We get a lot of these clean mid-80s Chevy pickups, and they're always pleasant, clean machines. But every so often, one like this 1986 Chevrolet C10 Silverado shows up and smacks us around a bit. This recently rebuilt Box Chevy is every bit as clean and functional as the others, but it packs a snarling 383-inch stroker motor under the hood that makes it more muscle car than utilitarian hauler. While we tend to overlook trucks in... our everyday life, this C10 looks downright spectacular in its Apple Red livery. Maybe it's the way the smoke-tinted windows make it look sinister, or how aggressive the lowered and raked stance looks, but it seems sinister and clean all at once. It's pretty obvious that this one has been personal transportation since it was new, especially as a regular cab/short bed model, and most of its hauling was probably limited to personal gear and helping friends move. As a result, its bodywork is clean, smooth, and straight, with a great shine that still stands out at shows. Of course, things like the billet grille and cowl induction hood certainly help, not to mention the way the body sits on top of the Rallye wheels wrapped in fat tires. All the stock trim remains in place, too, so this isn't some custom piece of questionable taste, and nobody will know anything about it beyond what you want to show. Bright chrome bumpers are new and enhance the stock look, and it does carry a durable spray-in bed liner just in case you still want to use it as a truck. The stock bench seat interior gives nothing away, either. That's new black vinyl upholstery on the seat, fresh, plush carpets underneath, and brand new door panels on both sides. Options like R134a A/C, a tilt steering column, dual fuel tanks, and a sliding rear window make it a pleasure to drive even when you're not using that 383 to its full potential. An original-style wheel is still in place and in great shape, and because this is a column shift automatic and has power steering, it's a breeze to manage down the road. Better yet, the factory gauges were dumped in favor of a set of very cool digital instruments that fit into the original slots like they were born there. It also received an upgraded Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo system that sounds great, as well as a set of heavy-duty Silverado floor mats that add a bit of fun to the all-business interior. All that's pretty nice, but the thing that got our attention with this one is the 383 cubic inch V8 under the hood. Complete with heavy-duty hardware like a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, aftermarket intake manifold, a lumpy camshaft, and long-tube headers, it runs like it's 800 pounds lighter than it is. It looks fairly stock, which is entirely the point, but the black open-element air cleaner replete with "383" decals and finned chrome valve covers tend to show off a bit and give away the secret. However, other gear looks bone stock, like the accessory drive, A/C system, wires and hoses, and other ancillary pieces. A stout TH400 3-speed automatic works hard behind the stroker motor, sending power to the original 10-bolt rear end that's filled with highway-friendly gears. The exhaust system uses turn-downs just behind the rear axle, so the aggressive soundtrack might give things away, but you can't argue with the spectacular sound. And those awesome Rallye wheels wrapped in thick 275/60/15 BFGoodrich white-letter radials do a great job finishing the killer look without going overboard. Nice truck? Absolutely. But if you're looking for something a little beyond merely "nice" then this C10 is what you've been looking for. Call today!
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