1968 Chevrolet C10, Rare Orig. Short Bed w/396-Gorgeous!

Price: - Item location: Utica, Michigan, United States
Description:

1968 Chevrolet C-10 Custom

For sale is my beautifully restored shortbed 1968 Chevy C10 Custom with original engine & drivetrain. This a rare truck as it was the first year a big block was available and most big blocks were found in long beds or camper specials. Also, it is highly optioned and was ordered with the 396 big block, TH400 transmission, tach, power steering, power brakes, radio, Custom trim, front sway bar, wood floor, etc. It's from South Carolina and was used as a parts runner/shop truck for a local family owned gas station for many years. Eventually, the truck was retired and sat for a few years (see pic of it parked by barn/field) before undergoing a complete nut and bolt restoration a few years ago. I should mention that while the truck retains many of its original features and components, it's a Custom, not a CST. The CST badges and buddy bucket seats were added as was a tilt steering column during restoration. Again, the 396 engine, TH 400, tach, paint color, etc is original.
The restoration began with a solid South Carolina truck that only required minimal/typical rust repairs. The entire truck was disassembled and every component was either rebuilt or replaced. The original 396 engine was professionally rebuilt to stock specifications with the exception of a mild rv cam, Edelbrock intake and carburetor. The TH400 transmission is also original and was rebuilt to stock specifications and the rear end retains its original 3.07 open diff. The exhaust consists of headers, Magnaflow polished mufflers and stainless exhaust tips. I converted to front disc brakes and a 5 lug set up last year. Everything was done correctly and it included a new master cylinder, proportioning valve, hard and stainless flexible brake lines, Wilwood calipers, drilled and slotted rotors. I also recently replaced the steering box with a higher performance one from CPP. This 500 series steering box has a quicker ratio and is much more precise making the truck more enjoyable to drive.
The truck was professionally repainted and had its body stripped down to bare metal and any rust was repaired properly with new metal. It was repainted in its original medium poly blue with white roof. All of the trim and chrome is new and the original pine bed was replaced with oak with stainless strips. The paint is a beautiful metallic blue that gets compliments everywhere it goes.
The interior is new and the buddy buckets were added during the restoration and replaced the original bench seat. All of the gauges work, including the original tach. All of the lights, interior and exterior, work properly. A retro radio w/correct knobs and new aftermarket dash speaker was added. I lowered the truck in front with CPP 2.5" drop spindles and 1" drop springs form Early Classic Enterprises, in back it has 3" drop springs with 1.5" lowering blocks and a double adjustable track arm. I also added a rear shock relocation kit and Belltech shocks all the way around to ensure a comfortable ride. It has 20" American Racing Torq Thrust II wheels (20x8 front & 20x10 back) with essentially new Pirelli P Zero tires.
This is one of the nicest C10's around and has been restored to high standards. It is a very high end driver that is a pleasure to drive. Again, this is a fully restored truck, the more you look the more you appreciate the attention to detail. However, I want to be clear while the truck is extremely nice, it's not perfect. I'm very meticulous and recognize that while the paint was professionally done and very nice, it has a few minor flaws, including some small nicks/scratches, etc. The driver's side widow regulator needs to be adjusted as it requires some extra assistance to roll down if fully rolled up. The stereo works properly and you can plug external devices into it like an ipod, however it's just a basic stereo, the sound quality is poor by today's standards. I almost forgot, the emergency brake is not installed, I have most of the components, it just hasn't been a priority to me.
Overall, this is a very, very nice truck that has been fully restored and strikes a nice balance between originality and functionality. The amount of work and time spent on this truck shows. I know I'm forgetting many details as it's difficult to capture everything. I included a picture prior to restoration as well as a couple of pictures during the restoration process. I'm only selling because I have a growing family and we can no longer fit comfortably in the truck. I welcome in person inspections and am happy to answer any questions you may have. I also reserve the right to end this auction as a may list it for sale locally. Thank you for looking.