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Rust-Free Survivor: 1967 Chevrolet C10 Pickup

While rust repair panels for classic pickups are readily available and inexpensive, the idea of commencing a project build with a rust-free vehicle is an attractive thought. That is the opportunity that is on offer with this 1967 Chevrolet C10. It might look rough around the edges, but it is a solid classic begging for someone to weave their magic. If that sounds too tempting to resist, you will find this C10 located in South Fork, Colorado, and listed for sale here on eBay. If you are serious, you have some competition because there have already been thirty-two bids submitted. These have pushed the price to $5,250, although this remains short of the reserve.

The owner of this C10 gives the impression that the vehicle is original and has had no prior restoration work. It wears an attractive combination of Dark Green and White and must have looked striking when new. Those days are well behind it, with the paint looking pretty tired. The panels have accumulated a few dings and marks over the past fifty-four years, but there’s nothing that I would class as horrendous. The exterior has also developed large areas of surface corrosion, but this is where this classic comes into its own. That represents the worst of its rust problems. The owner supplies photos of every aspect of this Pickup, and there is not a single spot of penetrating rust to be found. The underside has a consistent coverage of surface corrosion, but addressing that would be straightforward. The only rot that deserves mentioning is to the bed timber. It has deteriorated significantly, but this is another aspect of the restoration that shouldn’t cost mega-bucks to fix. Some exterior trim is damaged or missing, so the buyer will have to compile a list of replacement parts if they intend to return the C10 to its former glory. The windshield is cracked on the driver’s side, but the remaining glass is in good order.

It seems that the original owner wanted this Pickup to possess some muscle because he skipped the standard six-cylinder engine and plumped for the 327ci V8. The rest of the drivetrain includes a four-speed manual transmission, a 5.14 No Spin rear end, and power steering. That gave the driver 220hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque at their disposal. Those sorts of numbers mean that the C10 would hardly notice a full load in the bed and could also make pretty effective use of the tow hitch that someone has bolted to the back of this classic. The news here appears to be largely positive. This Chevy is numbers-matching, and it does run and drive. The owner says that its V8 runs rough, but it doesn’t knock or smoke. Before delving too deeply into the 327’s internals, I’d take the time and effort to perform some rudimentary tweaking and tuning. It may be that a carburetor rebuild and new plugs, plug wires, points, and a cap could make a world of difference in this case. If so, it represents an inexpensive repair job. I’d follow that path before I considered spending big money on a rebuild.

One area of this Pickup that will require plenty of TLC is its interior. From a positive perspective, it does appear complete. The original owner ordered it with a pushbutton AM radio, and this remains in situ. There have been no obvious aftermarket additions, but the trim and upholstery reveal a life lived hard. The seat upholstery is shredded and rotted, while the dash pad has deteriorated beyond repair. The floor mat is worn, and the wheel sports numerous cracks. I’ve previously talked about the straightforward nature of classic Pickup interiors, and this C10 is no exception. Entirely dismantling the inside of this Chevy would not be difficult and would allow the buyer to refresh the painted surfaces easily. There are some high-quality products available to enable a patient owner to restore the wheel, and these cost significantly less than sourcing a new replacement. The buyer will need to spend $300 on a new seatcover, around $70 on a reproduction dash pad, and $180 on a vinyl floor mat. Once reassembled, the interior would shine like a new penny for a minimal outlay.

The more I look at this 1967 C10 Pickup, the more I understand why the bidding has been intense. While fixing rust won’t prove expensive to a buyer with the right skill set, it does add precious time to any restoration process. It also adds another layer of complexity to such a build, and this second factor can discourage potential buyers who are wavering. Those things can see otherwise enthusiastic people throw the whole idea of a project into the “too hard” basket. Since that isn’t a concern here, are you tempted to make a play for this classic? If you do, we’d love to be kept in the loop as your build progresses.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Camaro Joe

    That’s a C-20, 3/4 ton truck. It’s not a C-10. But with a 327, 4 speed, and 5.13 gears, it will haul anything. The 5.13 gears will limit the top cruising speed to about 60 MPH. Anything more than that will sink the gas mileage close to zero. Nice solid truck to start with though.

    Like 7
  2. Avatar photo Howard A Member

    Colorado still has a TON of these, naturally, they catch my eye, and I see a different one practically every day. Most exactly like you see here, and many, from the original owners. Back then, you bought one truck,,FOR LIFE, and it’s only now, once these people pass away, they surface. My neighbor, just bought a 1970 C10, won’t say what he paid, knowing him, it wasn’t much, friend of a friend deal and also was a one owner truck. There’s a GMC this vintage that recently popped up on my bike route, no rust, no paint, wants $4 grand, and it’s not moving. Like CJ sez, 5:13 gears, good heavens, 60, yes, but the world will seem like it’s coming apart, and 45-50 will be about it comfortably, and will need to be addressed before any modern travel. An easy fix, just drop some new pickup axle with 2:76 gears, ( or whatever gears they use today to get any decent mileage at all) ahh, much better, the SBC will love you for it. In ’67, like I’ve said before, there was no need to go 65mph( or more) in a pickup truck, downright foolhardy, wassamatteryou, anyway?( slapping back of head with rolled up newspaper) Great find, naturally, deals like I got are few today, just in the few years I’ve had my squarebody, prices have gone up but I think it’s still a lot of hype, and you’ll find yourself taking the KIA places, because these just aren’t that much fun to drive any distance, trust me.

    Like 6
  3. Avatar photo Harvey Member

    Great truck!I would add a power brake booster.It would be a better with 3:73 gears.Don’t know if I would change anything else.My 85 C30 has 3:73 gears and can cruise at 70:-)

    Like 4
  4. Avatar photo Al

    I had a ’68 C10 or maybe a C20 as it had overloads on the back springs.
    Mine had a 307 V7, just could never get that 8th cylinder to fire properly.
    I put 397,000 miles on it after buying it with 98,000 miles.
    It turned into a rust bucket, I remember something hanging down under the gas tank which was behind the seat, so I kicked the hanging thing. My foot got stuck in the hole. The jack was hanging down.
    I flipped the lid on the air-cleaner and got an additional 8mpg. I had to pull the yoke on the steering column to get into first or reverse gear. Nobody ever figured out how to get it moving.

    I sold it to a nephew for $1, he drove it for about two years until his local sheriff condemned it.

    Like 6

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