The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1966 c-10 - an original, unrestored

Hey gang, Bruce Parker here from Burbank, CA. I thought it was about time to share some history/pics of my 66 longbed. It's not the kind of truck that you run across everyday. Well, actually, 1966 was a peak year for truck production at over 620,000 units, so there is nothing rare about it, except for it's almost unbelievable original condition.
Considering that this truck was built as nothing more than a simple work truck, it's interesting that it fell into a set of circumstances leading to it's remarkable state of preservation.
The service life of a typical farm/work truck is a constant grueling cycle of use, abuse, and repair, quite often resulting in a worn-out and rusted-through hulk that is hardly worth a trip to the wrecking yard. In the case of this particular example, it had just gotten going when the work stopped.
It's toil was in the form of hauling berries to market from a family operated farm in the state of Washington. While another larger truck did the bulk of the hauling, the little half ton did only short runs and partial loads. When not in use, it was treated to a spot in the garage/barn out of the rain. In fact, hauling in the rain was avoided when at all possible, so it rarely got wet.
And that is how the story went for a few short years until the owner was plagued with health issues that prohibited driving.
Business was halted, most equipment sold, and the little truck was parked in the garage... Fast forward nearly forty years to 2007 and the truck is still there. 8700 miles on the clock and hardly any damage to anything. Aside from an occasional trip down the driveway and back to keep it running, it had not been used and remained entirely original, right down to the tires!
The decision had been made to sell the truck and a family member was enlisted to prep it for sale. The engine compartment was pressure washed, and a few bits were replaced such as the battery, plugs, fuel pump, a clamp or two, oil and filter, etc. In addition, both bumpers got a quick spray-can freshening, covering the few rock chips it had acquired some four decades earlier.
Then, before any attempt was made to sell it, the owners contacted a professional antique auto appraiser to look it over and assess it's condition. His report is as follows: "Outstanding original Chevrolet work truck, retired early in it's life and properly stored ever since. Simply equipped, with 6 cyl/3sp, no power options. Truck shows just like a one year old used truck, and has been started and driven short distance regularly over the years ensuring it's current drivability. Absolutely no rust and no musty interior odor. Original build sheet remains hidden in seat back, and is extremely clear and legible. Still in as-delivered condition, with the exception of the battery and an under-hood piece or two for maintenance. Truly an outstanding example, limited in it's collectors appeal only by the basic appointments and long bed configuration."
The truck was listed for sale on Ebay in December of O7. Since the purchase, the truck has been thoroughly cleaned and detailed and all recent aftermarket maintenance items have been replaced with NOS parts. Cosmetic restoration was strictly limited to properly refinishing both bumpers. The factory turquoise paint is untouched and quite nice, save for some wear on the tailgate (from loading berry boxes) and door sills. Everything else is original and in very good to excellent condition. The factory tires and wheels have been set aside for safety purposes and are substituted by a second set of correct wheels and reproduction tires.
Lastly, like icing on the cake, the original owner's manual, warranty book, plastic envelope, glove box sticker, sales literature, jacking instructions, etc., as well as TWO factory build sheets (under the seat springs) are all present and in mint condition.
Now, I have but one question...use it like the truck that it is, or continue to preserve it?

Wow, nice

Nice truck, tough question. I never was one for trailer queens, like to see them but not own them because of this dilemma. I would lean towards preserving it, drive it a bit. Even the low optioned 6 bangers will appreciate in value. Just my 2 cents.

You're killin' me! I just got a '61 from the original owner with 79,000 miles,a real California classic. Converted to a flatbed,check it out in the Dity. Tough choice you have, it is a truck, but a gem at the same time? The question I always ask myself is , what is going to give me the most satisfaction,the perfection or the joy of using it? Either way you can't go wrong,enjoy it!

WOW What an incredible find. Just continue using and caring for the truck in the same manner that has preserved it for all these years and it will last forever. Enjoy your new found treasure.

To drive or not to drive? I say drive it or sell it...unless you enjoy just looking at it for the rest of your life. Why not enjoy it instead fo someone else enjoying it after you go into the Stovebolt heavens. After you are gone, you won't care.

I don't know what you had in mind when you bought it. Nor do I know how much you paid, or what it's costing you to insure it.
But I guess if it were mine, I'd try and keep it as a pleasure vehicle--Sunday drives, special occasions, etc.--keeping it limbered up and drivable, while not putting a ton of miles on it.
Of course, it's not mine, so do what you have to do. It's definitely a gorgeous truck. Congratulations on finding it!

It's definitely not a "trailer queen". That is, it's driven wherever it goes. So far to local shows and cruise nights only.
In collectors circles, there seems to be some kind of threshold at the 10,000 mile mark, separating the ultra low mile vehicles from the rest of the low milers. Presently the odom reads about 8900. Just a little bit of cruising and I'm over the 10G line. After that, it's all a downhill run to the scrapper.
I added a few more pics. http://s971.photobucket.com/albums/ae191/oem4me/

......"its a downhill run to the scrapper?????

Relax, that's just my lame sense of humor.

I don't own a museum, and never plan to. If it were mine, I'd drive it. Granted, I would probably treat it a little nicer than a typical daily driver, like park it inside whenever possible, and avoid using it for trips to the landfill. I also wouldn't be concerned about racking up miles, that's what they're made for.

What fun is there in saving it for the next guy? In my opinion, enjoy it.

John

You found a real keeper.
Take good care of her, they don't make um like that any more.

Yes, it's fun to drive, and to take to car events. The biggest kick usually comes when people find out it has not been restored. I get a lot of compliments like "hey, nice job on the restoration". Then jaws drop when I tell em it's totally unrestored. They then circle the truck several times rubbing their chin and shaking their head. A few have told me that I'm wrong, it can't be original, no way!
If I were to drive the truck as much as I would really like, it's present condition would not last. And then there is always the risk of an accident (horrors).
Of course, the investment aspect is a big one here also. Chevrolet made more trucks than you could shake a stick at in the sixties, but I'm just guessing there are not more than a handful in this condition left out there. I could be wrong, but I've never seen anything even close, and I've been looking a long time. This equates to return on investment if I should ever decide to sell. More miles = less money, it's that simple.

Bruce congratulations,what a fantastic find.
I agree with your dilemma....but personally I would use it very occasionally.
There's nothing worse than a vehicle that's a victim of it's own immaculateness(?)
Unless you were using it as your daily driver, the mileage or conditon will never increase to the level that it becomes 'just another old truck'.
I'm perfectly sure you wont let that happen.
You've already changed the wheels and tires,so I assume you intend to use/drive it?

As you mention there's the financial aspect to consider as well.
If your original intention was to gain $$$$, sure mothball it,but if not I would use it sparingly and enjoy the truck...and compliments!
JMO.
Whatever your decision, have fun!

I had no real plan when I bought it. I've been looking at 60's trucks and suburbans for years and years, always with an eye on originality. This one popped up, I saw the potential, and was lucky enough to win the auction. After taking delivery, lots of time was spent cleaning it as it was sort of a "barn find". As the detailing progressed, it's true condition was shining brighter and brighter. I basically ended up saying to myself.. s--t, this thing is too nice to use!
I do realize there are better vehicles to buy than an old truck if my aim is to turn a healthy profit, and since I am not a wealthy man, I do have to regulate my frivolous expenses to make sure I'm not just throwing money away. In other words, I want to be able to get out what I've put in.
A bit worse than losing money though, is going through life squeezing every penny and missing the simple pleasures... like buzzing around in a near perfect stovebolt!

Bruce,
Like noses, everyone has an opinion. But since you asked...
I like it. Somehow lacking in sex appeal, those trucks of the 60's seem to be the least desireable and collectable. However, that one is very nice in it's originality and has alot of appeal. Especially with the low miles. I'd say it's worth more as a low mileage survivor than it will ever be in any other condition. Keep it storage. Take it to an occasional local show. If you want a nice collector truck as a driver, find one and drive that one. They are only original once as they say. For all of us in the collector hobby it's everyone's dream to find a barn original. Thanks for sharing that with us. It's cooler than any $100,000 pro-street blah blah blah. Anyone with deep pockets can "build" one of those.

That's an incredible truck! Congratulations on such a find!

Wow, that truck is jaw dropping. I've been a street rodder since I was old enough to twist the metal axles out of my slush cast cars with my mothers butter knife, but imho that truck should be preserved. It may not be a highly optioned 69 Camaro with an aluminum 427, but it is certainly rare. If it were mine and I needed a truck, I'd buy something else to use, and pamper this one with trips to the local rod run or graffiti night. In regular service all it takes is one errant jughead clobbering something to turn it into just another old truck. Thank you for sharing something common, that is now also very rare and unique.

Thanks everyone for all your responses and compliments. It would appear that most of you favor preservation over regular use. This is the direction I am leaning as well, even though restricting usage to keep the risk factor down and overall mileage low is kind of a bummer. I actually do have other vintage cars and trucks that I can run the pants off of, but this truck drives sooo differently from any other. It drives like new, really! Actually, I guess it IS new, only old, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, as for now, the truck is going to local shows and cruises and will be kept inside. However, way off in the distance, I can see that this might change or the truck just might be sold.
This raises the question, who is the right buyer for it? Another truck enthusiast? A museum? Or just whoever shows up with the money first?

Things that make you go Hmmmmm.... "Somehow lacking in sex appeal, those trucks of the 60's seem to be the least desireable and collectable" I beg to differ with you sir. Of course in a respectful manner.I just drove my 1963 C-10 Ginger over to the Sears store, got about 3 "Thumbs up's" lotsa waves and a crowd gathered when my wife and I came out the store. I like the round windscreen, 'vette dash, and just about everything else about my '60's truck. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If I were you Bruce, I'd sell it and buy one you feel comfortable driving as it seems as though you want to drive an old truck but are reluctant to do so with this one.I understand your hesitation to do so, but it would kill me to leave Ginger parked. I have many vehicles to choose from when I go somewhere, but my '63 is my vehicle of choice, even though it is not as sexy as a "highly collectable'57".