Spicing up its outgoing trucks in this body style’s final year, Chevrolet offered three “Highlander” packages for ’72, and this 1972 Chevrolet C-10 in Shuqualak, Mississippi came decked out with the top level C package including tilt wheel, air conditioning, and special tartan plaid upholstery. This classic sat idle with its original family since 1983 before gaining a second owner and cosmetic and mechanical attention for a 500 mile cruise event. The “good-running and driving” Chevy comes to market here on eBay where at least 10 bidders have its market value above $8000.
Aside from the seller-described “new carpet and dash,” the original interior survives in decent shape after the truck’s claimed 71,000 miles. Buyers can decide if the later Chevrolet steering wheel is an upgrade or a perversion in this rare Highlander. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I saw this dashboard dozens of times, but never with the air conditioning ducts or the interesting Highlander interior.
According to the seller, this long-bed Chevy wears original paint that was “smoothed down” before a clear coat brought some shine. LED side markers, a ’90s-looking steering wheel, and engine bay changes render the truck neither well-preserved nor restored, courting a new owner who likes it as-is or plans a complete restoration.
Nothing’s easier or cheaper to keep alive than the hot-rodder’s standard rule of measure, the 350 cid (5.7L) small block Chevy V8, the entry-level mill on the Highlander package. An unnecessary deviation from stock, the Corvette-style loaded brake master cylinder should provide comparable operation. Buyers might wonder why the seller states “This truck is completely original,” as evidence to the contrary populates every picture. Is that an aluminum radiator?
White plastic interior parts from the ’70s go brittle over time, and these door panels look better than most. The “rockers were replaced,” raising questions about how much paint is original, but that’s one less job for the new owner. The rusty bed will need attention for certain. Foibles aside, this is a cool example rarely seen. What do you think of this decked-out Highlander?
A fully loaded, factory blinged out version thats not rotted to pieces. What’s not to love……bid away.
Hmm
That steering wheel looks later to me and definitely not what was in my ’72.
Also – whoever clear coated the original paint should be taken out behind the wood shed … Just wax it for Pete’s sake. If that is the original paint, it lasted 50 years. The clear coat is going to break down in less than 10, then what are you going to do?
Just my 2 cents. Love the truck otherwise.
I think the steering wheel is a Camaro?
My 94 suburban had that exact steering wheel
It’s looks like a newer model Chevy steering wheel.
Just my opinion!
These trucks are great, and you can still get parts for them. I still have my short bed. Chevy hit the ball out of the park with this style truck. I get offers for mine all the time. But this is grandson bound!
It plainly states that it has a later model steering wheel! All it takes is a little reading
Shorten the bed and it will be worth twice as much!
My favorite Chevy truck, followed closely by the square bodies. Too bad it’s a long bed, but not too bad hard to shorten it to a short bed. That awful 90’s steering wheel would have to go, as would the crappy clear coat over worn out paint. Don’t understand the fascination with so called patina, rust and faded worn paint are neglect in my book. Couldn’t give a LWB truck away a few years ago, now they bring as much as SWB does a lot of the time.
Some people like a truck for what it is, a truck, built to haul things in!
Fully loaded? There is not a factory tach in the center of the dash. My stepdad had a truck similar to this in the early 80s. It had a factory tach in the center of the dash between the speedometer and the fuel gauge. The only truck I ever saw with the factory tach.
Those aluminum hubcaps are not 1972. That style came out in the mid-to-late 1970s.
Those hubcaps are not 1972. That style came out in the mid-to-late 1970s on the square bodies.
That steering wheel looks similar if not exactly like the one in my 1994 2500 Sierra that I custom ordered back in the day.
Three packages offered in ’72. I thought there could be only one?
That comment is immortal
I’ll never understand the shortbed-obsessed. To me they make the “two doors or crush it” car folks look open-minded by comparison.Trucks are to carry stuff. I had one of these as my only vehicle from the late 90s through 2006 or so. Even before the modern trucks started having what looked like 4 foot beds, I was the guy people called if they needed something long moved, because it wouldn’t fit in so-and-so’s awesome shortbed with the big block.
TimS – Agreed. Years ago I helped someone move with my ’85 F250 long bed and the other “truck” was a Ranger. First load Mr. Ranger took a recliner and an end table and I was like “I’ll take that couch, the buffet, and those two tables.” These new trucks have massaging seats but they can’t take a load of drywall and close the tailgate.
I think it’s about looks and style; similar to the steptside side vs. fleetside debate. The shortbed and the step side look good, but the longbed and fleetside are the most useful in terms of carrying/capacity. Just my $0.02 worth!! :-)
long beds are the best
I don’t understand why you would want a vehicle with faded, chipped, cracked and surface rust clear coated! Makes no sense to me, waste of good clear coat! I myself want a nice shiny vehicle 🚑 to wash & wax! Preferably running decent with no oil leaks. Interior coming in 2nd. for appearance ratings. Why would you want a classic vehicle with stupid looking paint!!!!!
The same reason people want worn jeans or a vintage watch.
You guys always compare apples and oranges and that doesn’t work. If you want a long bed to haul stuff and help people move , THAT’S GREAT! I don’t have my truck to help people move or to loan my truck to them so they can haul stuff. Long beds are for hauling stuff and work! Short beds are for fun pleasure and having fun and being creative with your transportation. There is NO comparison ,same as 2-doors and 4-doors, they are for a different use. If they were comparable, the demand and the price would be the same. It’ not and that’s a fact, read the ads!
The steering wheel is doing just that… steering me far away from this one.