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Factory A/C? 1966 Chevrolet C10

The 1963-1966 Chevrolet/GMC pickup was one of the best-looking trucks ever built. I prefer the short bed versions but know the long beds are more useful. Maybe it is because my best friend in high school had a black 1965 Chevrolet pickup with a 292 6-cylinder and three on the tree. We drove that truck everywhere in the early 1980s. This 1966 Chevrolet C10 is located in Boxford, Massachusetts, and spent most of its life in Atlanta, Georgia. The odometer reads 63k miles, and the truck is listed here on eBay.

The original engine has been replaced with a GM 350 cubic inch V8 engine that is said to run well. I assume this is a column-mount shifter, as it would be awkward on the floor. All the fluids and filters have recently recently changed.

The bed’s wood is weathered but appears to be solid. The grey color goes great with the blue paint. The seller states that the truck was repainted 40 years ago in its original color.

The interior looks original and is very clean. The metal surfaces look new, and I imagine the seat has been recovered after 58 years of use.

One of my favorite pictures is of the gauge cluster. The truck has a temperature gauge, a volt meter, and an oil pressure gauge.

The seller claims that the air conditioning is factory-installed, but that dash vent suggests that it may have been a dealer-installed option. Are there any C10 experts here who can confirm this? Either way, the cold A/C would be a welcomed feature in most parts of the country.

The C10 has been inspected and is said to drive well. Blackwall tires wrap the factory rims and hubcaps. The sale includes an installed spare and jack, and the undercarriage looks pretty nice with no signs of rust or damage. This truck looks like it came right out of the Andy Griffith Show and is ready for some cruising or Home Depot runs.

Comments

  1. Cadmanls Member

    Very nice, would gladly drive this little truck. Appears to need very little. Will probably sell for a bit higher yet.

    Like 16
    • stillrunners stillrunners Member

      It’s a resto-mod….has the factory dash A/C parts and rear window sticker but that big brake booster/cylinder is not stock….like was said it was restored at some point…..nice truck.

      Like 7
    • Jeff

      FYI- a classic vehicle has no value in a divorce if it is disassembled- at least in some jurisdictions. A quick internet search will tell you about your place of residence and may keep your pride and joy out of the clutching hands of the divorce lawyers for your ex.

      Like 0
  2. Driveinstile Driveinstile Member

    This generation is also one of my most favorite for Chevy and GMC.ot looks great, I would just try to at least try to preserve the paint. It might compounr out a bit. I would be happy with a mid 60s GMC with a 305 V6 and a stick, or chevy with a 292 and a stick. But nothing wrong with a nice healthy SBC and an automatic either. Hope it gets preserved.

    Like 10
    • HoA HoA Member

      Hi Driveinstile, love the avatar, although wouldn’t care to drive one again. Put a new driver in a “Crackerbox Jimmy” today, they wouldn’t make it out of the yard!

      Like 9
      • Driveinstile Driveinstile Member

        Lol. Whats that extra brake pedal on the left do? Every time I try to move the column shifter all it does is lock up the trailer brakes. Lol. Thanks.

        Like 8
    • TIM HAHN

      Yuk, 305 V-6 the worst. I own a 1967 Chevy 1 ton with 30,000 original miles, with a 292 4 speed. Can’t go over 55, I think it has 4.56 or 5.13 gears, can’t wait to rip it out and put in a 327 or 350. Since the invention of the Duramax and Allison tranny I would never buy a stick truck again.

      Like 2
      • dane hansen

        305 E V6 is the best. I sold mine a couple of years ago. 350,000 miles. still running , never been apart . an uncle of mine had one , put a few hundred thousand miles on it , was running good when he sold it

        Like 6
      • MrBZ

        305 V6 was a truck engine and a darn good one. Some people should just stick with cars.

        Like 8
      • Ronald Reed

        Unless you change the gears it’ll still be top speed limited.
        I watched a Power Nation episode where they built an extremely inexpensive 292 with turbo that put out 500+ very streetable HP.
        I’ve seen other 292 builds that put out .ore power than that but I’m certain not as streetable. I think I’m going through a resurgence of 6 Cylinder love, they’re just inherently stronger than V8’s they’ve got 7 main bearings and the Truck 292 and 300 Ford’s have long heavy duty rods, long rods.
        But, for full disclosure, I’ve taken 6cylinders out and replaced with V8’s on too many to count, it’s a far easier and fast way to make power if youve got a running V8 sitting around.
        Hell even Mopar had built a 6 Cylinder to replace their Hemi’s

        Like 0
    • Mark

      A 305 is a gm 8 cylinder engine, not a V6.

      Like 0
      • Jon Rukavina

        Beg to differ Mark.
        GMC made a 305 V6 from 1959-1974. Engines were 305, 351, 379, 401, 432, 478, 637, 702. HP ranged from 150-275.
        My uncle had a ’60s GMC pickup ( don’t remember the exact year) and I distinctly remember the blue color of the vehicle and the large V with the #6 inside the V. Emblem was painted white. Seems to me the emblem was at the front side of the hood, but not sure.

        Like 1
  3. Terrry

    I had a gold and white-trimmed one, also a ’66 with the Custom large rear window. Mine had a (newer) 307 with a 4-speed. I drove that old beater a lot until it got stolen and stripped. It was also a long bed, unlike this one.

    Like 5
  4. Kevin Berry

    SWEET truck!
    I wouldn’t change a thing on it!
    (maybe give it a good wash, a coat of wax, & a little ArmorAll on the tires, but that’s it!) :-)

    Like 0
  5. Kevin Berry

    LOVE the bumper sticker! LOL! :-P

    Like 0
  6. Mike

    Already at $27k reserve not met yet.

    Like 4
  7. Casey Marden

    Had a 64 C20 6 cylinder with a utility body sitting in the yard for years that had the same A/C set up, always wondered if was factory or dealer installed…

    Like 4
  8. Chris Cornetto

    Like many vehicles we took for granted. Most if not all are far out of reach for most of us. This is one I always wanted but where I lived by the time they were 8 to ten years old they were crap. Now like many of the 300.00 nice old cars I kept all require a chunk of your retirement or whatever disposable income you have just to purchase. This is a fantastic copy here and if your going for broke. This is the right one to do it with.

    Like 7
  9. HoA HoA Member

    I’ve seen quite a few of these, never one with a/c, but a/c in Wisconsin was unheard of then. Images show, it is indeed a factory item, but was installed at the dealer. I can’t seem to find a price, but it wasn’t cheap. I did find, these cost right around $2 grand new, the a/c was the most expensive option, adding probably $500 bucks to the cost. At this writing, it’s up to an alleged
    $27,500,,,think about that for a second. I did.

    Like 9
  10. Eddie Pennsylvania

    Those are the same heat/AC vents used in first-gen Toronados. Dealer chic: raid the parts bin for something cheap and then upcharge a ridiculous amount

    Like 3
  11. Yblocker

    I’ve seen a few of these trucks with dealer air, but they were the typical under dash hang on unit. This setup eliminated the ashtray to accommodate the A/C controls, the heater controls were relocated next to the glove box to make way for the A/C vents. Seller says it’s a 350, left valve cover says it’s a 327, so who knows, the seller sounds like a dealer

    Like 7
    • Bill West

      I bought one of these in Georgia in 72, very heavily optioned: 283/PG/PS/factory AC/Panoramic custom cab/Chrome bumpers with guards and a side mount spare(stepside). Paid $2495. Drove it until 96 when I did an off-frame, lost it in a divorce in 99. These were great trucks if one kept ahead of the rust!

      Like 5
      • Jeff

        FYI- a classic vehicle has no value in a divorce if it is disassembled- at least in some jurisdictions. A quick internet search will tell you about your place of residence and may keep your pride and joy out of the clutching hands of the divorce lawyers for your ex.

        Like 0
  12. jeffschevelle

    That’s a nice truck!

    That is the correct factory AC vent for a 64-66 Chevy (C or K) truck. The same vent was also used for dealer installed. The two systems were essentially the same on 64-66’s.

    Like 8
  13. Matthew Dyer

    Looks very close to original and it is clean. I’m glad to see the price is climbing too.

    Like 1
  14. Bama

    That’s not a voltmeter, it’s an ammeter. It measures current output of the alternator in amps not volts.

    Like 11
    • Matthew Dyer

      Good catch. I’d forgotten about having ammeter gauges.

      Like 4
      • Jesse Martinez

        I currently own 2 of these trucks I 1965 and 1 1966 identical to this one and I can honestly say these are the best looking trucks around.

        Like 1
    • Tom Black

      Dealer or factory install, it’s all the correct stuff including the controllers. My ’64 Suburban came with factory air. The only question I have about this one is the fender badging. Those look like ’64’s not ’66’s.

      Like 2
      • Yblocker

        The badging is correct, 64 was in the same location, but different

        Like 0
      • Jesse Martinez

        You’re absolutely correct it has the wrong badging and in the wrong location for a 1966. Those are 64 badges. 1966 had the rectangle shape badges and were located on the side cowl.

        Like 0
      • Jesus E Martinez

        You’re absolutely correct the 66 had that rectangle badges and we’re located in the side cowls.

        Like 0
      • Jon Rukavina

        This badging is 1966. My Dad bought one brand new.
        ’64s we’re in the same place as these but more of a square shape. ’65s were rectangular shaped mounted on the short piece of cowl between the windshield and hood. I have a ’66 dealer brochure.
        The knobs for wipers, light switch, choke should be chrome and it should have a driver door armrest if this is a custom cab. However, it does have the passenger sun visor. Kind of a puzzler.
        Those a/c controls are factory too.
        Dad’s had the 250 6cyl. & 3 on the tree. Use to have fun driving the mine roads around my hometown in N. Mn.
        Sale has ended.

        Like 0
  15. TIM HAHN

    I had a red and white one like this. Belonged to a retired mechanic out of Great Falls Montana. It was factory air and automatic but he slipped in a 400 small block and turbo 400. Chrome grill and power steering. Sold it to a fellow out of Tennessee. He has passed away but I think it still sets in the family warehouse.

    Like 3
  16. Allen Member

    “The 1963-1966 Chevrolet/GMC pickup was one of the best-looking trucks ever built.” Umm… I beg to differ. That bulge all around the belt line just doesn’t do it for me. I always thought these were malproportioned. But hey, I’m glad these trucks have their passionate followers. I absolutely LOVED the Chevy cars from this period. We had two ‘63s and a ’64 Belaire wagon, stick with overdrive. 283s, all. I especially loved that wagon.

    But I digress. Back to the C-10. Yeah, I would prefer the looks of the ’67-72 generation, but this particular example is nevertheless really attractive and intriguing. How would I ever resist using it as a DD. Just as it is. I could pretend I was the basketball coach from “The Hoosiers”, IIRC.

    Like 2
  17. Gil Davis Tercenio

    One like this was my first truck, a ’66 C10 with a 283 and a three speed column shifted transmission. Same color and all. Mine was also a Custom, with the stainless trim next to the doors. Mine did have the three lever heater/defroster controls. The wooden floor was rotted out and it had a really heavy steel plate completely covering the boards.

    Mine cost $550 in 1975, with about 65K miles on it. I added a camper shell and drove it until I traded it in for a new ’77 F150 4×4. That old Chevy had 90K on it and it smoked pretty bad. The valve guides were wearing badly by then.

    The Ford dealer allowed $1300 trade-in! That new 4×4 was $5000 after the trade.

    Like 2
    • Jon Rukavina

      You had to be careful with those temp. control levers. They’re made of pot metal and can break if your cables are a little stiff, especially in a Mn. winter back then. Trust me, I know!

      Like 2
      • Gil Davis Tercenio

        True! I had to replace mine once. Luckily, the Chevy dealer still had them in stock in the mid ’70s.

        And I was living in Alabama back then!

        Like 0
  18. timothy herrod

    I have only seen one truck of this vintage with AC and my brother junked it. It was only a cab and frame by the time he got it but I remember looking at it before it went away, It had the vents on the dash and it had an automatic column shift which I thought was very odd to see. Now that I think some more about it, don’t ever recall seeing another truck like that with the automatic. I wonder just how rare that truck was now

    Like 0
    • Paul

      Friend of mine back in the mid-1980s had a 65 short bed fleetside, full factory instrumentation dash with AC 327 2 speed powered glide, he bought it out of Tennessee, pulled the small journal 327 out of it, put a large journal 327 in it built, put a magnesium case 2 speed in it with a lowered 1gear 350 turbo input shaft with an 8-in converter I don’t remember a lot of the detail about the motor but I can tell you one thing that thing would hit 7500 on the tack and just eat, two-tone hugger orange and white paint job, Dana quick change rear end it was just nasty LOL

      Like 0
  19. Bret Stoliker

    I had a 65 bought in 1980 had an original 283 with a power glide transmission replaced the tired 283 with a 1972 350 out of my Rally Nova drove it as my winter beater for years! Called it black Bart great memories

    Like 2
    • Yblocker

      A pickup with a power slide? Never knew there was such a thing

      Like 1
  20. Charlesross

    One of the cleanest most original vehicles I have seen on this site.

    Like 1
  21. Jesse Martinez

    I have a 65 that I owned for several years that originally came with a 230 in line 6 and a 3 speed on the column. Well it now has a 400sbc married to a th400 and 373 factory positraction this thing will light them up on every red light. Very fun to drive but at the same time very scary you have no where to hold onto. lol

    Like 0

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