You can’t easily fake or manufacture the kind of patina this truck proudly exhibits. It’s called “character”. I spotted this pickup in traffic only a few blocks from the upscale shopping district of Michigan Avenue referred to as the “Magnificent Mile”. It stood absolutely no chance of blending in with the Toyotas, BMWs and Porsches moving alongside it in traffic. I wonder where the driver was headed and how she liked driving it. There’s a seeming honesty about this Chevy that’s as all-American as a pair of faded overalls or “Sad Papaw“. As such, it probably offered a much more unique and exclusive driving experience than the cars around it on this particular day in 2014.
While I was fiddling with my camera trying to get these pictures, I was unable to take a snapshot (mental or actual) of this truck’s front grille, which would have given me some clue as to whether it was a ’72 (with a black-finished grille surround) or a ’71 (without). So, I’m going with ’71 – and if that is correct, this example would be one of about 72,500 C/K Fleetside pickups produced for the model year. Two-wheel-drive models were designated “C”, with “K” representing four-wheel-drive models. In its most basic form in 2WD configuration, it weighed almost exactly two tons, and went for prices starting at $3,058 (about $18,000 in 2016). For comparison, the most basic 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 carries a base price of $27,095 – a figure which is, curiously, almost exactly 50% more than the ’71, adjusted for inflation.
I don’t know pickups like some folks, but this one appears to be an 8′ bed on the longer 127″ wheelbase versus the 115″ length also offered, judging by pictures I was able to find on the internet. There was also a 133″ wb Longhorn offered with an extended 8.5′ bed, designed specifically for slide-in campers.
These trucks came standard with a 250 c.i. 6-cylinder, but could be ordered with a V8 in displacements of 307, 350, or 402 cubic inches. I feel the battle scars on this one only add to its cool-factor. It just looks like a hardworking hero – an interesting character that would have a good story to tell.
Downtown, Near North District, Chicago, Illinois.
Saturday, May 20, 2014.
It appears to be a Longhorn. In the top pic you can barely make out the vertical line 6″ from the front edge of the bed, where the added sheetmetal was literally tacked on.
It’s not a Longhorn. The bed is visually clearly longer and the seam is highly visible on them. Here’s my CC on the Longhorn: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-capsule-1972-chevrolet-c30-longhorn-custom-camper-very-aptly-named-indeed/
A friends dad had a 1969 Longhorn and the seam was quite visible. Had the 396, 4 speed, power steering and brakes. The slide in camper craze was in full swing at the time and these were perfect for that, although my friends father was an HVAC guy and needed the extra long bed to haul long ducts.
But I’m almost sure it was the 3/4 ton C20. Wasn’t the Longhorn available in both 3/4 and 1 ton versions?
The unofficial Longhorn fan website says so. Wikipedia actually says they were 3/4 ton only (but take that with a grain of salt, of course). Part of the confusion may stem from the fact that the 133″ WB was taken from the 9′ Stepside/Fenderside, which was one-ton only.
Checking of a 1970 brochure shows that the 133″ Longhorn was available in both C20 and C30 versions.
Handsome old truck. I liked this generation of Chevy pickup, and I wouldn’t change a thing on it.
+1 here despite my previous life as a Ford fan. Chevy undoubtedly had the most roadable suspension among its contemporaries; it handled better than the D-100 which still had a beam front axle. But they were all rugged, unpretentious vehicles.
My BIL the farmer always maintained that in trucks of this vintage, Fords for working, Chevys/GMCs for driving.
It’s on the 133″ wheelbase. In all my years I’ve never seen a regular cab 3/4 ton with a short bed. I suspect there never was such a critter, but I’ve never verified it to say with complete certainty.
This is my favorite Chevrolet pickup of all time. Maybe part of it is my maternal grandfather having had one that I well remember riding in as a youngster. It went away for a ’79 that just wasn’t quite the same.
If a person is looking for an older pickup, these would be a great choice.
I have seen a 69 Ford 3/4 ton shortbed. It appeared to be original but could have been a dealer alteration. Very unusual.
133″ was the extra-long wheelbase with the 8.5′ Longhorn bed (which this one has). 127″ was the normal 8′ bed’s wheelbase. Short-bed C/K10s had a 115″ WB.
At any rate, IH was the only company to make RCSB 3/4 ton pickups, all the way through 1975, and most (if not all) were 4×4.
No; the regular 8′ bed LWB Chevy had a 127″ wheelbase. The 133″ wb was only used for the quite rare 8.5′ bed Longhorn. The swb Chevy C10 had a 115″ wb.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-capsule-1972-chevrolet-c30-longhorn-custom-camper-very-aptly-named-indeed/
There were no 3/4 ton swb C10 or F100/F150 1/2 ton trucks from the factory. If someone saw one, it was a home-brew custom.
(Update: I see our resident CC pickup expert beat me to it)
Thanks for the pointer, Paul. I’ll fix the text to reflect the correct wheelbase when I can get to a computer, as I’m traveling today.
I fixed it for you. 🙂
“…the quite rare 8.5′ bed Longhorn, which only came as a C30.”
Googling “C20 Longhorn” brings up quite a few examples of a 3/4 ton Longhorn, although I couldn’t find a picture that showed the badge clearly enough to confirm 100% that it says “20” and not “30”.
Checking of a 1970 brochure shows that the 133″ Longhorn was available in both C20 and C30 versions.
I think these are seen more frequently here in the rustbelt than the early years of the later generation. The 73-76 pickups rusted so badly that they are almost extinct, while a few of these continue to soldier on. I got some shots of one just a few weeks ago.
Yup. Here in Lowrustland the ’67-’72 are still common, still working for landscapers, and still clean and solid. The ’73-’79 are seriously rusted, which stands out dramatically here. Might be the champion oxidizers of all common vehicles.
Also not a lot of rust where I live, and my observations are similar to yours. The ’67-’72 trucks aren’t common, but they’re far from rare, and probably seen as often as the ’73 to ’79 trucks which are often sporting a good but of rust.
Both of them are seriously outnumbered by old Ford pickups though. The ’73-’79 Fords are still *very* common here and the ’67 to ’72 are as often, if not more often, spotted than their Chevy brethren. I found the same thing in my previous locale (central VA currently, central NC until 2012).
My dad bought a new 69 C10 and that was our ride thru the 70’s. He traded it in 81 on a F100 Ranger with the 300 and 3+od transmission. Our 69 was the plain ol 350 4bbl and auto. It did indeed serve us well. He put side pipes on it. And the obligatory 102 inch stainless steel whip and a Johnson Messenger 123a CB. And a camper shell for the deer lease. When I was little and we got off the hwy he’d let me sit in his lap and steer. Many fond memories. Nowadays those trucks are cult items and way more expensive than I’d pay for one. But here in Texas you do see quite a few still being used.
Very true about being “cult” items. Even 18 years ago when I bought my ’67 GMC stepside old trucks were getting hard to find in California’s urban areas. It seems like everyone around here wants old trucks for the “patina” look and/or to
“rat-rod” them!
I’d be more inclined to make that comment about the generation immediately prior. The ’60-’66 Chevy/GMC and ’61-’66 Fords seem to be the hot ticket for rat rod or patina’d restomod treatment. At least where I live, anyway.
I’ve always liked this generation Chevy and GMC truck. I like the heavier grade trucks like the C/K20 and C/K30 trucks.
Did you notice if the turn signals were in the bumper or up in the middle of the grill?
’69 or ’70 if they are in the grill, like my old ’70 C10 8 ft longbed as this example is. ’71 or ’72 if in the bumper. Too bad about the nasty sideswipe damage, The body is worth fixing, this seems to be a very well equipped version. I still have the receipt for $2750 brand new in Feb 1970 for my old truck.
307 V8 3 on tree, armstrong steering and manual drum brakes. Only options were gauge package, custom trim and interior (chrome bumpers, window moldings, and a little fancier vinyl/cloth trim with fake wood on the door panels), along with heavy duty rear springs. Rubber floor mat as well, later I put in a carpet kit.
Great find, had mine from ’76 to ’06, bought from original owner. Still miss her 10 years later, though I like it’s replacement (’04 Titan) a lot. Mine took all the overloading and abuse I could give it and just asked for more.
67Conti, that’s so cool that you still have the original receipt for yours. After seeing this one, I remember documenting that it had the front turn signals in the bumper so I could research identifying the model year later. I agree that this one deserves an even longer life.
Looks very similar to the one I learned to drive on, which I’d wrongly recalled being a ’67 (clearly from the info in the post and comments it was a ’69, as evidenced by the turn signals in the grille bar and the exactly identical trim specs to the subject truck). I’m most impressed by the relative lack of rust on this one, especially the bed, considering this was caught in Chicago. Ours had its bed replaced with a home-built stake bed in the early ’80’s, as the original was dust by then. The cab was not fairing much better when Dad finally sold it on around ’84. Great truck.
Speaking of the 1967-72 Chevrolet pick-up trucks. I spotted this video showing a 1970 Panel Truck. Last year for the Panel truck at Chevrolet with a redesigned Chevy Van coming for 1971.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNg-4X9iK5c
Althought it could had been interesting to imagine what if Chevrolet had kept the Panel Truck up to 1972?
I can also say for certain it’s not a Longhorn. 4X2 ’67-’72 GM 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickups were built with either coil or leaf spring rear suspension, however 30 series, 4X4’s, and all Longhorns used leafs exclusively. Close inspection of this truck reveals the long rear control arms of the coil spring rear suspension.
Agree it’s not a Longhorn. Close look at the second picture and you can barely make out the long rear control arms indicating rear coil springs.
Just a technicality, but the 67-72 GMCs 1/2 and 3/4 tons had rear leaf springs exclusively whereas the Chevrolets used coils.
By the way, it’s always nice to read a story about an old pickup still going strong.
There’s nothing like a good looking woman in an old beat up pickup.
Trouble is that it always belongs to her boyfriend.
Great shot Joseph – what I call the “patina of authenticity”.
Allows you to get away with all sorts…..
I think it’s a 71 based on the shot from the side where you can kind of make out the rear view mirror. 71 mirror was mounted from the ceiling, 72 on the windshield.
Nice old rig .
These things rusted almost as badly as Vegas .
Well worth up fixing though .
-Nate
Nice looking survivor of a truck and wonder how the bed got dented like that?
Well, if you slide a little trying to power up a muddy hill after a long day cutting fire wood and rub a tree you’ll get damage that looks a lot like that…..
“It stood absolutely no chance of blending in with the BMWs and Porsches moving alongside it in traffic.”
Maybe it is not able to blend in but it will probably out last them and still be on the road when those cars are scrapped and being made into lawn furniture or other things they use repurposed steel for.
That is one cool truck. It seems that pickup trucks and Jeep Wranglers are the only vehicles that seem to get cooler with each scrape or dent.
Only 72,500 pick-ups produced in 1971?
That is low! Are you sure?
In this configuration, Tom – 72,500 C/K C-20 Custom Fleetsides for ’71. This figure doesn’t include C-10s, C-30s, Stepsides, etc.
Got it. That makes sense. A lot more C-10s for sure. Thanks
Had a 1971 C10 with the 307 and auto; great truck; with the coil spring rear suspension; rode like a big car then a truck. It got 10mpg loaded or empty. The only thing wrong was it’s drum brakes; should of had the disc front brakes. I came out of the woods on a mountain logging road with a large load of green alder (heavy) and with the auto found out the terminal speed in low was about 35mph; which down hill around the sharp corners was about 10mph too fast; barely managed to stay on the road and come to a stop in the ditch; the next truck I bought had the disk brakes for sure. It looked just like this truck only was light green:
Wrong picture; that’s a suburban; front looks the same; more like this one: