Chevrolet C20 Pickup

This 1963 Chevrolet C20 is a perfectly-patinated, fully rebuilt example with a fast-road 350 SBC V8 and Tremec TKO 5-Speed gearbox. The truck came to the UK from California in 2009 and as such was the perfect, rot-free basis for a full rebuild which was carried out in 2011. The truck was then used for shows and even as a promotional vehicle for an American-Irish bar for a few years before passing to its current owner last year. As expected, it is a properly fun thing to drive with fantastic power and an amazing noise - but really, it’s all the little details of the build that make it so appealing. It’s been recently fully serviced and is ready to go for its next owner.

As with the majority of classic vehicles imported from the US, not much is known of this truck’s life prior to being imported to the UK and registered with the DVLA in 2009. We do know that it was a dry-state truck and it’s clear to see that it’s never been messed with or fallen into the wrong hands. The metalwork is in wonderfully solid condition with only one small section of corrosion in the driver’s door shut and no dodgy previous repairs anywhere on it. This truck was chosen by the previous owner because of its solid and sun-beaten condition in order to be subjected to a full rebuild in 2011 with over £16,000 (£24k today) spent on parts alone, not including the engine itself. Every receipt is on file, showing just how much detail the owner went into in order to create his ultimate classic truck, which has now proven to be fast, highly dependable and an utter joy to cruise in. 

There was no stone left unturned during the build, with every part of the C20 receiving attention; from the brakes and suspension, down to the wiring loom to ensure everything works as it should (even the roof-mounted lights) - all of which have been either replaced or rebuilt. The original patina on the exterior was fully lacquered to preserve it, we believe the bonnet (or ‘hood’) is a reproduction unit that has been painted to match the rest of the truck. The interior is where the truck’s character really shines, you are immediately met with a very nicely trimmed saddle-leather bench seat with an enormous pistol-grip handbrake and window-mounted gun rack. It’s details like the rev-counter being mounted in a period oil can, old bottle caps in place of the heater levers and a period Chevrolet-branded radio that really make it. You can tell the quality of workmanship that went into the truck just from peering inside it. Our favourite party piece has to be the miniature ‘air raid’ siren mounted under the bonnet and controlled by a toggle switch on the dash.

As you can imagine, the truck drives very nicely indeed with no unwanted noises or sensations through the car. The engine pulls extremely well, makes an immense noise and will easily spin the tyres (BF Goodrich All-Terrains) - if you are that way inclined. The Tremec TKO is a joy to use, it’s a short shift and has a re-assuring notch to changing gears. Having driven 4-speed American cars all our lives, we find that a 5th gear is certainly welcome! This is a truck that can cruise on the motorway with ease, and the clutch is much lighter than you’d expect. The steering is direct and doesn’t have any of the usual American truck vagueness (thanks to its rebuilt steering box) and the brakes are powerful and responsive. We honestly cannot fault the way it drives, and it really surprised us when we first took it down the road.

Overall, this C20 is the result of a fantastic, detailed build with perfect patina and serious character. The truck was clearly built with reliability, usability and fun in mind. It has recently had the carb balanced, new plugs, an oil service and a new water pump fitted. Therefore, it’s ready to go for the summer. The truck is currently based at our studio in Bicester, please contact Greg with any questions, or to arrange a viewing.