Original Warhorse: 1972 Chevrolet K20
The first of Chevy’s C/K truck series arrived in 1960 as a complete overhaul of GM’s approach to this market. No longer planted on an automobile frame, the new truck received its own purpose-built platform. Designed for easier ingress and a better ride, the first-generation C/K set the stage for how trucks are used today: as work, pleasure, and commuting vehicles. In 1967, GM clean-sheeted the series, squaring up the body and enlarging the greenhouse. As if finally committed to its developing philosophy around pickups, GM returned to its practice of assigning nicknames to its truck designs. This one was called the Action Line. The 1972 K20 we see here is the last of its generation before the Rounded Line launched in 1973 (which was, weirdly, not round at all). It’s located in Cheney, Washington.
Chevy’s nomenclature followed an easy script: the C meant two-wheel drive; a K was four-wheel drive. A “10” was a half-ton, 20 was a three-quarter ton, and so on. Engine, transmission, and trim options were myriad; if a buyer knew enough about the dealer options sheet, he could order his truck nearly any way he wanted it. This truck has a 350 cu. in. V8, four-speed manual, and an NP205 transfer case. The gas tank is new. A driving video confirms the truck rolls down the road admirably. The seller mentions the tires are old; replacing those will make a world of difference.
Chevy put some distance between itself and Ford with the new Action Line. Production ranged from around 290,000 to 400,000 copies each year – a few tens of thousands more than Ford. A vast number of options helped the sales story; so did the attention to driver comfort. These embossed vinyl seats are part of the “custom deluxe” trim package. By 1972, door panels were molded plastic with an integrated armrest. This truck has the tilt steering wheel option. Much of this interior has been replaced and all the lights and blinkers work.
Rust resides in the rockers and one cab corner. As far as we can tell from the listing, the floors are fine. The bed is in decent condition, too. This truck represents a great opportunity to customize or restore it to stock. Might even be good enough to simply run as it is. If you’re tempted by this prospect, head on over to eBay to find this ’72 Chevy K20, with bidding at $5300, reserve not met. If you won this auction, what would you do with this truck?
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Comments
I love it …..Not a fan of the color though ……
…..My kinda of truck ….. Good luck to the new owner
By the way ……I love the …Click to Edit (Option)
Thanks Barn Finds
This seller recently sold a 1972 3/4 ton 4×4 GMC in better shape, but still rough around the edges for $23,000. This won’t likely get close to that, but should go considerably higher than it’s current bid. It’s mad the makings of a good project or drive as is.
Steve R
Sold for $9,500, with 38 bids and 21 distinct bidders.
Steve R
Love the older ford and chevy trucks. Love the stick shift!
Especially when could check the boxes for what you wanted and not what you didn’t. Miss that to in today’s cars and truck’s where you have to order by packaging and take things u don’t need or want. Maybe just my age showing up.
This is a truck as it’s supposed to be meant for work and then transportation.
Just my opinion. 😃
Good luck to buyer and seller.
Always been my favorite. Maybe because parents had a ’72 C20 Cheyenne. The 4-speed is great for versatility and driveability.
I, too, miss being able to order specific features but how far back would you actually want to go? PS, PB, 3-4 tire sizes, day/night mirror, lighter, gauges, stabilizer bar?
Oh. Yeah.
Had the ’72 C 20 camper special that was all original for a while. It needed some serious suspension work in the front end and would bounce down the road for a while if you hit a pot hole and it got going. I hauled tons of rocks in it for a project then finally let it go. Definitely was one of those vehicles you miss after its gone. It would be nice to have the 4WD like this one. They all rust in the same places so on one original like this it should be easy to see how rough it is and whether the water has made its usual pathways from the drip rail on the cab to the corners.
I have a ’72 C-10 Longbed with a six banger originally 3 on the tree, now on the floor. A stripper if there ever was one and in the same Mustard yellow….Great work truck for hauling lumber, dirt and whatever. A/C when you open the vent windows.!
These Action line trucks from ’67-’72 are the best looking and have the cleanest lines of all makes at the time imho.
Love to have the 4 wheel version . Sweet truck on it’s way to being beyond my price point :)
I owned a 1970, C20, camper special, gentleman Jim interior which had the embroidery even on the headliner. Green and white, blackjack headers, turbo mufflers, 650 Holly. Loved that truck….
Back in the 70’s around 1975-79 where I worked one of the co-workers came in with the same year 4×4 C20 in green and even back then every one had a bad want for it…..nice ones will always bring the money.
A good hard working truck from a time you could customize it to do the job you needed, without having to buy it in a preproduced package of stuff you didn’t need.
As usual Michelle an informative article with interesting historical background. Thank you.
The cab was the smallest of any truck I ever owned! I’m a solid 6′ 5″ 245 lb man that couldn’t drive it because of no leg room for the clutch and brake pedals after the cross country bus sized steering wheel gave me zero room to move my legs! I put a smaller wheel on it but still was way too tiny inside. Mine was a rare 69 w/396 and 2wd 4 speed and 3.73 posi, t’was a fast truck but simply too hard for a BIG MAN to drive. I paid $400 for it in 1981 and sold it for $550 the same summer, looking at what they want for them now just isn’t fathomable to me!