Restored GMC Chevrolet C-10

Description

Here at Streetside Classics, we're often able to spot trends before they become widespread, just by watching what our inventory does. And lately, trucks like this 1967 GMC C10 have been red hot, perhaps suggesting that these handsome trucks are finally coming into their own as legitimate collector pieces. Of course, it's hard to argue against them when they look this good and still offer a measure of practicality that most hobby vehicles can't touch. The short... bed/regular cab setup is by far the most popular today, combining rugged good looks with the most compact and lightweight body style. This one is finished in vivid copper paint that looks elegant and sophisticated, without distracting from the original design's clean lines. Forget all the extra trim that came with the upscale trucks, or the sometimes questionable two-tone paint schemes, this one simply offers a quality paint job over clean sheetmetal. The shade isn't original, and it's not perfect, but it's such an attention-grabbing hue we're really wondering why more restorers don't select it during restorations. A few dress-up items, like the bright chrome bumpers and painted grille, certainly improve the looks, and it's been completely de-badged for a sleek touch that works well. The fully refinished bed is protected by a very neatly applied spray-in bedliner, so you can actually use this truck as a truck when the need arises. In the same way the exterior has been given a modest makeover to disguise the truck's blue-collar roots, the same can be said inside where the bench seat has been reupholstered in an awesome white houndstooth seat cover. Black carpets soften the environment and help control noise levels, and the metal dash and door panels have been painted to match the bodywork then fitted with OEM-style door black-vinyl panels. Centered in the cabin floor is a B&M shifter, and it manages the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission below. The factory gauges are still place and offer clear, crisp gauges that fit perfectly and looks fantastic in the original-style bezel panel. The dash also hosts a retro-style AM/FM stereo head unit that sounds great in the well-insulated cabin as it pumps tunes through the custom speakers mounted in the doors. The last details are a wood-rimmed steering wheel and ice-cold air conditionong that make it feel modern yet vintage at the same time. Sometime simple is better, and the mechanicals in this truck have proven themselves over the years. The strong 350 cubic inch V8 engine is about as reliable as small blocks get, and it's a motor with plenty of pop to keep up with modern traffic. Up top, there's an original-style manifold with a big 4-barrel carb, plus a sizeable radiator with an electric fan to keep it all cool. It's quite beautifully detailed too, with a painted firewall and inner fenders that match the body, and slick, finned chrome valve covers with a matching air cleaner up top. Power steering and power front disc brakes are nice additions to a vehicle weighing nearly 4000 pounds, and the long-tube headers feed a Flowmaster dual exhaust system that sounds awesome. The transmission is a more-than-capable TH350 3-speed automatic spinning the 12-bolt rear end and the undercarriage is very solid, hinting at a life lived far away from the job site. And who doesn't love big wheels on a bright truck, with those 20-inch chrome wheels wrapped with fat 245/45/20 front and 275/45/20 rear blackwall radials that are suitably beefy. Nicely restored, this turnkey C10 represents a great way to get into the hobby, and is a practical way to drive a cool old vehicle that everybody will respect. Call today!