Sweet Shop Truck: 1965 Chevrolet C10 Pickup

The seller of this 1965 Chevrolet C10 bills it as a Rat Rod, but I almost think that’s selling it a bit short as I typically imagine something that looks more pieced together on the outside when hearing that term.  Maybe he’s referring to what’s under the hood, but that’s positive news too, and while this pickup still has a handful of details that could use ironing out it’s already been given lots of love and seems not that far off from a daily driver.  The truck is located in Santa Barbara, California, and can be seen here on eBay, where bidding is currently at $12,300, still short of what it will take to make it yours as the reserve has not been met.

We don’t get much in the way of background about the truck, but those sure do look like mostly original panels, or at least not recent replacements.  The seller mentions he received the C10 in a trade, so maybe he doesn’t know much about its past, but the present condition seems promising if you like a patina finish.  Looking at the paint, perhaps the door and side of the bed on the driver’s side are a little greener than the rest, so maybe in the distant past some outside work has been done here and there, and while the metal is nowhere near perfect it does appear overall solid.  We don’t get a clear shot from inside the bed, but the tailgate has a similar appearance to the rest of the body so I’m guessing it’s probably acceptable, although the seller mentions that there is no wood back there.

There’s a nice surprise when you lift the hood, as the original motor has been replaced with a crate 350.  No specific details are provided about the engine, but even in stock form it should be plenty to provide more than enough power for a C10, and this one looks like it may have a few other goodies added, such as the headers.  A Turbo 350 takes care of the shifting, but we don’t get any additional information on the transmission either, other than the seller stating that the truck is running and driving.

I was pleasantly pleased upon seeing the interior, which appears like it’s received a lot of attention.  The seat looks almost flawless, and the dash is in fine shape with a great-looking set of gauges, plus there’s an aftermarket Ididit steering column installed.  The missing window trim on the driver’s side will be included, but other than that things inside seem like they’re ready to go.  The suspension has also been lowered, creating a stance that blends right in with the rest of the truck’s personality.  I’m digging the pickup’s appearance the way it is, though it will be up to the next owner to decide if they want to take the exterior to a higher level.  What would you do?