Top Flight Restoration: 1970 Chevrolet C-10 CST
Chevrolet & GMC pickup trucks from 1967 to 1972 are a hot commodity right now but this 1970 Chevrolet C-10 may be the finest one encountered in some time. Best of all, it’s not a duded-up, Arizona auction, restomod version – it’s stock and in spectacular shape. We’ll have to look closely at this Bridgeton, New Jersey resident. It is available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $65,000. The seller states that he will consider serious offers.
The seller informs his audience that this C-10 has experienced a full restoration and it is a mix of original and replacement parts. As he further states, “Nothing was spared to revive this beautiful piece of Americana”. Easy to believe. What’s hard to believe is the monstrosity that modern full-size pickup trucks have become. Sure, they are everyday drivers now, not vehicles consigned to a life of mundane work tasks, but they are gargantuan in size with the complexity to boot, hardly the case a half-century ago.
The body of this Chevy is perfectly straight though the bedsides, front bed panel, and tailgate are replacements. The side trim is new and the refinishing as done in the original hue, of what appears to be code 501, Medium Blue. The small, white “doggie-bowl” hubcaps are a welcome relief from the vast variety of au courant wheel options usually found on an old truck today – they cap off the vibe perfectly. The seller adds that there is “nothing hiding here” and I would have to agree, suddenly it’s 1970 again.
The bed is a work of art too. According to research, Chevrolet used Southern Yellow Pine as the bed material and offered it through 1972. The only issue with this bed is you couldn’t use it as you would mar its beauty.
The interior continues the exterior’s trend. It is mostly typical as pickup truck interiors were 50 years ago but perhaps a step up with this C-1o’s “CST” option package. The addition of a full-width vinyl bench seat, additional insulation, and carpeting all contributes to a very pleasant environment. Research further indicates that the pedals should be chrome-trimmed as well, courtesy of the CST option, perhaps that item missed the restoration process. The seller further adds, “The interior has been restored to its original splendor. Even the original radio works”. This truck is A/C equipped – always a nice option to find.
Under the hood is a 402 CI v8, big-block engine, what Chevrolet confusing referred to as a 400 “Turbo-Jet” motor. It’s confusing because they also manufactured a 400 “Turbo-Fire” which is a small-block variant, more in keeping with the 350’s architecture. Why you wouldn’t call a 402, a 402, I’ll never know. Good for 310 gross HP, the motor is connected to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission. The seller makes no reference to the powertrain other than to describe what it is, i.e. no details regarding a full or partial rebuild, etc. or how any of it works – peculiar. The engine certainly looks like it has been completely rebuilt, it’s a thing of beauty, but there is no elaboration beyond that. He also mentions that this C-10 has a heavy-duty twelve-bolt differential, which it does, but it’s not the same one as used in passenger cars. I found out the hard way on a rebuild a few years ago.
Perfect? You bet, well, as perfect as an inanimate object can be. Expensive? You bet. This C-10 would be great for a collector or someone who wanted to do some easy cruising but I can’t see it ever being used for its intended purpose. How about that price? What do you think, is it logical for what this C-10 is, or is it way out there?
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Comments
$65k is new Silverado territory. You really got to want a museum piece and not anything you could actually drive and use.
Even with the full monte options list, I don’t see the money he expects. Someone would have to be playing a very long game to see this as an investment.
Nice truck for sure. I would love to have it grace my driveway although the white hubcaps would disappear in favor of what should be on it. The caps look OK but they were used from ’61 to ’63. Vans might have used them later than that. They just don’t look right IMHO. The 402 was available but not nearly as common as the big block became from 1973 to when they stopped offering it. For a restoration I have a very hard time looking at that rubber hose for a fuel line. It should have a steel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor. If this came to my place that fuel line would be replaced before I so much as stuck the key in the ignition. Way over my budget, and I could not justify it anyway. I could buy a new one and have change left. Of course the new one wouldn’t be as much fun…
Actually those caps were used until 76 he didn’t paint the black on the hubcaps but, if it’s a true CST it should have either the stainless caps or full chrome wheel covers on it. Too bad Tha ad was removed I’d love to see the Spid on it.
The*
Way out there in my estimation. Sure it cost a bundle to restore it to this condition, but seldom can you get your money back. I like the way some builders using a truck like this to trade up for 2 or 3 lesser vehicles you can build and sell turning a profit on one or two and trading again with one or two to keep building, trading and so on.
God bless America
I agree with geomechs on the caps, they look ok, but not quite right. I would go with a Torque Thrust. The price is out there, I think 40K max… These are my favorite though, the Fords of this era never looked this good.
I think the factory full size wheel cover would look right on this. That’s probably what I would do.
Nice truck, but I don’t see the value here. I am selling off my collection, losing money on almost all of them lol. When I had my car lot and sold cars for a living, it was a different story lol. But now that I am doing this as a hobby and not for profit, I am actually happier in life.
These are the ones I was referring to.
I want a truck for carrying things, and this one is too nice for that. Instead, I’d spend $6,500 on a truck that I wouldn’t be afraid to pack full of black iron pipe, concrete mix, car parts, etc…
Big blocks were “turbo jet”, I thought small blocks were “turbo fire”,,,I always thought Ford came up with “cobra jet” as a way of sticking it to Cheverolet.
Neat old truck in awesome shape but those white caps have gotta go. Too expensive to start messing around with, which is unfortunate.
Nice looking truck! :-)
Reminds me of the ’71 Cheyenne trim 4×4 that my best friend drove when we were in high school (in the early 80’s).
It does look like the resto was done to a high level.
BUT (…speaking of high…) $65K is a “what have you been smokin’?” price!! :-O
My father frame-off restored and mildly modded the family C-10 Cheyenne. Granted it’s not a big block but we won’t dream about asking 65k when we sell it due to health issues later this year. This seller had watched way too many auction shows.
The 402 was a slight overbore on a 396 but it was always called a 396 in factory literature.
This is a nice truck, no doubt about it, but why in the heck would you fit the wrong hub caps and not replace the bowed rear bumper when you clearly took the rest of the truck to a very high level restoration? Also, maybe it is the camera angle, but it looks like the rear axle is off center and positioned way too forward??
Those faults you mention along with the rubber fuel line suggest corners were cut. For the asking price spending another few hundred dollars to fix those issues would have gone a long way.
I think the window sticker is a reproduction, those are for shows. In the real world they offer no evidence to back up a seller and actually diminish the value of the car/truck in my opinion.
The seller also needs to lower the truck a few inches, it sits so high it’s distracting.
Steve R
This is a nice truck, no doubt about it, but why in the heck would you fit the wrong hub caps and not replace the bowed rear bumper when you clearly took the rest of the truck to a very high level restoration? Also, maybe it is the camera angle, but it looks like the rear axle is off center and positioned way too far forward??
While I don’t care to follow Steve R’s comments, as he’ll for sure find something in my post to rag about, it’s just a pickup truck, people, not the Mona Lisa( and even that is useless to me) or a new kidney. It shows, today, with all the aftermarket parts, you can restore one better than new, and I consider this, better than new, and those parts don’t come cheap either, but $65g’s? Pure American greed, and this foolishness can’t last much longer. Sorry for “editorializing”, but we, as a country just can’t have that big of a difference in classes. Someone buys a stinkin’ pickup for $65g’s and someone else, IN OUR COUNTRY, dies for lack of healthcare. The next generations will be so strapped with debt, they’ll have no use for a $65,000 dollar vintage pickup truck, so enjoy it while you can.
Why are you bringing me up in a post that has nothing to do with my comment about the truck. Your comments are just inane blathering about how someone trying to sell an overpriced truck is leading to the ruin of this country.
Steve R
It looks like the back bumper is bent. At this price point, every detail matters.
Beautiful truck without a doubt, however it does seem quite overpriced. I do wonder why an owner would go to such lengths for a period correct restoration and then install a bent rear bumper and that tacky dual exhaust. Thankfully easily corrected for the sake of originality.
Is this the same truck that was on here a few months back? I believe seller was on the fence of performing resto or selling as was?!? Not sure on correctness of hubcaps for the 69-70 CST model. I know the full chromes/stainless as seen above were used on the 71-72 models. Don’t see price reaching sellers hopes. Seen some high option 4x4s get close to that at auction. The saying goes, there’s a butt for every seat, maybe it will trip someones trigger. I missed out on a fully loaded 72 2wd 402 equipped Cheyenne super about 15 years ago. It was real attractive in a light blue and white two tone with blue interior. Guy was asking $10,000 back then but it was flawless. Just didn’t have the money….
When you’re pricing it out of the market, way out of the market, why stop with $65,000? Time to get used to it, real used to it, for a long time.
Anybody thats ever redone a car or truck knows you never get your money back.this must be his first redo,good luck.at best i see $30,000 maybe!
Before the seller would consider “serious offers”, he/she should consider starting with a way better than “home run” price. Even if I wanted to pay too much for a p/u I couldn’t drive for fear of damage, I wouldn’t bother until the seller comes to their senses on a starting price that might suggest a reasonable deal could eventually be reached. Wish them luck, tho.
If this guy has done as much as he has said then it’s not unreasonable to ask this sort of money, I have imported a 70 C10 to Australia and it cost me close to $25 grand AUD to land it here I’ve spent another $25 grand AUD getting it to turn key condition mechanically and I haven’t touched the paint or body, but that’s what you get from buying from photos but I certainly never recommend Leaded Classics in Alabaster Alabama to anyone
Wow 65k ! Love the truck but that is way over priced. When you restore a car or truck you never get what you put in. Seller wants it all back
Well it’s off the market now, guess the seller knew he wouldn’t be able to sell at 65K. Now for the truck, it’s beautiful, all chrome and then you put white hub caps on. What are you thinking, it just threw everything off. And I agree with Bluetec320, I believe the rear end is moved up just so slightly. All in all, it belongs in a show room for some collector to look at for the next 30 years. Me, I just need a good ole work truck. Hope everyone has a Happy 4th, be safe out there. God Bless America!!🇺🇸
$65,000 is more than it cost me to build my first house in 1986!!! It is a beautiful truck but in my opinion if you by this truck you either have to much bloody money or your out of your bloody mind!!!
Seller obviously want what he spent on it. Just doesn’t happen that way. Nice but, no thanks.
Beautiful truck, but tires and wheel covers need attention. Tires appear to be a minimum of three sizes too small. Look like 195/75R15, or thereabouts, when they should at least be 225/75R15. Probably found them for 40 dollars a tire, lol. Hub caps are bright on CST trucks, and should have been replaced with the correct ones. Fuel line should be steel all the way from pump to carburetor, very easy to find new correct line.
When I was 15 yrs old my Dad purchased a truck for me almost identical to this truck in Mt Airy,NC but my truck had a 3 speed on the tree and we changed it to a 4 speed in the floor. I made a mistake and sold the truck a few years after I married my high school sweetheart. I’m still married to my high school sweetheart after 37 yrs but would like to purchase a truck like this one if anyone knows where there may be one for sale, please let me know.
I live in Southwest Virginia.
Thanks in Advance !!!
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