No Reserve Short Bed: 1969 Chevrolet C-10
Old, unmolested, and unmodified pickups, such as this 1969 Chevrolet C-10 Stepside short bed, keep turning up – man, they are popular! Unlike a lot of muscle cars from that era, these trucks often show in their original form and are just waiting for their next station in life. A mostly lifelong resident of California, home is now in Witchita, Kansas where this rust-free ride has cooled its heels for the last three years. Interested and potential acquirers can find it, here on eBay for a current bid of $18,100 with 34 bids tendered so far.
I suppose it’s a matter of functionality and performance but I’ve always preferred the Fleetside version of these trucks to the Stepside but I’ll admit that I have encountered these Stepside variations with a lot less frequency. The seller believes that the Light Blue finish is mostly, or completely, original. It has typical patina (it doesn’t look faked) affecting horizontal surfaces but there’s nothing to indicate crash damage or rot. The wooden cargo bed is in sound shape too, it has experienced use but reveals only typical slide-in/slide-out wear. The shorter 115″ wheelbase gives this truck, to my eyes, a more balanced appearance as opposed to the longer 127″ or 133″ variants, and the dropped suspension enhances the overall presentation. Of note are the hubcaps, I believe they’re for a ’69 Chevy passenger car and not a truck, but coupled with the wider steel wheels, they definitely work.
No V8 here, this Stepside is stylin’ a 155 gross HP, 250 CI in-line six-cylinder engine that exerts its torque to the rear wheels via a three-on-the-tree shifted manual transmission. The seller adds, “The truck starts right up, runs, and drives good“. The mileage listing is 84K miles which should be no concern for this drivetrain combination assuming proper maintenance.
The interior is surprisingly perky and functional, in a ’60s sort of way. It’s surprisingly clean and has been treated to a new carpet. As for the upholstery and door panels, no worries, it’s all quite sound. These older Chevy/GMC truck interiors are as basic and austere as they come – it’s a refreshing departure from the overwrought arrangements that are prevalent today. Would I want to breathe in this simplicity as an everyday driver? Unlikely, but it would serve as a welcome, sporadic respite.
This is one of the nicest ’60s vintage Chevrolet pickup trucks that I have stumbled upon. I’m not a fan of patina but if it’s as nature intended, so be it. If this were my truck, I’d do absolutely nothing to it – buy, drive, and enjoy. How about you?
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Comments
I would put it at stock ride height and install a floor shifter. Other than that, drive it.
You will have to ditch that bench seat if you do. That floor shift will sit too far back to go into third gear. Ask me how I know.
Had a lot of 60s Chevy trucks with aftermarket shifters on the floor. All with bench seats. Never had a problem.
The floor shifter would fit fine. I have driven a 69 GMC with a three on the floor conversion and bench seat. I would however, leave the three on the tree for the cool factor. Besides, it makes it more millenial proof.
It’s all in the installation and adjustment.
Ok, I have looked at this truck several times. Looking, and then going back to looking at it at a later time so my eyes don’t deceive me.
I see three different shades of blue on the driver’s side alone!
I can say with certainty that the entire drivers bedside has been repainted.
The driver’s door and front fender are two more different shades of blue also! The paint on the front fender and hood just might be original? Maybe?
A tri color i suppose? I don’t mean a tri color paint job either, one with three different coats of paint? I mean one with three different shades of blue!
I also seriously doubt that it was ever a single color? Probably had a different color top?
I would not have said anything negative at all about this vehicle if the seller would have just said “nothing” about the paint?
The truck will sell for good money regardless, why make the claims about believing the paint to be all or mostly original?
This is one of my favorite trucks. It has potential to be returned to an original looking truck or make it something else with a V8 engine etc?
Good luck to the buyer. You are getting a very desirable truck.
Just repaint it so it is one uniform color!
Just my oponion!
I agree, defiantly been repainted and at least some of the patina is fake. Tops of rear fenders have no wear, mirrors are painted body color, gas cap and wheels all body color and would not have been, over spray on bed wood that would have never been blue. Makes me wonder what the respray is covering?
My parents had a 71 Blazer back in the day and both doors were slightly darker than the rest of the truck because they were painted in a different shop than the rest.
I agree, Jim. Just drive it.
This probably had a rubber mat originally, but the carpet is a nice upgrade.
I had a Ford F-100 of about this vintage that was painted by brush the same color. It had a 302CI in it with 3 on the tree, no power anything and AM radio. I loved it before the frame rotted out and left me stranded but if I owned this truck, I wouldn’t change a thing. These trucks are great to drive just the way they came from the factory and don’t need a floor shifter or a 500hp engine. Finding these in anything close to original condition is very rare so being an old guy in semi original condition I’d have to keep things that way.
You want big dollars, replace the bent rear bumper
Dad had a 70 Fleetside version of this exact truck including a column manual (which I think I could still drive 53 yrs later). That interior is a carbon copy. Had a V8 is the only difference. U couldn’t hurt those trucks back then.
We had a 71 long wide bed, but it was the dark blue like is on the door panels with a white top. I learned to drive a manual transmission in it. Those 250’s were tough engines, they had the torque to pull and still got decent fuel mileage. I wanted it, but he sold it before I knew about it. Been looking for one like this for a long time, guess I’ve waited too long. The ones priced decently are rust buckets and nice one bring big bucks. I’d definitely put fresh paint on this one, rusty patina is neglect. I’d even keep the 6 for a while, but I’d add Vintage Air. Got a 350 out of a 75 truck I might swap in later if I got tired of the 6.
I like this one. Like the author said, nice to see a bare bones unit. Simple is attractive after these other overdone examples.
Besides carpet, someone put in car pedals. Look nice with the carpet.
Clean up the patina, maybe add power brakes and steering and enjoy!
I believe 1967 was the first year of the 3-speed fully synchronized transmission in Chevy trucks following ’66 in the cars. Can’t speak if this was all GMs following this pattern. But I learned to double clutch to first gear in Dad’s ’66 without grinding while moving. Shhh!😆.
This truck is sweet as it is, I’d keep it the way it is,…for a while at least 😉
I had a ’68 C10 I bought for $100 in 1980. It had the 250 and 3spd manual. Somebody had converted it to shifter on the floor, worked fine with the bench seat. I used it for 10 yrs as a truck, always hauling something. There’s a photo somewhere of me using it to pull down a large oak tree damaged in hurricane Gloria in 1985. The tree snapped back and the photo shows the trucks back end five feet in the air. No damage to the truck at all.
Mark, your tree story was a good chuckle because it reminded me of a Sunday morning in ’67 delivering the Mpls. paper in Dad’s ’66 Chev. pickup with the 250-6 & 3 speed.
He was driving down a dirt alley in my hometown when suddenly the back end collapsed. A broken water main under the surface had apparently eroded underneath and we were the fortunate ones to come along.
Dad sent me to fetch the street commissioner at 6am who was hungover and looked it 😆 He got the tractor/ backhoe/ bucket combo and hoisted the pickup up and out. No damage. Good chuckle the whole time over Fred’s condition too! Lol!
At $18k and still going..my guess is,whoever buys it will not leave it alone, resto mod is $$$
Matthew,
You are correct. If I bought it I wouldn’t leave it alone either. I’d modify the gas tank by filling it and then I’d drive it. I would never drive any old vehicle restored to new condition. That’s what I call a wall hanger and is very nice to look at but maybe I’m crazy because I still like to drive an old vehicle. No power steering, no power brakes, 3 on the column, and power windows provided by Mr. Arm.
If I want a new truck I’d buy a new truck. Unfortunately, I agree that most people would hot rod the heck out of this truck and ruin it. Here’s my offer. Whoever buys this truck and puts a 4 speed Muncie and 427CI engine in it I’ll buy it for $10k.
Unmolested/unmodified lowered suspension, give me a break.
Hubcaps are from 1969 Passenger cars. Great catch Jim. They’re dog dishes from Camaro and Chevelle and possibly Nova
AirCooled, I love the dog dish or moons as they were called also. Had ’em on my dark blue 289 65 Mustang when I bought it. Left ’em on. I like different & this truck on the painted wheels offsets ’em imo.
I put a model of this truck together when I was 10. I painted it light blue with a darker shade on the lower bumpouts. Great lines. Thanks for the memories.
$20k+ Holy $hit
Matthew, I’m sure you model looked beautiful.
I had a 1972 Cheyenne and it was this blue color listed on top with a darker blue bottom.
Perhaps the colors you selected when you were 10 years old was correct?
Just my oponion!
I’ve been hanging on to these for the last 40 years as I buy and sell other cars. Luckily I live in Montana where they didn’t salt the roads and have maybe 35 or 40 of them. Hoping to retire and work on a few of them.
To each their own. I guess that’s why we all do things a little different. I can appreciate the small block and agree it would be nice but I guess I like originallity better. That 250 6 cylinder it has in it wouldn’t be too different then a 283 so my logic says “why spend the money and do all that work to end up about the same”. Put that 283 in your Harley instead and send photos.
Tim,
I can definitely appreciate your enthusiasm about digging into your collection of vehicles after retirement but I’m now retired and can suggest to not wait too long. I’d love to have just one old vehicle as a hobby but all I can do now is look. My 1/2 inch drive ratchet weighs more then I remember and unfortunately I weigh more then I remember too. Enjoy it while you can.
I have thought if I get tired of working on 67 to 72 chev pickups just selling them all and buy another new Duramax to cruise around in.
I used to love that I could sit next to the engine under the hood and change the plugs…LoL. They have so much space under the hood that they are really easy to work on.
Cy,
I’ve been driving newer RAM trucks with the 5.7 liter Hemi’s since they came out in 2002 and the first time I changed the plugs I about made up a ton of new cus words. First discovery thanks to the manual was 16 plugs. Then I had to find them. The only way you’d sit inside the engine compartment on those or any newer truck is to remove the hood and put a lawn chair in over the air cleaner. That’s when I realized I needed to take my truck in for maintenance. The shop mechanic came out covered with band aids so I’ve been looking at old trucks ever since. Finding an original is next to impossible if it’s in any kind of decent shape. This truck even at $20k is still way cheaper then anything new and is a rare example of a truck that didn’t get beat to death hauling horse manure on a farm.
My first vehicle was a 1969 Chevy C10 short bed fleetside. It had a 307 in it and a 3 speed on the column. It was maroon colored with a white colored top. I loved that truck and I sure wish I still had it today. It was a mistake to ever let it go.
I worked for a large parts outfit (12 stores)that had a fleet of these. for delivery and stock orders, etc. For the most part, they were nearly indestructible, even considering the fleet of goofy teenagers and vagabonds we had for parts runners.
It would definitely be an awesome daily driver. I believe i would have to drop me a good ol’ small block in it though. Nothing outrageous but say a good little hopped up 283/327. An i could either go with a 5 speed or an automatic tranny.
It says it still has the CA title. So the seller didn’t put the title in his name to save money? In WA state title jumping is illegal.
I’m pretty sure title jumping is illegal in most places including Michigan where I’m at. People still do it all the time. My opinion is if there’s anything you are uncomfortable with about the title or vehicle do not hand over any money until your satisfied. After all, I’m not seeing any reduction in price due to improper documentation. If it isn’t correct you have the option to back out.