Take a look at this! We have a 1966 Chevrolet C-10 up for sale in Naples, Florida, for only $6,500. When I saw this, my first thought was to preserve and seal that patina with linseed oil. Other people might prep it and shoot a few clear coats over it. Either way, this weathered look is beautiful and needs to be protected!
This C-10 looks very close to the original. It comes with a straight six powerplant and a three-speed manual transmission. Not many people these days can operate a manual, and even fewer have ever column-shifted anything. For this reason, I would be tempted to leave the factory drivetrain, although at this point in its life, it’s probably down in two-digit horsepower territory. The seller is offering this Chevrolet with a clean title and claims that it runs and drives. There is a warning about needing brakes, so it is a good thing it is probably slow.
The truck seems unmolested and mostly original. The relocation of the fuel tank is a safety issue, so the seller includes a picture of the space with the seat swung forward. Curiously, that space and the rest of the inside of the cab show gray paint. Not a problem, but it doesn’t match the green and white on the outside. If the green is not original, it is still very, very old. Even if you leave the outside as is, this old truck will need an interior for sure.
At any rate, this Chevy has that classic old truck look, but she is not quite ready to haul anything yet. The wood in the bed has rotted away, fallen out, or, for other reasons, departed. The problem with a new bed floor is that it would be tough to match the patina on the rest of the body. What about the rest? Would you leave it as is? Would you prefer all the bodywork to be done and then repainted? What about the drivetrain? Would you leave the straight six? Is this the perfect LS candidate? No matter what the future holds for this truck, the price is right! Find it here on craigslist in southwest Florida even though it has a Kansas plate.
I’m sorry but since when is rust considered patina and why would you want to protect it instead of getting rid of it
Another new writer? Welcome aboard, as well. You’ll find we’re all bozos on this bus.
You know, the authors rendition is spot on, I can only imagine what would come to a Snowflakes mind, when you said, “this truck is a 3 on the tree”. 3 what in a tree? I know, picking on them is like fishing in a barrel, but seriously something as simple and routine to us seasoned folks as a column shift, may be just as bamboozling to them as my freakin’ cell phone is to me. This is another in a long list, the older folks can’t for multitude of reasons, and young have no interest. Back in the barn you go,,
Ooops, apparently Jay isn’t all that new. Clicking his name brings up a slew of submissions. Welcome anyway!
Good Job Howard
I haven’t seen a Firesign Theatre reference in ages!!!
Don’t crush that dwarf. Hand me the pliers.
Certain, shall we say, indicators tell full well where you came from. Firesign Theater, Canadas 2nd City TV, where most of the SNL cast came from, or Theater X, National Lampoon, it was the dawn of “observational” humor, and the sky was the limit. “Well worth the dollar, exit right to funway”,,,
Jay I agree with you in leaving the patina. You can always spend months or more on panel prep prior to paint, then worry about where you park it. But I would ditch the weak motor and lame 3 speed for at least a smallblock and 5 speed. Put in a nice bed floor (they’re pretty easy to make) so it contrasts with the exterior. Same with the interior, make it clean and comfy to contrast as well. Top it off with a set of “clown wheels” because we all know how that upsets the “bozos”.
Way overpriced for its condition. Not sure who it’s market is, the money is chasing short beds, it’s not a viable work truck at this price and the car market is softening. I think this is destined to sit until the seller lowers the price significantly.
Steve R
Okay, the gas tank was moved, but to where? I assume under the non-existent bed? And I noticed the pedals were missing in the photo (unless they blend in perfectly with the floor). I agree with Steve R. Too expensive for what’s needed to make the truck functional, let alone presentable.
I am 54, and have driven many manual transmissions in my life. I have never navigated a “three on the tree”, and I am not sure it is any fun? Seems like a lot of work to me, but I could definitely be wrong. When I see these ads, and a car has one, I usually dismiss the car. Feel free to enlighten me😀
Hurst makes floor shift conversions. I’ve never driven one, nor a 3spd column shift either. Manual shifters wear out over time, I used to see floor shift conversions all the time when cars from this era were cycling through the wrecking yards. If there was a car/truck I wanted and it had a manual column shift I wouldn’t rule it out for that reason.
Steve R
I have always hated them, converted them to a floor shift. Nothing like being in the middle of an inersection to make a left turn, having to hop out and open the hood and pull the linkage back into position so you can put it back into first gear. Good times
I have a daily driver beater 69 C10 with three on the tree. I find it a lot of fun to drive.
I’ve never driven a vehicle with column-mounted manual shifting gearbox. I like the idea. It leaves the centre area between the driver and passenger for other things.
Deployed to Italy in the 1990’s we had numerous European Vans and Mini-vans with “5 on the Tree”, Were actually fun to drive. If you rented a car for the weekend they were all stick shift.
The three on the tree is no harder than a floor shift , I think in a performance car a floor shift would be quicker but in this form I would be more inclined to buy it because it is on the column. I’ve driven many, when you see the floor shift conversion it’s due to the bushings and or shift tube wear, I don’t think the time to fix the original is any more than the conversion. I’d fix the column myself. If you ever have the opportunity to drive one do so!
Nice truck. My grandfather had a 1965-66 Chevy C10. His was white with a red interior. Assuming parts are available, I can imagine this making an awesome resto project. I’d restore the body, although I’d keep the patina, Assuming it would fit, I’d install a Duramax Diesel engine, I’d install either a 4 on the tree manual shifting gearobox or a 5 on the tree manual shifting.
My grandfather lost his right arm to a thresher when he was about 15. He could drive a Model A and roll a smoke at the same time.
Only once I drove a column shift,my neighbors had a chicken farm and I believe a 50′ Chev truck,turn the key to the on postion and press the floor stater and gas pedal at the same time if I remember correctly .
This truck to be original needs a decent paint job. It would have also had the gas tank behind the seat, I had a 67 Ford with tank in cab and never had any problems. I also recall lots of guys with old pickups with tank in cab who smoked like fiends and never blew up, I must be getting elderly I grew up with loads of cars with three on the tree and that and six were a very common combination.
A friend of mine had one of these back in the early 80’s. Just like this but with a 283 V-8. I never checked the gas mileage, but it seemed to go all week on 5 bucks worth. I think they all came with this color interior no matter what the outside paint color was. Maybe you had to order a custom or deluxe model to get a nicer inside, but I’ve never seen one. About 25 years ago me and my wife were down at Hershey and an old guy had one of these in the car coral. He was the original owner, it had about 50K on it, garage kept, wanted 5,000 bucks for it. Woulda, shoulda coulda, breaks my heart now.
My 1940 Plymouth has a three on the tree. Great theft determent.
Absolutely! Most people today don’t know how to drive a car or a truck with a manual shifting gearbox, never mind one with the shift control on the steering column. My first car had a manual shifting gearbox, although the shift controller was on the floor, between the driver and passenger.
“Engine in good working condition”? I know these inlines will run forever under the most extreme conditions & abuse – but not with that ignition system. lol
I would leave it 6 with 3 on tree, redo the whole thing and daily it, these are too Kool, maybe HEI or Pertronix, knowing me, I would leave it with points. My friend has a 6 out of a83 Chevy van motor is good, I will hip him tothis
I agree. If it works and it’s safe to drive, I’d leave what I can stock original, and then upgrade what needs to be upgraded.
I like this one if definitely keep the three on the tree with the six but make the interior nice fix the brakes with power disc some nice rims and tires and daily it.