The Chevy C10 was one of the best-selling trucks of its time. Its popularity helped solidify Chevy as one of the top pickup truck manufacturers in America. Without the C10, there would probably be no Chevy Silverado. The Chevrolet C/K series of trucks originated in 1960. Breaking all-time sales records in 1964, 1965, and 1966, the C/K trucks paved the way for the future of light-duty and heavy-duty pickups.
The “C” in C10 indicates that the truck is a two-wheel-drive model. The Chevrolet C/K series consisted of two-wheel drive trucks, labeled with a “C”, and four-wheel drive trucks, designated by the letter “K.” The C10 was the half-ton, two-wheel-drive model within the C/K line of trucks.
Sadly, the C/K line of trucks is no longer in production today. But, these trucks are still very popular in the restoration community. Due to their high production numbers, it’s not too difficult to buy a used C10. While faithful restorations are common, many owners choose to restomod their C10s to bring them up to modern standards. Below are the three generations of the C10.
First-Generation C10: 1960-1966
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The truck was originally available in a 6.5-footbed with a 115-inch wheelbase and an 8-foot bed with a 127-inch wheelbase. Due to the increased load capacity of the front axle, the C10 weight distribution got a bit improved compared to previous Chevy trucks. A larger cab and a bigger windshield were available in this generation.
The Chevy C10 came in different body styles such as the Stepside, Fleetside, Suburban SUV, panel truck, or a custom option. The Stepside featured rear wheels located on the outside of the truck bed with a step mounted between the wheel wells and the cab. While the Stepside had dimension, the Fleetside looked more linear with a flat panel cargo box. There were a few C10 trim packages available that allowed you to customize the appearance and features of your truck.
The 1960 Chevy truck came with a new independent front suspension, except for the 4WD and forward control models. The first-gen C10 was not left out. It sported a trailing arm suspension with coil springs in the rear and strong torsion bars in the front.
In 1963, the torsion bar front suspension was replaced with coil springs. The previous six-cylinder engine options were also swapped out for new 230-cubic inch and 292-cubic inch engines. In the same year, the Chevy C/K line received a redesigned grille. A year later, a curved windshield replaced the dogleg windshield found on the early C10 models.
Second-Generation C10: 1967-1972
The second generation of C10 was referred to as the Glamour Pickups due to their remarkable good looks. With a redesigned exterior and updated suspension, this generation had an entirely fresh and modern style getting the trucks to seat lower to the ground for easier access.
Compared to the first generation, the exterior of the second generation came with some important updates that include a double-walled pickup box made of steel and rust-resistant body and sheet metal. The C-series trucks received an independent coil spring trailing arm for the front suspension. In 1971, the trucks were given an egg-crate grille and tailgate trim. The interior got some upgrades as well, such as increased padding and insulation, carpet, chrome trim, and the option for an AM/FM radio.
The front drum brakes were ditched for disc brakes, a first for the C/K series. Also in 1971, the Cheyenne trim package became available. There were eight engine options available for the second-generation C/K trucks. The 1972 C10 Fleetside is considered by some enthusiasts to be one of the best-looking Chevy trucks ever made.
Third-Generation: 1973-1987
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The “Box Body” or “Square Body” generation was officially named the “Rounded-Line” trucks by GM. Just as the name suggests, the truck had an entirely new look with a body style that incorporated rounded corners around the wheel well along with a rounded windshield and door frames. The larger and wider body is what made these pickups box-like, which is what gave them the Square Body moniker.
The C10 came with the longest wheelbases in its last generation. A 6.5-footbed had a 117.5-inch wheelbase while the 8-foot bed had a 131.5-inch wheelbase. The third-gen trucks also used rubber control arm bushings for a more comfortable ride. For the rear, the truck featured leaf springs rather than coil springs and finned rear brake drums. The new Chevy C/K trucks looked more luxurious than earlier models. Two-toning was a common paint option on these trucks.
The 1972 and 1973 came with the same trims except for the Longhorn edition. The Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super, as well as the Custom and Custom Deluxe, were the available trim levels. The Chevy C10 with a 6.5-foot bed was dubbed the “Fleetwood.” Those trim levels were revised in 1975, and the Silverado luxury trim became available.
A 5.7L V8 diesel engine for the C10 was offered in 1978, as more changes occurred in 1984 such as the addition of a new two-level grille. Its interior also got a boost with the interior door panels constructed from galvanized steel, eliminating the asbestos rear brake linings, and semi-metallic front brake linings for the C/K 10 and C/K 20.
In 1985, the Chevy pickups received another redesign for the front end that gave them an even sportier appearance. Marking the 75th anniversary of Chevrolet, 1986 was the year the most powerful base engine at the time came out for Chevy trucks: the Vortec V6 with fuel injection. The last year for the Chevy C10 was in 1987. The C/K trucks began using 1500, 2500, and 3500 naming structures the following year.
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