This 1972 Chevy C10 sent me down a real rabbit hole. I’m almost 100% positive I had an Ertl truck just like this, right down to the Goodyear emblem on the doors, that ended up rotting away in some childhood dirt pile or sandbox. Regardless, this adult-sized toy is a prime candidate for shop truck duties, and it looks like it’s already spent a lifetime hustling piles of tires across town. Find this rough-but-ready C10 here on eBay with a $9,500 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
Based on the heavily faded graphics on the tailgate (the kind of wear you can’t fake), there’s little doubt to the seller’s claim that it was owned by a Goodyear store. This truck represents an era I miss, which is of tire shops and auto parts stores owning cool workhorses that served as the corporate vehicle. I suppose when I’m old and gray I’ll be searching eBay for a Ford Transit Connect with weathered graphics and shelves inside, assuming I can still remember what the local Autozone used for parts deliveries. The seller says rust is minimal with this C10, and it retains its original 400 motor.
The interior does need some work, but I’d just throw one of those Mexican blankets over the front bench and call it a day. The transmission shifts well, and the seller notes it also came with power steering, brakes and air conditioning from the factory. A Colorado and Texas truck all of its life, it wears the pleasing combination of genuine surface rust but no major rot-through on the body. The asking price seems strong to me, but it is a running/driving example, and that exterior patina is hard to replicate without looking like a total poseur.
With just over 100,000 miles, there’s no reason to think this workhorse doesn’t have more left to give. The seller notes that the motor does have a bit of lifter tick when it first fires up, but it goes away once the oil warms up (that’s a fairly simple valve adjustment to fix). With the roughshod exterior, tire shop graphics and decent options from the factory, there’s a lot to like here. I hope whoever owns it next doesn’t lay a finger to that finish, other than to spray it with clearcoat.
This truck lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. I see it several times a year…
$9,500 for a 46 year old dumpy, rusted, old work truck?
I suppose someone will buy it for that…..
not gonna happen!
Cheyenne trim package, in a C10, not frequently seen anymore with the big block. The rockers are shot, doors have rust, & I would guess there is more not seen.
Price does seem high, especially for a long bed, but these trucks have never been more popular than they are right now, so someone will probably pay it.
Call me crazy, but I’m not feeling the graphics on this one…too commercial looking vs old school hand-painted artistry.
Too much for a long bed in that condition, even factoring the big block and old signage.
Steve R
If that is a big block, then it’s either a 396 or a 402.
Just marketed as a 400
See image.
Don’t know where this chart came from but the correct measurements for the 400 (402) big block were 4.12 bore, 3.76 stroke.
Another that claims clean and no rust.
Is he looking at the same pictures he posted.
You obviously don’t know what rust looks like.
It says that it’s in Franklin,Tenn.,on the eBay auction.
It is. It is mine. I have paperwork to back up history. And it is from Grande Junction
My dad had a green long bed with the 400 just like this truck. He usually bought a new truck every two years. He traded his 72 with the 400 on a 74 with the 454. He said the 400 was a better engine.
I was a teenager then so I don’t know if it was true or not but he was my Dad!
Nope
400 is a small block
This is a 402 big block. Look at the pic Henry Drake posted above. GM called them a 400 when equipped in a pickup. The 400 cubic inch small block was not put into a truck till 73. Also, interestingly enough, the big block was not offered in the 4 wheel drive versions…
Seriously, you regularly see C 10’s on e bay in much better shape than this at this or below price range. Remembering my garage service truck days, we ran them into the ground and they were driven by ham handed teenagers and parts runners.
No nostalgia here, I’d save that for a fifties vintage vehicle with painted script doors and a little less rust.
Hey Tyler, I have a small block 400 that came out of a ’70 CST on a stand in my garage if you want the suffix codes off of it. Check out the MSA-1 Chevy suffix code and Casting number guides. I’ve had 5 400 SBC motors. Love em…..
Not saying one didn’t slip out of the factory somehow, but according to the experts on the 67-72 Chevy truck forum, no one has yet to be able to confirm one with it listed on the SPID. If you have one listed on the SPID, & you have the original engine, then there are plenty of people who would love to see it & open up their wallet.
Post a pic of it if you don’t mind.
My older brother has a 72 cheyenne that is a near twin to this. My uncle bought it new at AJ Foyt Chevrolet in Houston. Black/ black, lwb c10, 400/400, ac ps pb but his had tilt steering wheel and pass side bed toolbox from factory. He added a factory tachometer cluster when he restored it. The truck was always garaged but my uncle had a camper shell and piece of carpet in the bed and the bed floor rusted out (due to humidity in Houston). He gave my uncle $3k for it around 2004 and drove it home. He had to find a replacement bed floor, replaced the passenger fender and inner fener as well as outer rockers. In 72 gm when to glued on upper side trim attachment pieces that were notorious for coming loose, so my uncle had used stainless screws to screw all of the trim back on, effectively ruining all of the trim. (!) my brother slowly collected all of the trim he needed (instead of buying all new $$$) and used the 71 style attachment after he painted it.
Just as a point of reference, I sold a 72 C20, factory 454 that had been professionally rebuilt, factory AC, ZERO RUST, automatic, uber rare K5 bucket seat option, long bed, new tires, rims, etc. for $8,500 in February.