Daily-Driver Survivor: 1970 Chevrolet C10 Pickup
One day I hope to own a pickup truck. And when I do, I’d want a “Daily-Driver Survivor” just like this 1970 Chevy C10 Fleetside. It has genuine and authentic (and unpretentious) written all over it, inside and out. A good old Iowa farm truck that’s been used, not abused, and looking for a new caretaker. Located in Waukon, Iowa, this Chevy C10 is for sale here on eBay at No Reserve. As of this writing, the C10 had generated 24 bids with the top bid reaching $4,250. The seller has also included an above-average, kinda fun video of the truck that shows it in action and enjoying the open roads of picturesque Iowa.
This C10 represents the second generation of the C Series (and its GMC K Series counterpart) which were produced for the 1967-1972 model years. In addition to improvements in its capabilities and durability, the second-gen also brought additional creature comforts inside including more space and legroom, a quieter ride, and thicker foam seats. All in an effort to increase the personal use of these pickup trucks away from the fields and off of the farm. The seller says he bought the C10 from a fellow Hawkeye in Iowa who used the truck as his daily driver. The seller has also been using it as his daily driver, logging in 30 miles driving from his home to his office. He says the truck “rides and drives very well” and gushes about the really cool patina of the truck stating, “I elected to leave it original as I really appreciate the survivor look. It has its original paint and typical cosmetic blemishes that add to the character of it.” I couldn’t agree more. The seller mentions the minor rust on the cab corner and the edge of the rear fender and says the rockers were repaired at one time. The frame looks solid, and the floors are solid overall, but there’s a small rust hole starting on the edge of the passenger side floor and driver side floor. The bed is usable but has some minor rust holes starting.
Inside, the original green seat vinyl has seen better days and the driver’s side is foam and rip city, but it adds to its genuineness (the seller currently uses a seat cover). The dash pad is bowed and split and there are cracks and discoloration in the steering wheel but what would you expect? This workhorse hasn’t spent 52 years in a climate-controlled garage. The seller says all the gauges, lights, and heater works. The radio turns on but doesn’t play.
In 1970, C10’s came standard with a 250-cu in six, but buyers could opt for a 292 six, a 307 V8, 350 V8, or up to a 400 V8. This one came from the factory with the 350-cu in V8 that could generate 255 horsepower when new. Nothing is shared about any rebuild in the pickup’s past and the odometer is listed at 38,851. It’s mated to a three-on-a-tree column shift manual transmission (personally, I wouldn’t want it any other way). About all the seller says is that “The 350 V8 engine runs strong and starts right up. The 3-speed on the column shifts all gears like it should.” There’s a lot to love about this “Daily-Driver Survivor” Chevy C10. To me, this is what “The Heartbeat of America” looks like, dents and all. What would you do with it? Keep it as is or restore it? (I think you know my answer.)
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Comments
DD, no. But a pretty good work truck for actual use.
I’d leave it as is Ron. In the northeast at this price point you can get a “late model” for around the same money, but rotted through wheel arches as well as rockers, cab corners, and frame issues. At least with this truck it’s a little rusty but much cooler than a 2000+
LOVE the video. What a nice touch.
This is a pretty decent truck for hauling errands and such, and I could live with the paint (maybe), but no way could I sit on that torn up seat. New foam, probably some attention to the springs and a seat cover would make a world of difference. The 350 is nice, and while a column shifted manual is better than an automatic, I driven them enough that now I only want floor shifted 4, 5 and 6 speeds, and in fact, that’s all I’ve owned for the last 33 years.
Well I guess I’m in the minority here, because I would have the body cleaned up and painted. Personally I hate Patina, but that’s just my opinion, everybody has one. I had a 69 very similar to this one, but with 307 and three speed manual. I also enjoy a/c, p.s, p.b. so I suppose I must pass on this one. Nice truck though, sure hope someone does it justice.
God Bless America
I’m with John patina came about as justification not to spend 20k on a paint job(ridiculous)
I hate patina especially clearcoated
Where lots of car guys nowadays say “patina” with such reverence, I just say “neglect”. This truck could have been so much nicer with some effort put towards upkeep. Check out the current “Survivors” exhibit at the Antique Automobile Club of America museum in Hershey, PA for some outstanding examples. Imagine a purple Geo Metro convertible looking showroom fresh. Many people just considered Metros to be disposable transportation appliances at best, even the ragtops. Or a ’65 slant-6 Dart GT in similar condition. They even have Betty White’s 1970 Cadillac Seville,, a gift from her husband Allen Ludden on display, complete with photos and correspondence about the car from through its history. What really impressed me were the prewar cars.. Keep in mind that these are 100% original and unrestored cars. A good friend of mine autocrossed an all-original, “showroom stock, unrestored” class, Canadian-built 1960 Corvair 500 at the national Corvair club’s convention about 30 years ago! So it can be done. I do believe the old collector car adage that “they’re only original once”, but moreso with rarer or much older than a pickup truck that had roughly 3 quarters of a million similar “cousins” from that single year alone, not counting the other 5 years of the “glamor” series of Chevy pickups, and not counting its GMC near twins. My personal thoughts on this particular truck are to restore it or build it to your own tastes, but by all means, keep it on the road! It is, realistically too far gone to be anything more than a driver, assuming the drivetrain is in decent shape. (I’ll get down off my soapbox now and give all the “patina” guys out there in the studio audience their opportunity to publicly disembowel me… )
Convertable cars. / impalas Or old school trucks.
Prefer chevy. ??
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