nice to see a basic v8 truck with a 3 speed manual anti theft device with a disconnected heater core and easy to work on.
Asking price is not the same as what it’s worth, once there are repeated sales for a similar amount, that establishes the “market” value.
It’s priced as it were a short bed fleetside, if someone buys it close to the asking price they probably did so because they didn’t put in much effort in their search or the dealer arranged financing.
Steve R
Wasn’t that long ago that I paid 1500 bucks for my 68 longbed stepside. It had a 283 with 3 on the tree and a posi trac rear end and in better shape than this one.
My Dad had a ’68 Custom Camper with a 327/Auto. It was a good truck and I sometimes wish it was still around.
These were good trucks and still are. Throughout my career lots of them came through the door and lots are still in regular service.
I sure wouldn’t kick this one away but if it came to my place, it would come down to the bare frame and get a full restoration. I can’t look at this truck and see anything but RUST, and more RUST. Some people call it patina but I maintain that patina is still an old Indian word meaning: Lazy bodyman…
I told my wife I will not buy this.
My Wife told me I will not buy this!
Let’s call a spade a spade here. This truck is being sold by a dealer (notice the puffery?) who maybe bought it for $1000, or more likely much less, then proceeded to degrease it and slather Armor All all over it. And the engine may be a transplant because a ’68 anything is not going to have any kind of smog nonsense such as AIR on it except a PCV valve. No smog pumps, EGR, cats, etc.. Most of that “wizardry” started around ’72. The dealer is dreaming, at that price. If someone walks in and plunks $5k on it , said dealer should take it and be happy as a clam.
Irresistible patina equals it REALLY needs a paint job.
Enough with passing off worn out vehicles as something special.
Absolutely agree with your second sentence. The old truck thing has gotten out of hand. It’s not a comfortable daily driver. It’s not unique….there are tons of them at Cars and Coffee. It’s, at this point in It’s life, a weekend hauler or work truck. I love the old trucks as much as the next person, but this is just a still common 3 or 4k vehicle. Enough lipstick on a pig.
BS ~ I drive my ’70 C20 long bed fleetside locally every day plus take it on trips. My daughter lives 355 miles from me and I was there in my truck over Thanksgiving. You can have your computerized trash, I will keep my ’70 forever.
$15,500 ? LMAO. Remove a zero from that asking price, that would be more realistic.
BEAHAHAHAHAHA ~ do a wee bit of research, Bubba. This is a $10,000 – $12,000 truck all day.
They know what they have. And you can tell the “patina” has been either clear-coated or treated with mineral oil. But $15k? A bit too high. Maybe $10k, and that’s a stretch
Cost does not equal value. Way overpriced!!
Both the front grille and the engine tells me this is a 67 not a 68. 68 models had more of an egg crate grille. 68 engines had the oil fill on the valve covers not a tube on the front of the engine like 67. If that is a 67 model then the engine would be a 283 not a 307. As stated 68 was the first year for the 307.
The VIN (fifth digit) and the side marker lights say it’s a ’68.
JO
The 67 and 68 had the exact same grille. (The 68 model had white painted ones.) Its actually a steel shell with some trim around the openings, no actual grill material at all, unlike the 69 and later trucks. Also, my 68 307 V8 has the oil fill tube up front in the intake manifold, like they all do. The federal government also mandated side markers on all 1968 vehicles sold in the USA, the 67 did not have them as JO stated correctly. Sorry, but you are incorrect sir, this is a 1968 C10.
The grille says ’67 or ’68; the side marker lights confirm ’68. The hood is ’67 or ’68. The ’69 models were an inch taller in the front of the hood than the older ones…
67 & 68 had the same grille. 68 had side marker lights like this one. The 307 was available from 68 to 73.
Forget the $15,500, this truck with the necessary repairs would be worth $2K
and the dealer would make a nice profit \. He (Dealer ) probably gave the owner $500.00 on a trade=in. I would be a player at $500. But no more than that as it needs work along with a paint job and body work to fix the bondo patch. Dealer is looking for a sucker to plunk down that price, he plans on making a killing on this truck!
By looking at the vehicles in the background, this is a dealer in classic/custom vehicles. This truck is WAY overpriced!!! Needs at the minimum a paint job. AS JWK said drop a zero!! Then it will make someone a good weekend week horse and conversation piece.
For you all complaining about the price: you have not fixed what others have torn up (in the name of fixing up) nor a rust bucket? This looks like a basic ‘dry’ truck, perfect restoration specimen. You’ll save money fixing this truck
I agree that this is an excellent base project for someone wanting to get into the antique/historical vehicle hobby. BUT I still say the initial starting price is TOO high.
67 had a small rear window and the 68s had the big window like this. its cool looking but at the end of the day this will end up slammed to ground laying on its bumpers and a LS jammed downs its throat. IMO that would be a shame. i think the ask is on the high side
67 was available with the small or large rear window, buyer’s choice. It was the last year for the small window.
I had a ’72 in this configuration. Chrome front bumper and front disc brakes. I bought it for $300 45 years ago. No cab rust. (Which was amazing being in Illinois at the time) But the bed was quite rusty. I found a non-rusty bed for $100 and had one of my techs paint it to match the cab. (Orange) I needed a truck as my wife needed a way to transport her sheep. (Molly and Polyester) As she was a handspinner and weaver. The front suspension was shot. So I sent one of my new hire techs to Moog front end school in the truck. That he used as his training project. It also received new shocks and cargo coils. (Most of these 2 wd trucks have the old Nascar Style rear control arms with rear coil springs) On his way back to Northen Illinois from Moog headquarters in the St.Louis area, it got over heated and cracked the cylinder heads. I was able to purchase the truck that I bought the bed off of as it had a “supposedly ” rebuilt 327 and a Saginaw 4 speed from a Camaro in it. ($500 IIRC) Well the 327 was a rattle can rebuild. A friend had a 327 “core” in his garage that he donated to the cause. Since the truck really only had to make it 2,000 miles to Nevada for our “big” move! I was not overly concerned about longevity. My buddy and I disassembled both engines and spent the day wandering around my garage picking out the “least worn” items and reassembled 1 engine using a rebuild kit from Warshaskys (otherwise know to the mail order crowd as JC Whitney) along with a cheapie RV cam and lifters ( because both engines had questionable camshafts) and slapped it all together with a set of cheapie headers (again both engines had cracked exhaust manifolds) . I think the whole parts bill was about $300.including the new clutch (No freight charge, as I drove into Chicago to pick up the parts) The truck ran great and got close to 20 mpg on the trip loaded with sheep and hay. While Molly stuck her head through the sliding rear window to nibble on the wife’s (now ex) ear! I sold the truck shortly after arriving in Nevada tonan employee that then traded it in for a new Toyota truck. 3 years later I saw the truck blasting up the .mountain pulling a six horse trailer! (Way more trailer than that truck sould pull!) A few weeks after that I had a chance to talk to the new owner. He stated “the best truck I have ever had! You built the engine? I want to shake your hand! I have put 200,000 miles on this truck mostly pulling a six horse trailer and have gotten fantastic fuel mileage. 2 years later, I ran into him and the truck again. He claimed that it had now given him 350,000 miles of use hauling horses from Mexico to Canada. The engine was sounding really loose! He asked if I would build him a new engine. And I passed. A couple of weeks later I saw the truck by an auto wrecker. Before I sold it, my b.i.l. drag raced it against some big block Ford trucks and beat them handily. He was disappointed when I sold it!
The Panoramic cab was an option in 67, in 68 forward the big glass was standard.
I love old trucks as much as the next person and spent quite a bit of seat time in a ‘67 just like this one when it was only a few years old. In fact I drove quite an assortment of old trucks for work. I still remember that they all drove like trucks. This is a solid example of the breed. I also think that the patina thing has worn a little bit thin. Pun intended.
just bout everything is wrong for my use today (& last 20 yrs or so). Long bed in rd truck good but, would need diesel for our work. Need auto or 5 speed if commuter/daily & too big; want same sz i6 many changes if off rd and etc, etc on down the line.
Good ol truck tho. Made merica in many ways, in many places, by many ppl. THAT is 1 reason to not throw it away (history, not of just this 1 truck). And so I plea the same for my ol carcus ;^ )
$15K, and the dealer says the new owner needs to replace the heater core?
Give me a break.
Nice old truck with a lot of potential. Patina is very popular now and it hides nothing. A shiny new paint job can hide an awful lot of sins. I would much rather have a long bed any day. I hope this one doesn’t fall into the hands of someone who will ruin it by cutting it up and making it into a ground scraping short bed. Trucks should be trucks, not rich boy toys. If you want a sports car then buy a sports car. But yeah, this one is a bit over priced ~ I would say $10-12 K is about right.
They want $15,500?
To that I say, people in Hell want Ice water too.
Why oh why spray that crap clear coating on this poor truck? Leave it as is or restore it completely.
An earlier comment, “Lipstick on a Pig” is very appropriate here.