1971 Chevrolet C20 Pickup

Description

Up for auction is this 1971 Chevrolet C20 that I've owned since 2011 and that my father owned before that for probably ten years. First the good: This drivetrain has full power. This engine is original and was from back in the days when Chevy was not afraid to put out a high compression engine. Not that its a hot rod. This is just a two barrel carb on a 350 and there are no speed modifications. It is just nice and fast for a stock truck. My dad put a timing gear and chain on it before he sold it to me. The things I like about this truck other than the horsepower is the fact that this was custom modifiedat purchaseto hold a camper. There is a sticker on the fender to this effect and other indications include a bracket that comes out each side below the box. There was a back bumper that was custom made, but it was a very inverted design that would not protect the back end if rear-ended (it was made for the camper skirt to come straight down at the end of the box), so I swapped it with the one you see in the pictures. If you are interested in the original, I think its still out on my dad's property and I could swap it back in. There are also channels welded on either side of the tailgate where some sort of camper wall slide into. Also, this thing is very jumpy when the box is empty. I think there were suspension modifications as part of the customization because we have several other similar trucks from the era, and none drive like this one. Its like its begging for some weight in the back. I've moved more than one loadof dirt with it, and that's when it seems happiest. Needs weight. Finally, the color is just the best color that Chevy ever put out. The paint is faded, but when waxed up it really shines. The wood box is also one of the reasons I have a a hard timeletting this truck go.You could still get a wood bed as an option back then, but the only folks who really wanted it were people that would have a reason to have livestock in theback. Cows and such don't stand so well on slick metal bottoms.This bottom is in rough shape, but bed and rail kits are available to dress it back out in all its glory. Speaking of which, the main reason I am letting go of this truck is the body work needed. We have plenty of other trucks of this vintage, but we are narrowing the collection down, and this one definitely needs the most body work. As you can see from the pictures, there is some rust. This thing ran the roads back when salt was laid down thick in the winter. Most noticeable, the rocker panelsbeneath the doors and the bottom cab shoulders just beneath will have to be replaced.The grey metal sections that you see are just shaped metal that is bolted over the rustas a preliminary measure. The rust along the sides of the doors and box is surface in nature and can be sanded off. Other notables, there is a cigarette lighter delete, the radio and speaker are gone, but there are no aftermarket speaker holes cut anywhere. There is a short in one of the electrical lines and the fuse to the back brake lights and running lights blows easily and often. Needs to be traced which can take some time, but I am not going to devote the effort since we are culling it from the herd. Other good news. This baby starts right up, even after sitting for months. The passenger side window crank was replaced just a couple of months ago, and the battery is about 6 months old. Passes emissions fine, but also burns a little oil. Clear title. Cab on the back goes along.