The basic formula for fun really hasn’t changed much since about the late 1940s: V8, rear drive. After that, it’s details, right? Well, for an up-and-coming gearhead or someone balling on a budget, that’s a tall order, and for good reason: the V8/RWD well all but dried up in the 1990s. Think about it: Chrysler dumped RWD cars in 1989 and only picked them back up again in 2005. Ford had the Mustang, the Panther platform and the MN-12 platform (T-bird, Cougar and Mark series) so you could be common, be weird, or be big. GM sent the B-bodies to the heap in 1996 in favor of big SUVs, and if you wanted a rear-driver, hope you like F-cars.
Not a lot going for variety, and with notable exception of the Panther (which can do just about everything possible with the right amount of Sawzall blades), not much variety. Now, there is one bright side: trucks. The offerings from Ford, GM and Dodge were pretty solid in their offerings: a stout, respectable six cylinder, a couple of V8 offerings, and a diesel of some sort. And the styling of trucks was pretty solid as well…handsome boxes that hadn’t become super-huge, super-loaded and super-expensive. They rode the knife edge between utility and comfort nicely. Which brings us to the latest five-grand cheap car hunt find, a 1978 Chevrolet C-10 shortbed. The Rounded Line GM trucks are legendary…between 1973 and up to 1991 for the SUVs, the styling only changed incrementally, and everything from the 250ci six to the 454 got jammed in between the fender wells. The sky is the limit to what you want to do with one of these trucks, they have a huge swell of support from the aftermarket, and restoration parts are plentiful.
Now, for nearly five grand, this C-10 isn’t going to be perfect. And it’s not…the interior could use a refreshing, for example, but don’t sweat that. Look at what the truck does have: a pretty solid body, good trim, newer sport wheels that look really good on the older body, and the ability to drive it without worry. And that’s a good thing, since the purchase price is dead-nuts firm at $4,750, cash only please. For a lightly lowered Chevy with potential by the truck load, we wouldn’t think twice.
$5K is a good price on that truck. The 73-87 squarebody trucks especially the shortbeds are climbing in price by the minute. Typically the earlier “round eye” style fetches a little more. Those 454ss/sport wheels are becoming hard to find also. Not because they look sharp on any of these trucks, but they are insanely popular with the demolition derby crowd due to the fact that they are heavy, tough, and the valve stem is located behind the face of the wheel.
These trucks are still obtainable in NC, but are definitely climbing in value.
Love it! I’d replace the back bumper with a Blazer/Suburban one for a cleaner look, put a new seat cover on it and drive it all over.
My neighbor just sold a similar truck for $2500.