Anyone up for a road trip to Appleton, Wisconsin? That’s where this solid Arizona 1975 Chevy C10 pickup currently calls home, and any Squarebody with more iron than iron oxide in its makeup is surely worth a look, especially when the asking price is $7,000. This truck is far from perfect, and there are some things we’ll have to discuss, but all-in-all, Barn Finder Lothar…of the Hill People did exactly the right thing when he sent us the Marketplace link for this longbed Chevy.
The first inconsistency is this: There’s a 350 small-block under the hood. That in itself is, of course, no call for outrage; however, the truck has a “454” badge in the lower left corner of the grille, which means one of two things, this truck originally had a Rat Motor or someone swapped grilles. It’s a moot point now, and whatever 350 is now found under the hood has a Holley Sniper EFI system, which for those who don’t follow such things, is a computer-controlled throttle-body EFI system with an electric fuel pump. I am personally a carburetor guy, so I’d be happy with whatever popular four-barrel you wanted to drop onto the carb studs, but I’d also be content to give the Sniper a shot.
For the sake of discussion, the 350 was available in two tunes in 1975: a 145-horsepower two-barrel and a 160-horsepower four-barrel. Additionally, you can see that this C10 has power steering and power brakes for an easier driving experience. Up in the left corner appears to be a heater box for an air-conditioned truck, but the compressor is missing.
The fender badges are missing as well, so I had to zoom-in on the dashboard to determine that the Squarebody has the one-step-up-from-Custom-Deluxe “Scottsdale” trim, which included some faux woodgraining, a little more bright work, and fancier exterior trim. I’m not sure that the seat/upholstery is factory equipment, but Chevy made this bodystyle for so long that there’s bound to be some mixing and matching over time.
The dashboard shows where the new owner may want to put in some work; the dash pad is badly cracked and failing, and the radio and climate controls are missing. The seller mentions that the “heater is not hooked up,” which means that you’ll be learning a new skill: changing a heater core in a Chevy truck.
Still, seven grand for a working truck that’s become collectible right under our noses doesn’t seem like too bad a deal, so I’ll reiterate: Who’s up for a road trip to Appleton, Wisconsin?
Apple-town, you say? Has nothing to do with apples, and being early morn, if you just came from the bathroom, there’s a good chance you used a product from Appleton, Wis. The heart of Wisconsins paper industry. I hauled a lot of a-w out of Appleton.
The truck itself is clearly not from around there, and about the only way you’ll get one from the south. Sale is “pending” at $7 grand, they don’t last long. A lot of folks in the North would love to have one again.
Nice truck. If this were in the NY-NJ area from new, by 1978 you would be able to see daylight in spots on the fenders and bed already. My fathers ’73 and ’77 unfortunately rusted the worst. I always liked the two tone treatment on 1980 and earlier front fendered models. Just like this one. I could be wrong, but that fiberglass cap may be from the 80’s. I like the old OEM flip around camper mirrors too. Not something you saw on many half tons.Those mirrors came in handy, not just for towing, but if you had a slide in camper as well. This is one seriously well preserved Chevy for sure. Great write up Aaron and great find Lothar!!
Nice truck to start with, reasonably solid, priced right for where it originally came from the dry desert. I have a squarebody that I’m hoping will grace this website when I find time to get it outside for some good pictures. My problem is constant doctor appointments, chemotherapy, oncologist visits, radiation. Stay tuned for another squarebody soon people…and oh yeah Mr editor mine has a new quadrajet! It’s not a show truck but it’s a hell of a nice driver
Already sold! I figured this one wouldn’t last long when I wrote it up yesterday.