While I can’t afford one at the moment, I keep looking at GM C10/20 trucks thinking that some day one of these will make the perfect shop truck. You know, the one you use to haul engines to L&R for machine work and then off to Westech for some pulls on the dyno. The one that hauls stuff home from Home Depot, and that can haul almost anything you care to put in the bed after a day at the wrecking yard. It is also highly likely that at some point it too will get its own modifications, after all we’re hot rodders. It doesn’t ever need to be a race truck, or be your primary tow pig either, but it needs to be reliable and fun. We all have a friend with the super cool shop truck, and everyone wants to be that guy. For me, it’s something rough enough to not worry about and yet not so rough as to worry about things falling off of it.
My problem, is that while searching on Craigslist I find early to mid 1960’s first Gen C10’s I love, 67-72 C10s I love, Square Bodies that I love, and the occasion later model truck too. Since I owned a 1992 Standard Cab Short Bed, they still speak to me on occasion. I have favorites, but I’m not super picky and could go multiple ways when the time and deal are right.
But what about you? Do you think one of these era’s of trucks is better than another? Does one stand out as the best shop truck platform?
If you had to choose between these four generations of GM C series trucks, which would you choose?
First Generation 1960-1966
Second Generation 1967-1972
Third Generation (Square Body) 1973-1987
Fourth Generation 1988-1998
I am partial to the 1960-66’s. I own two of them.
That said, the older the truck the cooler they look as a shop truck.
I like the 67-72 style the best but the best shop truck would probably be the 88 -up . I want a first gen preferably 67 1 ton cab and chassis outfitted with a flat bed . I want to convert it to 4×4 with a 4 speed auto .
88-98\’s aren\’t really classified as C-10\’s in some circles (C/K1500 or GMTplatform) but they are great. I\’m partial to 67-72\’s but as a shop truck…ANY of these are great choices.
More C-10 articles p..p…p…please.
I have a 91 1500 as my daily driver but really want a second gen C10.
My daily driver is a ’67 GMC C1500 and I love it. It operates as my winter truck, tow my boat truck, go to big home stores, junkyards and general gearhead stuff.
I also like many of the Gen 1’s. The hoods on the 60-61’s are a bit harsh for me. I also really these with the short stepside bed.
There is only one thing I am not a fan of these 67-72’s, and the Gen 1’s is the lack of leg room. And, I am only 5’7″.
If I could do it, I would add 4 inches the cab for more comfort inside for those long road trips.
I’ve owned a 88, 92 1/2 ton and 96 3/4 ton. My 96 was great for towing, it had 5.7, 4L80E, and 3.73. Couldn’t tell it was towing a car.
My first truck was a 60′ Apache 10, step-side long bed. Best truck ever. Also had a few square bodies. I also currently have a 72′ K5. All of them would make an excellent shop truck. Ideally I’d build a crew cab 6bt swapped square body or a 67-72′ with 305 6 and a utility bed.