Looking appropriately patina’d, likely from the hot Texas sun, the seller says this Light Green and Frost White 1976 C-10 short bed pickup with a 454 V8 is wearing its original paint. They have it listed here on eBay in Fabens, Texas, with a current bid of $1,525, but the reserve hasn’t been met. They also have a $14,000 buy-it-now price listed.
I wonder how many spiders are hiding under this truck. I’ve seen some whoppers in Texas over the years. Fabens is just Southeast of El Paso, and a couple of miles from the Mexico border, so it’s hot and dry. I’m surprised to hear there is a bit of rust on this C-10, but the seller must be honest and mention it rather than letting the buyer figure it out when it arrives on a trailer.
There’s a bit of bodywork behind the right-rear wheel, as seen above. The other side of the truck is also a little rugged in the same area. There’s no word on whether a rear bumper is included, so you’ll have to hit up one of many parts catalogs to order one, or hit a junkyard where one should be available. Chevy offered the third-generation C-Series (and related K-Series 4WDs) from 1972 for the 1973 model year until the end of 1991.
As a Custom Deluxe, I expected to see a green plaid seat here, but this appears to be a replacement cover or seat. It looks to be in nice condition and matches the door panels, so that’s hard to beat. I’d hit the junkyard or one of the aftermarket catalogs to find a new (or old) steering wheel, but otherwise, it looks great inside from what I can see. Here’s a 1976 Chevy pickup brochure.
The seller says the “exhaust collectors need welding on,” and I’m guessing there are a few changes with this 454-cu.in. OHV V8. The VIN says this truck originally came with a 250 inline-six, from what I can decipher. It was the smallest engine in the lineup, but now it has the biggest engine in the lineup. We don’t know anything about the engine, as far as the year or any modifications, other than it appears to be wearing a set of headers. It’s backed by an automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels, and they say it runs and drives. Any thoughts on this 454 V8 transplant C-10?
Hmmm… an honest predecessor to the 454 SS??? First off, thank you for the link to the ’76 Chevy truck brochure. It’s in there clear as day, the 454 was indeed available on the half ton. I never knew that. 3/4 and 1 ton absolutely, but a short bed half ton? Someone had some fun drag racing light to light on their way to the gas station lines. Another interesting feature is it has the camper mirrors as well, again, you’d expect that on a heavier model. I’m guessing someone wanted this for towing. It looks solid and complete. Someone will snatch this up quick if the price is right. Nice one Scotty. I am curious though about the manual transmission brake pedal. Maybe Geomechs has some insight.
I owe Scotty an apology, I was concentrating so much on that spider photo (YIKES!!!) And the brochure links I somehow missed his deciphering the vin with it originally having a 250 straight six. That would explain the small brake pedal, I’m guessing this had a 3 speed stick on the column. But its still entirely possible one came this way from GM. Thanks again Scotty.
Plenty of power, a little tough to handle with manual steering and brakes though.
Jim Randall what happens to power steering and brakes iffen the engine stalls???! Most fast cars run Manual.
Good point! But for everyday driving it might be more than most people want to deal with.
Nice… but some knucklehead installed a cheap looking aftermarket steering wheel.
For the shape this truck is in not worth $14,000 also what is holding the hood on.
Ha,,,oh, excuse me, I’m sorry, ( wiping tear from eye), I have to gloat. I have the qualifications to gloat, and bolsters what I’ve said all along about the square body hype. Very similar to the Bronco hype. Some may not know, my 1st vehicle out here was a ’77 GMC short box 2wd. It was a nice truck, and if it had a automatic, I’d have kept it. When I got the Jeep, the truck had to go, and nobody wanted it. Where’s all the glitz about a square body, I thought? Bull hunky, and I sold it for $2200. Am I happy that this seller barely receives 10% offer of what they want? Of course not, but should serve as a stark reminder how off kilter all this has become. It’s a $5grand truck, tops.
NEWSFLASH: your big dreams of outstanding returns on classic vehicles is just about ka-putnik.
Wasn’t’ “Custom Deluxe” the bottom of the line trim level for that year? No sale for me.
How do you dress up a base truck? Two tone! Or double two tone in this case. Willoway green and frost (the whitest white available) , automatic, chrome bumper and 6×9 mirrors. Perfect for the heart transplant. I like the premise of a basic truck that’s all go.
cool truck but not a fan of the B/B and the short bed.
A fairly common sight out west. So many wealthy farmers’ kids ordered these. But usually fairly loaded as well. SWB, 454, High Sierra, until the neighbor’s kid got a Sierra Classic. Full sound system that translated to AM/FM / 8-Track or cassette. And don’t forget the “Pine” air freshners, stacks of 10. I almost had to light up a cigarette for fresh air when I test-drove one of those.
Friday night, spin circles on the only section of the highway wide enough to actually do that.
Why do so many people have to install headers? Do they actually like to open the hood and get instant blisters from the heat? Those cast iron manifolds flowed all the exhaust you needed to, out the back, and the heat with it.
Overall, those trucks with a 454 made for a fairly potent machine. They took a lot of “Muscle cars” in a weekend drag race. And most of them didn’t run headers…
I am with Howard, I do not understand the Square Body craze.. Scotty mentions rust!! I lived in Syracuse NY at the time and bought a new 73, 307(??), 3 on the tree, long bed made out of Japanese beer cans.. It started rusting out within 2 years, everywhere, even the center of the top of the roof!!! Other than if you want a street racer, I would leave this truck where it is.. The suspension will NOT handle a camper trailer that the 454 would pull.
One of them Texas rattle snakes crawl into it on the carpet you would never see it . Too much money for parts and pieces.
Old men as crybabies makes for quite the scene man.
Silly to put a 454 in a 6cyl truck. It will be nose heavy without the proper springs and suspension adjustment. Had a 78 new in 78 short bed with a 305 2brl. That was light in the rear from the factory. It was Cheyenne trim which was middle above Custom Deluxe ( work truck basic), but below Silverado (not by much) which was the highest trim level then, not the model. Model was C-10 and even the 305 was too much for the rear end. Worn out 2wd rear diff at 70K.This is a basket case, not a classic. A $500 truck. These all proved to rust out, mine started within 2 years in Florida, not on the coast. Turned me off to Chevies and Dad was a true blooded Chevrolet fan.