More than 50 years after this 1965 Chevrolet C10 Stepside left the assembly line in St. Louis to begin its service, it's still easy to see why this model is so coveted among collectors. Building on the substantial appeal of the Apache series trucks that came before it, C10s offered all that ruggedness, but with more refinement via a dropped ladder frame that allowed for a lower center of gravity and an independent suspension that made navigating real world road conditions much easier than before.
With their more extensive curvature and shorter beds, C10 Stepsides have a very cool look - a stouter, beefier appearance than their flat sided counterparts. The red exterior paint on this C10 is a great choice. It's holding a deep shine, showing off all that curvature and the distinctive two-level roof over the cab very effectively, while providing a fitting backdrop for the extensive chrome grille up front, as well as the bumpers fore and aft. From front to back, the panels are well aligned - you'll notice those uniform gaps at the doors, fenders and hood, allowing everything to open and close smoothly. With no badging on its sides and only chrome ornamentation appearing amidst the sea of red, this C10 has a definite custom look that's further reinforced by the "Chevrolet" lettering in contrasting black paint on its rear gate. It sits nicely with a slight incline low, but not too low over its wheels, giving it the appearance that it's actually leaning forward, ready for action.
Take a look inside and you'll see that this is an interior built for driving. The black bench seat looks plenty well-padded and comfortable - decked out in cloth that gives it a very era-appropriate look. The dash, like the rest of the interior, is now spruced up in red to match the exterior and to each side, the black door panels provide a nice contrast to the red found elsewhere, sitting flat against the steel that surrounds them. An aftermarket A/C has been installed (needs servicing), and in back in the bed area, the stained wood paneling is nice and flush in between the steel ribbing holding it in place, with no warpage or splintering. You'll notice that both the front windshield and rear window are sporting clear glass, with a fresh-looking seal around each of them.
A Chevy 350 V8 now holds court in the clean, flat black engine compartment in place of the powerplant this truck started life with and, outfitted with an Edebrock 4-barrel carb that's sitting inside a flat black Edelbrock air cleaner, it's in fine form - starting right up and idling smoothly with a very appealing tone through a set of long tube headers. It's joined by a 3-speed automatic transmission that's shifting nice and solid. Echoing the theme that this vintage truck is configured to be driven, it's got both power steering and power brakes, so navigating and stopping power are well-taken care of. This C10 rides on a set of 15" Chevy rims dressed in Douglas Performance GT radials.
If you're on the lookout for an iconic, vintage Chevy truck that's just itching to get out on the road and take you on a new chapter of cruising adventures, this 1965 Chevrolet C10 Stepside is the one for you. Call today!!