Stylish Worker: 1966 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside Pickup
Chevrolet started making trucks in 1918. In those days, trucks were basically another body style of a car. For instance, Chevy’s Model 490 truck – its first – was a 490 car from the radiator to the front cowl, with a truck body behind. But as the companies competed, trucks became more specialized and eventually, more comfortable. In 1960, Chevy introduced its C/K line. The C10 was a half-ton two-wheel drive truck (the “K” indicated four-wheel drive) offered with a variety of engine options and trim packages. It was given a purpose-built truck chassis – not a car chassis. The C10 had coil springs, unlike its mate at GMC with leaf springs. Coils gave a nice ride but tended to sway under a heavy load while leaf springs were more stable. The C10 also had independent front suspension, another ride-enhancer. Here on eBay is a 1966 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside pickup in good original condition, bid to $11,600, reserve met. The truck is in Caldwell, Idaho. The local dealer’s badge can still be seen just in front of the driver’s mirror.
This truck is equipped with a 250 cu. in. in-line six-cylinder. This was the standard option for the C10, good for about 155 bhp. The motor was rebuilt at 64,000 miles, and the truck is showing just shy of 110,000 miles now. It has a manual transmission, probably a three-speed. A considerable list of new and replaced mechanical parts includes a new master cylinder and other brake parts, exhaust, battery, heater hoses, and wiring. It runs and drives well, according to the seller.
The body has benefited from some rust repair and a partial repaint, though the seller says 90% of the paint is original. The all-steel short bed has been repainted in the same color as the exterior; much of the underside has been Rhino coated or painted. The color match isn’t perfect, but the seller represents the truck as driver-quality and that’s about right. In 1966, a rear bumper was an option – the buyer could order it either painted white or plated chrome. White adds to the vintage look, matching the stripes on the truck’s flanks.
The interior is in great shape given the truck’s mileage and age. It has new window seals, new door seals, and new mirrors, and all the lights work. The carpet is fresh and the wipers have been replaced. The truck comes with an original owner’s manual and its slipcover – not easy to find. For once we have a vehicle that offers an instantly stylish ride without a lot of needs. At the current price this seems like a good deal to me; what do you think?
Auctions Ending Soon
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now1 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now1 days$4,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now1 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now3 days$11,000
1974 Datsun 260ZBid Now5 days$750
Comments
Nice old short bed, doubt that six will remain in there a whole lot longer. Transmission looks to be a stump puller 4 speed. But it looks as though it has good bones and myself 66, 67 were good looking trucks.
Cool old truck and I hope whoever buys this keeps the in-line six cylinder motor in place or if the V8 temptation is too great, at least retains the original motor.
Nice find, an antique store in town, the guy has a truck just like this. If it had a V8, it would be my squarebody, only 11 years prior. Quite a difference, if I may say so. I agree, it’s the compound low 4 speed, aka, “granny gear”. I don’t recall a 3 speed floor shift, as all 3 speeds I remember were on the column. Not sure if the short box is a plus or not. Some say yes, some say no. I suppose I’ll find out this fall when the squarebody goes up for sale. The 6 is just the best there was, and would be a game changer if my truck had one. Call it shell shock, but somehow, $12grand seems like a plausible amount. Be the last freakin’ truck you’ll need to buy.
Just sold a nice’ 65 short step in similar condition with the exception of a 283 w/ 3 on the tree. I prefer the fleetside and don’t recall seeing a truck of this vintage with a steel floor inside the bed.
Priced right, nice solid trucks are bringing good money.
Nice catch Paul. Totally agree. 66 should be wood bed I believe.
My first truck was a ’66 C10 with the 283, three-on-the-tree, SWB Fleetside. It was also a Custom like the one in the ad. Mine had a wood slat floor, but had been covered with a sheet of 1/4″ steel, with welded pieces for the corners in front of and behind the wheel wells. The coil spring rear did not do good with a heavy load. Otherwise, it was a nice P/U. Mine cost $550 in 1975 and when I traded it in on a new F150 4×4, the dealer gave me a $3500 trade-in allowance!!!
Was a powerglide ever put in a chevy TRUCK?
Are there any working mechanical gas pumps still in operation today?
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8LwAAOSwnOFjC~ug/s-l1600.jpg
Love the long hose – have you guys seen the latest nozzles at Conoco & BP?
No spring & a very short metal nozzle – on a ’67-68 f-body(at least) you gotta hold it & press it in all the time you are filling & hope it don’t spill out all over the ground – a far cry from the nozzles back in the day.
Oh, yes! I bought a used 66 C-1404 short bed stepside in Georgia in 72, only had 50k on it. Very heavily optioned:283,PG,PS, factory AC,deluxe custom cab with the Panoramic cab( big back glass),side mount spare tire, chrome front & rear bumpers, grille and bumper guards. Put almost 700k on that truck, did an off-frame in 96, then lost it in a divorce. She had no reason to demand compensation from that unit, she did it to hurt me, and it still hurts today!
From reading e-bay listings there is more to the quality of this truck, than meets the eye. I would agree with the others, if this is the style and year you want, this one could be the top of the list.
This is a nice one, if I only had the cash I would likely buy it. I always loved this body style. I would keep the six ya can’t kill them.
Heater core entirely under the hood?! Looks ez to change.
Well, that truck could come to my place. I kind of like the old 4-speeds in a pickup. This one reminds me of a truck that used to run around my home town. A very strange guy, just a little older than me, had one very similar to this one. He inherited it when his dad passed away suddenly. He was scared to death to open it up because he was sure his engine would explode so he idled it around town in high. It grunted and shuddered for six or seven thousand miles then it started to misfire and smoke. He traded in to the Ford dealer for a new Torino with an automatic. They pulled the head off that 250 and started laughing. The rockers, balls, and pushrods were completely worn out from lack of lube. The valve guides were shot to the point where you could almost put two valves in the same guide at the same time. Of course the valves and seats were shot. Cylinders were OK but the pistons were also shot. At just over 10K miles they had to rebuild the engine. Whoever got the truck got a real gem after that…