The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1970 Chevy CST/10

i have a 1970 chevy CST/10 with 350 and used to have a turbo 350 tranny but i switched it to a 4 spd, but anyway i was wondering if these models where not that common or what cause i barely see any CSTs so any info on them would be appreciated like did they come in 4x4 or 3/4 ton or 1 ton just any info
Thanks
OldIronChevy

CST Was the top of the line for the 67-70 year trucks. It became the Cheyenne package in 71 and 72. It's only a appearance and comfort package-nothing to do with performance.

Generally CST in the 69s and 70s means carpet, ugraded bench seats and other upgrades in the interior. On the outside you'll get full chrome around the window vents, windshield and rear window and a chrome front bumper. In 70 CST includes a cargo bed lamp. I'm not sure if 69 and 70 CST models included chrome side trim or not but most were equipped as such.

I think the package was available on any model from wide bed models to step models (Very Rarely) to cab/chassis models. CST 4X4 exist also but are fairly rare. 1/2 3/4 and 1 ton tucks could be CST equipped.

About 3-4 percent of 67-68's were CST equipped trucks and about 10% of 70's were CST's.

In '67 they were called Custom.. I think I read somewhere that the "CST" designation started in '68 or '69.

The '67 Custom in my lawn at the moment has a solid metal floor in the bed, carpet in the cab, chrome bumpers (front and back), rear coil over springs, bucket seats (not sure if they're original) a big back window (not often found before 1968) and what i'm told is a rare "max speed buzzer".

I really don't know what the "base" Custom/CST package was.. from my understanding you could get quite a few options put on one of these trucks. Factory options are listed on a sticker found on the inside of the glove box door.

CST = Custom Sport Truck

67 CST's do exist though they are quite rare. In 67 the CST package also included bucket seats. In 68 and later bucket seats were a seperate option from the CST package.

The Custom package was a trim level under the CST package. It carried through the 67-72 years.

You could option Custom trucks with carpet, bucket seats chrome bumper and such so it would apprear pretty close to a CST without actually being a CST.

So.. now i'm confused.

CST was a seperate package from Custom in 1967, then in 1968 they dropped the Custom all together?

What were the base features of a Custom and a CST in '67?

From 67 to 70 there were 2 trim levels above what was provided on a base no-option truck.

Mid level trim was simply "Custom"

High leve trim Level was "Custom Sport Truck" or CST

GENERALY (There are different things provided through the years) "Custom" Included upgraded iinterior door vinyl panels and arm rests, Color coordinated vinyl floor, Chrome inserts on the dash knobs, Extra cab sound insulation, Upgraded bench seat with cloth inserts. Outside you got chrome window and vent trim and "Custom" badges.

CST option includes everything mentioned above plus color-keyed carpet, Cig lighter, Vinyl imbossed bench seat (Buckets in 67) Chrome front bumper, Trim on the pedals and "CST" badges.

They are distinctly different comfort and appearance packages.

In 67 and 68 anyway the side chrome trim was an entirely seperate option. Many Customs and Most CST's included this option. Wheel cover upgrades were also a seperate option too.

In 71 the CST package was dropped for the Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super packages. The Custom package continued through to 72. I'm not really sure what you got in these packages in 71 and 72.

To add to the confusion, No suburbans could be ordered with the CST package, just the Custom package. CST (But not Cheyenne) could be orderd on any 69-72 Blazer.

There's no such thing as a Cheyenne Blazer or a CST Suburban

Thats good information to know!

I had always thought that the Custom was dropped in '68 and they called the package CST from then on.

Sounds like the only way to tell the difference between a '67 CST and a '67 Custom with options would be the embossed seat and the trim on the pedals, then.

Yes that's correct. Those would be the acid tests of a CST in the 67's and 68's at least aside from emblems. On each door, right under the window on the 67's and 68's is either a "Custom" Or "CST" emblem. In 69 and 70 the badges are on the front fenders.

Except that the truck is nearly 40 years old.

My '72 has replacement pedal pads and upholstery. Such changes sure are not uncommon on any truck that has been in service all these years.

I'm pretty sure I know exactly what mine is, but its because I bought it from the bro-in-law of the son of the guy who bought it used off a lot when it was only a couple years old. I sometimes see these people socially and have asked a few questions from time to time. Actually I saw the bro-in-law's father-in-law today... (Small town!)

While sometimes these old trucks are still original after all these years, its sure not unusual to find changes that cloud the picture of what original might have been. Back when my '72 was new I worked at a place where we regularly changed or modified brand new cars and if you could find one I changed back then, no one including me would be like to remember.

The '67 Custom that I have has a sticker in the glove box that lists the factory options.. I imagine all those trucks do.. that has the option number, then describes what it is.

At the end of the list are two option numbers described as "Custom Group".. I just sort of assumed that confirmed that it was an original Custom optioned truck.

Would the CST trucks say "CST Group"?

Maybe there is a sales book available for these trucks like there are for the AD trucks.

My '72 no longer has the sticker in the glove box. Somewhere along the way it was scraped off. I've never found a build sheet in mine, so I've no documentation to establish what the truck was.

Having that sticker should remove the questions.

Fumblin, You have hit on another little quirk regardling the early "CUSTOM" option. From what I can tell from brochures I have, The "Custom" option was broken up into two diffrent options in 67. I think one called the "Custom Comfort and Convenience Option" got you the cab interior upgrades and one called " Custom Appearance Option" got you the exterior chrome upgrades. Early in 68 it appears that they combined them into one option which carried through to 72. I have seen one or two examples of 67's that had one "Custom" option but not the other. Mostly they seem to been ordered together as in your case.

I have two 68 brochures. One describes two diffrent custom options as in the 67 style and one describes one complete custom option as in the later years. Otherwise, the brochures are identical.

There are a lot of little quirks about these options through these years.

My '72 is a custom, but I'm not actually sure what that means...

The only thing this truck has that seems unusual at all is the tilt column. Nothing else seems extra or plush.

From looking at my 72 Brochure it sounds like the base truck was designated a Custom that year. I guess that they gussied up the base truck the last year of the 67-72 model run.

The Base truck was called a "Custom"

The next level up was a "Custom Deluxe" It sounds like the "Custom" Of previous years.

Then the "Cheyenne" Sounds like the CST of previous years. Only it includes lower outside woodgrained trim and a cargo light.

Then top of the line was "Cheyenne Super" Sounds like the CST of previous years plus Houndstooth bench seat, Simulated woodgrain Instrument panel, Woodgrain door panels, Headliner, padded carpeting.

Outside, Every thing the the other options included plus upper side moldings, Chrome hub caps.

One other interesting trim option available in 72 only was the "Highlander" It consisted of wild 70's plaid inserts on the seat, Tilt wheel and special wheel covers. I don't thing there are any special badges that came with this package.

Well mine sounds like a base truck with a couple options. Tilt column, padded carpet and the upper trim from the things you describe. I presume V-8, power steering, power brakes and automatic were all options too.

It had custom wheels on it when I got it, so no idea what wheel options it might have had. It now has rally wheels off an early 90's van.

Oldsub, If you seat is original, the dead giveaway of a "Highlander" is the loud plaid fabric on them. I'm not sure but carpet might have been part of the "Highlander" package too. I don't have as much info on the 71's and 72's.

thank you all for your info so what yall are sayin is if you have a CST that its a pretty rare truck, cause mine has the upper chrome molding, lower wood grain molding, front chrome bumper, wood grain strip on top of door pannels, arm rest, vinly cover door panels, the vinly bench with the inserts, don't know if it had a rear factory chrom bumper has a after market towing one, wheels are like the late 70s pickup ralleyes so don't know about them, had all the chrome trim on the tail gate and around the tail lights but didn't have the wood grain band with CHEVROLET on it, had the matching carpet, power brakes, power steering, chrome trim on windsheild and rear window and the rear cargo light but the lense is red so i don't know what the deal is with that as far as i know it was all original when i got it except for the rims, and few performance parts in motor and the B&M floor shifter and it had the steel floor in the bed, thank you all for you info, have been into old trucks for the last 2-2 1/2 years and i know a decent amount but obvisouly not enough, and for that highlander package there was no badgeing for that option
thanks again
OldIronChevy

It did not have plaid when I got it. It had a stock looking seat which I have since replaced because I got one with much better upholstery.