No Reserve: 1966 Chevrolet C10 Custom Cab
The seller seems to have struck gold when he unearthed this 1966 Chevrolet C10 Custom Cab hidden away in an Alabama barn. Not only is it a solid survivor, but its engine bay still hosts its original and healthy V8. The buyer could choose to drive it untouched, but t looks like it could also be a rewarding and straightforward restoration project. If a classic Pickup has been on your radar, this one might be worth a closer look since the seller is offering it with No Reserve. The C10 is located in Eads, Tennessee, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The seller has set the auction to open at $15,000, but there’ve been no bids at the time of writing.
The seller indicates that this C10 had belonged to the same elderly owner for many years, and it isn’t clear how long it had been parked when he unearthed it. The paint isn’t original, and despite what the photos suggest, it also isn’t Black. This color is an extraordinarily dark shade of purple, although the Chevy did roll off the line in a combination of two-tone Black with the top and interior finished in White. When inspected closely, the paint shows its age, but it remains presentable if the buyer wishes to hit the road immediately. The panels are pretty straight, and while the bed timber is deteriorating, it is in surprisingly good condition since the seller believes it to be original. Rust is not a massive issue with this old truck, although there is some for the buyer to consider. It has impacted the lower fenders, rockers, lower door corners, and the leading edge of the hood. None of these problems appear severe, and I think the buyer could address them all with patches rather than panel replacement. The usually prone areas like the cab corners, floors, and windshield frame are clean, suggesting that this is a project that the next owner could tackle in a home workshop. All of the trim is present, while the glass looks excellent for a vehicle of this vintage.
The C10’s interior remains as presentable as the exterior, although the painted surface would benefit from a refresh. The previous owner continued the color change to the inner doors, but returning them to their original appearance would be easy for anyone with basic metal preparation and painting skills. That is one of the greatest attractions of these classic Pickups as project builds. Dismantling and reassembling the interior is surprisingly easy, making a restoration pretty straightforward. The seat upholstery looks good, as does the rubber mat. There is a wrap protecting the wheel, and apart from that and a radio/cassette player, this interior looks tidy and unmolested.
While Chevrolet offered buyers in 1966 a six-cylinder engine as standard equipment, the original owner of this C10 bit the bullet and plumped for a 283ci V8. This motor should be producing 175hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque. The power needs to find its way to the pavement, and it does so via a three-speed manual transmission. You may think that the C10 will need some work to return to a roadworthy state, but it seems that nothing could be further from the truth. The seller indicates that it runs and drives well, and while he also claims that it has a genuine 80,500 miles on the clock, he doesn’t indicate whether he holds verifying evidence. Overall, it appears that this old classic is a turn-key proposition for a buyer seeking immediate motoring fun.
This 1966 Chevrolet C10 is a surprise packet. That isn’t because it is extraordinary, although it is a hot prospect for a project build. My surprise stems from the fact that there’s been no bidding action despite the incredible popularity of these classic Pickups. That raises a tantalizing prospect for our readers to consider. The seller is offering it with No Reserve, and if the action doesn’t heat up soon, that opens the possibility that someone could win this vehicle with a single bid. If you have been searching for a Pickup to park in your workshop, it might be worth watching this auction closely because today could be your lucky day.
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Comments
Isn’t the reserve $15,000?
1966 283 2bbl was 195 hp, 285 ft/lb torque.
True, but in those days horsepower was always rated lower in trucks. Better torque curve perhaps?
Never understood why these were called “custom”?…thère was nothing custom about these basic tin rattlecan boxes until trucks became domesticated and comfortable…no looking back, no regrets…
custom meant it had the larger rear window and two-tone trim. That was about it. I used to have one of these, only with a 4-speed.
My Custom is original and has the small rear window and single color paint . Custom is a trim package .
Chevy actually has a “Custom” model today. i never understood it either
Any maintenance needed on a modern truck isn’t user friendly. I like the simplicity of the old cars. That said new ones are safer and more comfortable.
Driving from TN to AL and back with a flatbed trailer: no problem. Taking truck off the trailer for flip photos: too hard.
More likely it won’t stick around very long. This seller has had his listings featured on this site dozens of times. He’s a proficient seller, as seen in his completed listings. No serious buyer cares if the car/truck is photographed on a trailer, what matters is if the car/truck is a reasonable value, which his track record suggests it is.
Steve R
He took it off the trailer for most of the photos, there are 2 pics of the underside while still on the trailer, and the lead shot also.
If originality is important to someone, this is a pretty good truck.
Being a ‘Custom”, this truck should have also had two tone paint. Obviously it’s been painted over. These are nice trucks though, and ’66 was the last year of this style.
283 was gray in 66 pickups I restored 1 years ago!
I had a very nice 1964 truck like this. It was light blue and white and it was my only transportation for a couple of months while my car was not operable. Mine drove and rode good so there’s no reason to think this one wouldn’t too. Mine had a 350 engine but no other mods and it got decent mileage. I don’t think I’d pay 15K for this one though.
15k, damn.
Like I said in my previous comment on the 1956 Chevrolet truck; this was like my upgrade 1965 when the company retired the ‘56. That one was a ‘65 with a six cylinder and three on the tree. Seemed like a huge step up in ride and handling at the time. I like these old Chevy trucks but the asking prices that people are apparently getting is overpriced IMHO. I wish I still had my 1950 GMC five window which was driver condition. I bought this in 1972 for $350.00. I sold it in 1988 for $750.00 and thought I had made a good deal. My how times have changed.
I think the bidders are just waiting to get started. They all know it is not going to sell for 15 K. It is just a question of how high it will go.
I had a ’66 C10 Custom. It was a SWB, 283 3 speed manual, Fleetside bed. Mine had the small back window. The Custom features were a piece of chrome behind the door glass, on the cab, and a 3 vertical sliding levers heat/defrost control. it also had an AM radio.
All proper rust repair is MAJOR! Neat truck, always amazed by pix on a trailer. Especially alledged ‘driver’? Weak! Very weak!
Interested in how high this goes .I was given my late fathers 64 K20 with 5,139 original miles on it he bought new the month before I born . Always parked inside .