1979 Chevrolet K10 Silverado 4x4

Description

Who didn't want one of these trucks, lifted and sitting tall, back when they were new? Well, it's time to relive the past with this absolutely dialed-in 1979 Chevrolet K10 Silverado 4x4 pickup, which has recently enjoyed a rather significant makeover. Powered by 350 V8 Blueprint crate motor matched to an upgraded overdrive automatic transmission, it's loaded with options and wrapped in a gorgeous two-tone paint job wrapped around a supremely comfortable A/C interior with a Southwestern motif. Yeah, this big Chevy truck is very impressive. With in-your-face looks and go-anywhere capabilities, it's got the hardware to scale a mountain and the curb appeal to dominate the car show circuit. They don't get much cleaner than this...

Wearing a period-perfect color combination that really encapsulates the era from which this truck hails, this K10 looks like a million bucks. The roof and center shade is called Chevrolet Neutral, not a very inventive name but tan/beige/off-white monikers never really are, while the contrasting color looks to be a cross between Buckskin/Saddle/Camel. Regardless of the nomenclature, the colors are the perfect complement to the rough-and-rugged 1979 K10 body, and the truck looks like it was practically pulled straight from "No Country from Old Men". It was repainted just a handful of years and only 1,784 miles ago, and judging from the details and the hard-to-reach areas of the body, these were this truck's original colors. You can't argue with how good the combination looks on the clean, chiseled lines of the K10 and the finish quality is on-par with the higher-end build quality of the rest of the truck. It's shiny, well-applied, and covering some very straight sheetmetal, but at the same time, it's not so impeccably flawless that you're afraid to use this truck to its full potential. It's a top-end driver-quality rig, likely nicer than what you'd find in 1979 (these trucks were notoriously rushed through the factory and didn't have the cleanest of paint jobs when they were new), but it's not some trailer queen that's afraid to get dirty out on the trail. There's lots of shiny trim to accentuate the paint job, including the billet-style front grille and headlight surrounds up front, the factory stainless moldings on the sides of the body, oversized bumpers fore and aft, and the super-cool chrome roll bar mounted in the bed. And speaking of that long bed, it's been fortified with a spray-in bedliner, just in case you're hauling, say, your collection of bowling balls or a grizzly bear, and a full-size spare was mounted back there in case of emergencies. Fresh lights and lenses give it a more updated look, too, and the chrome step bars, oversized side mirrors, and big exhaust pipes that jut out from under the rear bumper all add further sparkle to this vintage rig.

The Saddle interior is mostly stock and for 1979, you'll be impressed by the luxury accommodations. The wide bench seat wears a new leather cover that's in great shape, with a super-cool Southwestern design embedded inside the high-end material. The ornate door panels feature Western scroll accents around the handles, the dash pad is crack-free and looks new as well, and the plush carpets below are protected with heavy-duty vinyl mats. This truck offers great options, including a modern A/C system, cruise control, dual fuel tanks (with a dash-mounted switch), and a later-model leather steering wheel mounted atop the tilt steering column, so it's hardly vintage-feeling from behind the wheel. A new retro-sound AM/FM/AUX stereo lives in the dash, and all the gauges and the bezels that surround them look like newer pieces, too, giving the cabin a fresh feel. Tinted windows add privacy, seatbelts add safety, the taut headliner above insulates the cabin fully, and the sliding rear window lets in a cool breeze whenever the A/C is not needed.

The condition of the sparkling engine bay suggests that while this truck looks off-road ready, it hasn't spent much time there in the 1,784 miles since this beauty was built. The 350 cubic inch V8 Blueprint crate motor was Dyno'd at 366 horsepower and 411 lb-ft of torque, so it has plenty of get-up and go despite the truck's considerable weight. The engine sports a bunch of chrome and polished pieces, including polished finned valve covers, bright brackets and pulleys, a Blueprint air cleaner, and ceramic-coated long-tube headers. Further improvements include an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor and a performance intake manifold, an HEI ignition system, aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, and a growling dual exhaust system. Backed by a freshly converted 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case, the driveline is tough enough to handle just about anything, yet still civilized enough to be driven regularly. While you're under there, check out the lift kit with dual shocks at each corner, a Tuff Country steering stabilizer, and heavy-duty axles (10-bolt up front; 12-bolt in the rear), and an undercarriage that shows of tons of work. Of course, a truck like this wouldn't be possible without power steering and power front disc brakes, so despite its size it's relatively easy to maneuver in traffic. Great-looking Rallye wheels with bright beauty rings and center caps suite the truck's personality and carry mammoth 33x12.50-15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain meats that look like they'll climb a wall.

A very cool truck with the perfect amount of modifications and a killer classic look. Admit it, you thought K10s were cool when you were a kid, and who's to say anything has changed. You want it, all you have to do is call!