There is no finer automobile for around the ranch work than a solid full size pickup truck. This 1963 Chevrolet C20 truck had evidently finished the job. What job? The old Chevy is the sort of truck that Hoss Cartwright would drive into town for some dynamite to blow those stumps out in the west field, if he didn’t ride a horse on TV. The patina on this Chevy could only result as a combination between years of actual work, and judging by the date on the California black plate tags, ten or so years of stationary sunbathing in a big valley north of Los Angeles. Even with half of its wheels buried in Southern California soil, this full-size pickup truck of over four decades ago seemed far more compact than modern Potemkin-class pickup trucks. A new battery, fresh gas, can of carburetor cleaner, some air in the tires, and the retired Chevrolet could be ready for more service.
And that’s exactly what I’d do if I could buy it. Make it go & stop safely, clean out the interior. Job done, time to get to work.
Dude, on your way back East for Christmas next week, just clean that up and bring it along for me, will ya? Thanks.
Talk about character. There’s just something about 60s-era trucks that endears them to people. I’m not so much a fan of the polished, show truck scene, but seeing old trucks (and cars) in situations like this one make me a little sad. It’s like I want to adopt them all.
The frustrating thing is, the people who actually own them and let them rot like that are often unwilling to sell them cheap. “Oh, this is a classic, I couldn’t let it go for that amount.” Yet, their actions reveal that they’re doing even worse. They’re just letting the vehicle go. Exposed to the elements, obviously uncared for, slowly fading into a scarcely recognizable heap of oxidized waste. It’s a shame.
I hope that truck, and others like it, meet with new owners who will return them to the road. This little light (truck) of mine. I’m gonna let it shine…
This is in just better shape than my ’64 which I still use occaisionally. Mine’s a 283 and 4 speed w/granny low. C-20 longbed small window cab, no options except the 4.10 rear and a heater. 140k miles, aftermarket wheels and bigger tires and needs exhaust pipes.
The truck still wore an old dymo plastic tape label on the speedo glass that said “NO DRIVERS EXCEPT EMPLOYEES”, so retirement is well-deserved. Some time and it will probably join the other far older contraptions seen running around that ranch.
This was just the shot in the ass i needed. I yarded a similarly patina-ed ’64 international pickup out from behind a pole barn 2 weeks ago and need all the encouragement I can get to put the old binder back on the road. New year, new life for some dormant steel/rust. Keep up the great work.