44k Original Miles: 1964 Chevrolet C20 Pickup
While it is by no means a hard and fast rule, older pickups tend to fall into two broad categories. You will find genuine cream puffs that have never worked a day in their life. Others will look pretty battered around the edges, indicating that they have had to earn a living. This 1964 Chevrolet C20 falls somewhere in the middle. Its condition is well above average, but there is evidence that this is no trailer queen. It presents nicely as an original survivor and is guaranteed to turn heads in its current condition. Returning it to a pristine state would not be difficult, and some buyers may find this tempting. Located in Canton, Georgia, you will find the C20 listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a sale price of $20,890, so let’s take a look and see what path you might follow.
The seller indicates that this Light Green C20 has spent most of its life in sunny California. It is a one-owner survivor that has been garage kept its entire life. Its paint shines nicely, with no evidence of UV damage. Flaws and defects are minimal, and the panels look impressively straight for a vehicle of this type and age. The big question that will always hang over pickups of this vintage revolves around rust. It can do some significant damage to areas like the floors and lower cab corners, but everything looks spotlessly clean in this case. The overall condition is indicative of an original survivor whose owner has treated with respect. The exterior trim, wheels, and hubcaps are in excellent condition, while the glass appears flawless. Rounding out the package, the C20 features a custom flatbed, complete with the practicality of a mounted vice.
I’m sure that a few of you were hoping that we would lift the hood on this Chevy and find a V8 occupying the engine bay. That isn’t the case, but this vehicle houses its original and numbers-matching 230ci six-cylinder motor that produces 140hp and 220 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed manual transmission, while there is no power assistance for the steering or brakes. This combination wasn’t the most potent in the Chevrolet armory for 1964, but the impressive torque figure still allowed this C20 to carry its maximum load with ease. For potential buyers, the news is mainly positive. It appears that the engine and remaining drivetrain components of this C20 are in good condition. The motor runs well, the transmission shifts smoothly, the brakes feel strong, and there are no problems to report. The owner has recently replaced the tires, and it seems that this classic is a turnkey proposition for its next owner.
Apart from what I believe to be aftermarket seat upholstery, this C20’s interior appears original and unmolested. There is more wear than I would have expected on the wheel for a vehicle with a low odometer reading, but it still looks respectable. The dash is clean, and the painted surfaces rate as immaculate. The gauge markings are crisp, while the lenses are crystal clear. The original floor mat is in excellent condition, and there are no aftermarket additions to this classic. Riding in this C20 would not be living in the lap of luxury because it doesn’t even rate a radio. However, the lack of automotive tinsel means that the buyer will appreciate the purity of the driving experience with this survivor.
I expect that this tidy and original 1964 Chevrolet C20 will probably divide opinions. We will have a group of readers who believe that this vehicle should be retained as an unmolested survivor. Others will argue that it deserves a cosmetic restoration so that it presents as nicely as it did when it rolled off the showroom floor. Another group will believe that it is a prime candidate for an upgrade and that its existing engine should be swapped for something with a bit more power. My preference would be for the first option, but it is just that, a preference. Your opinion may be very different from mine, and it will be interesting to read your comments. Beyond that, is this C20 tempting enough for one of you to take it further?
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Comments
Sure looks like a 1/2 ton to me, C20 would be a 3/4 ton. One of my absolute BIGGEST pet peeves on older trucks, is when someone cobbles a home made flatbed on a rare truck to begin with. Either the flatbed is for a special purpose, like in this case, or the owner is too cheap to find a stepside box, GREATLY increasing it’s appeal. No big deal, you say? Hey, for $20g’s, this truck better have the window sticker.
why change the box if it only had 44k miles? The flatbed and a lot of paint are hiding this truck’s real story.
The R on the license plate stands for “Exempt”,
meaning (if original to this truck) that it was used by a local
government agency.
Meant to type “E”.
That’s definitely a 3/4 ton truck. That’s no 1/2 ton rear axle or brakes. Angliagt is right this truck has done commercial work. The reason the steering wheel has so much wear is from all the low speed steering maneuvers without power steering. All you need is a manual transmission to get the complete gym workout. Just like the GMC I’m working on for a customer. Power steering and power brakes go a long way to make one of these more enjoyable to drive. Yes a fleet side bed would be my choice and make it more desirable.
Some fresh Chevy orange, a great detail and ta-da low mileage, the steering wheel looks like a few miles on it. Why did they leave the pipe vice on it? The split rims are real truck rims that most tire shops want nothing to do with. Sure somebody will bite the hook is baited.
This truck made me think of the one in the James Bond movie “From Russia With Love”.
This truck has been freshened up and nicely detailed but the paint isn’t all original. The VIN tag shows paint on its lower edge. The image showing the driver’s sill plate shows wear consistent with use. The same goes for where the driver’s arm rested on the door but the metal door panels show no wear around the window cranks and door handles. Wear from the dangling key chain should be seen under the ignition switch but there is none. The partially painted gas tank and fuel lines are a giveaway as well. As a used car dealer the seller should have recognized these things.
There appear to be many positives with this truck but the wooden flatbed isn’t one. If the truck had a condition-matching step-side or fleet-side bed $20K might be reasonable.
The side emblem is painted over..like you’d get from a cheap Maaco paint job. This truck is a “flipper” and I’d bet the farm its mileage is way north of 44k.
Doesn’t look like it’s got a heater either.
Pretty sure this truck was listed on govdeals.com some time back. Bill
The exterior color and spartan rest of the truck indicates
it is a previous U.S. Forest Service truck.
My Brother bought one, same color. Forest Service,
in a previous life.
The new owner should get himself a Smokey-the-Bear hat
and have fun.
It’s Smokey Bear.
Looks very nice. While I would prefer a pickup bed this would still be acceptable. Of course I would rather have a 4-speed as I would be using ALL gears available. For a basic truck I’m kind of surprised to see a full gauge cluster as the vast majority of the trucks I grew up with had a couple of glaring idiot lights. That’s okay; I like gauges.
Out west if you were to open the hood of one of these you were most likely to find a 292, or maybe a 283. A 230 would be common in a C-10. But the glaring difference would be the color of the engine itself. Unless I’m really out to lunch here, TRUCK engines were gray until 1967 when they were painted Chevy Orange, like the car engines. I can’t help but wonder if this didn’t have a swap or a complete rebuild. Just being curious; it doesn’t really change my opinion about the truck; I still like what I see…
If you’re “out to lunch”, my friend, we’re in bigger trouble than I ever imagined,, :)
My 64 C20 also had full guages. You could get an optional tach for the upper right open circular dash bay, and I forget what went in the other bay. Mine had a granny 4 speed with a worn out 350. I put in a rebuilt 350, headers, dual exhaust with 36 inch glass packs, and other performance upgrades. Those tires look like half-ton tires, though. I would want more weight on the back than that flat bed. Wish I still had that truck. And yes, I drove it for the experience, as there wasn’t much else in the plain cab.
The left dash bay had either an air or vacuum gauge
“It presents nicely as an original survivor”
Sorry, but looking this truck over, nothing can be further from the truth…
Paul, you are so right, check out my comment as well. Good grief the paint in the cab is just a part of how wrong this truck is. 44K miles? Perhaps, but a very hard 44K A lot of times it is not the miles, but the cycles. 44K at 1 or 2/10 of a mile at a time is much harder than 10k miles on freeway road trips. Just the drivers door could be opened and closed 50+ times in 10 miles.
I realize we all have our vices but… I’d get that thing out of the way.
This truck is not what it is advertised as. This truck was a service truck owned by the state of California, if we can believe the “E” plate on the front. This truck has been repainted, and has a 20 foot paint job. Notice no close up photos of the exterior. I have never seen a GM truck of this era, that the interior was the same as the exterior, but I could be wrong. As the old saying goes, “Caveat Emptor”.
Why is it that whenever someone with something like this nice old Chevy truck feels they need more power first thing that hits is to dump a 350 v8 etc. in it.
FOR the same amount work and probably green paper you do a nice job of enhancing the power of a Chevy Six.
Oh my my my….this poor truck. The plate and papers on E-bay has it being owned by a county agency. (Old Calif. .gov units had 2 types of “E” plates. Diamond “E” is a State of Calif unit. 6 sided E is local agency) The title was issued in 67 not 64, perhaps the county had a loan that paid off in 67? Next is the install info for the exhaust. retro fit kit from (May 1972). I don’t think .gov fleets need to install it.(some of you Calif folks may recall them) Then there is the photos of the instrument panel. Key is on, Speed=50+, 1/4 tank of gas, temp and oil are ok….but the amp is fully pegged? Lastly the paint…every where….and not the way god and gm created this truck
Once again I applaud the astute readers of Barnfinds. I wish the writers of Barnfinds paid as much attention. Interiors of that era on pickups were always beige/ tan regardless of exterior color. Seat with 2 wrong kinds of material. Cheapo paint with horrible masking job. Painting things that should not be painted, like the gas tank behind the seat on and on and on say’s FLIPPER all over it.
Well said Jay. It seems lately the BF writers, are not as informed as they should be about the vehicles they are writing about. This can cause uninformed buyers to make big financial mistakes. I look at this as the blind leading the blind.