The 1970 Chevrolet C10 is perhaps the most popular pickup truck on the collector market today. It is a firm favorite with those seeking a solid base for engine swaps and other modifications that go into making the modern sports truck hobby such a vibrant one. The 1970 model is part of the second generation of its ‘Action Line’ of trucks, a generation of trucks that has continued to inspire truck design to this day.
The Chevy C10 carried over the original coil-sprung rear axle and drop-center ladder frame of previous generations. Still, General Motors saw fit to redesign the truck’s body to increase its suitability as an all-purpose vehicle. Aside from the serious farm and work utility of previous models, the C10 would have certain optional features borrowed from the Chevrolet sedans to improve its comforts, such as automatic transmission, AM/FM radio, two-tone paint jobs, and also carpeting.
These classic Chevy trucks are always in high demand, which makes any good find worth paying closer attention to, which qualifies as a good find. If you’re in search of a C10 for sale in California, then you are in luck because this one is located in Downtown San Jose. You can check it out on Craigslist here, where the seller is asking for $43,500 or trade with another truck (4X4).
What we Like
There are plenty of good qualities to attract buyers to this truck. The owner did away with the original suspension system and fitted it with a fully custom system running on Accuair air ride technology, which is premium in its class. This system is fitted with porter-built control arms. Looking at the truck is a joy in itself, as it has an amazing Lexus white pearl paint job.
It has new glass fittings on the windows and windshield and has an entirely new trim and interior. This restoration project originally came with a Chevy 350 small block V8 engine, which can push out anywhere between 145 to 370 horsepower.
What’s not to Like
A few trouble spots will require a bit of attention before you can consider this straight side bagged 1970 C10 a completed restoration project. The inner fender wells are missing from the truck, and you will need to do some work on the air conditioning to get it working once again. Parts are missing from the A/C setup, and they will have to be sourced if the system is not entirely replaced.
Points of Note
This classic C10 needs some work to get it into perfect shape, but there are a few questions one should ask the buyer before making any final deals on the truck as well. For one, the seller should inform any potential buyer about the gear ratios on the back end of the truck. Knowing this will make it possible to calculate the truck’s rpm (rotations per minute) while running at highway speeds.
Second, it will be useful to find out whether any pictures are available of the truck’s floor panels, cab corners, and rocker panels as they appeared before this C10 truck was repainted. Although the seller has included several pictures showing the completed restoration results, pictures showing its conditions before are missing from the post. They are important because they would show potential buyers whether there was previously any rust or corrosion in these locations hidden by the overcoat of paint.
Final Thoughts
Few American classics became so ubiquitous that they served as an effective canvas for various customization styles. The Chevy C10 is one of the rare examples where this has happened, and there are no signs of the C10’s popularity fading. While there are some authentic ‘barn finds’ out there awaiting discovery, these are getting fewer and fewer, which means that even restoration pieces such as this will start to become rare finds themselves.
This is a good deal right here, requiring minimal work to get back into top condition. As long as the engine is sound and the paint job isn’t covering up any bodywork body issues, any classic American muscle and truck enthusiast would be glad to have this classic Chevy truck in their garage.
