K20 4x4 350 AT; 1 of a matching pair of one family owned '76 Chevy pickups

1976 Chevrolet K-20 Custom Deluxe; VIN CKL246F411301. Consigned on behalf of the owner (he’s not computer literate). Stated by the owner that this is one of a pair of 1976 Chevrolet pickups that was purchased new by his father (the other truck is also currently listed on eBay).

Both trucks had their titles transferred to the owner after his father’s passing in the mid-1990’s as part of transferring the family farm. They were operated and licensed as working trucks until the late 1990’s then parked in one of the machine sheds on his property until the fall of 2018. He had started the process of awakening both trucks within the last year, but his wife (the Chief Financial Officer for the farm) stated that she does not want to spend any more money on them and that they should go. Both painted the same color (GM code 61, Grecian Bronze), they became known in the area as “the butterscotch twins”.

On this K-20, the oldest surviving documentation to verify is a 1986 license renewal “cab card”. Indicated miles are 67,211, although the speedometer has been inoperative since the truck was taken out of storage. This was the original owner’s primary use truck on his farm and ranch properties for approximately 15 years, and then became a secondary use chore truck.

The original Service Parts ID tag is still affixed to the glovebox, and shows the truck to be configured as it was originally built. Factory options include air conditioning (currently inoperative), auxiliary fuel tank (currently operating on the right tank, with no attempt made to switch tanks), power brakes, power steering, voltmeter/oil pressure gauges, below eye-level mirrors, and AM radio.

It is powered by a replacement 350 CID V8 (wearing Targetmaster valve cover decals), the consignor recalling that it was replaced in the mid or late 1980’s at an unknown mileage. Power flows though a Turbo HydraMatic transmission to a New Process transfer case. The consignor is including another transfer case, as it was parked two decades ago because the chain drive had started slipping under heavy use (in heavy snow) when in four wheel drive. Being an automatic transmission pickup, the front axle did not have lockup hubs when built. All tires on the ground are mounted on later stock one-piece steel wheels accented by the original “dog dish” hub caps and have serviceable tread, but due to age, should be replaced. The spare has the original multi-piece rim. The exhaust system was totally rotted away from sitting, so it was recently replaced with a stock style system.

The truck runs well, shifts well, and stops true in a straight line without pulling to either side. Nothing has been done to the brakes since it was removed from storage, so it is highly recommended to have them at least inspected and the fluid flushed. The emergency brake pedal is wired in place.

Electrical issues include the HVAC fan will only work on high in the a/c mode. Dampers move for defrost, heat, and vent. Turn signals and brake lights work, but the indicators in the cab are dark. The windshield wiper switch is loosely mounted and inoperative. A new replacement headlight switch is highly recommended, as the originals didn’t hold up well to grit and dust in a rural environment.

The original seat has worn a western motif burlap cover from new, worn through at the driver’s seat bottom. From what can be discerned through the cover, the original seat upholstery seems to be good. Plastic door panels have heavier sun fading, with less fade on the dashboard wood graining and crack-free dash pad. Oddly, this has a GMC High Sierra dash pad trim plate. The original rubber flooring and a period Pontiac rubber floor mat have light to moderate wear. Atypical of GM trucks with automatics of this period, the shift indicator thread is broken over the shift column.

While the truck wears original paint, there is some old red primer applied over it on several panels. The lower sections of the bodywork and the pickup box show heavier chipping and scaring from regular use on gravel roads. The bottoms of the doors seem to have more superficial surface rust than anything structural. The truck has a GMC tailgate with heavy wear and denting, along with some red primer over the paint. While the leading edge of the hood and the bottoms of most wheel well arches have some rust blistering, the cab corners are solid. All four wheel wells have period “Roughrider Country North Dakota” mud flaps. The base of the roof trim panel is missing and the Mylar drip rail moldings are peeling. It has a period aftermarket grille guard along with a two-compartment tool box at the front of the pickup box and a rifle rack mounted over the rear window in the cab.

The driver’s door and driver’s side rear cab pillar have dents from an inattentive hired farmhand, which was prompted the consignor to take the trucks out of storage.

At this point is not recommended to drive the truck beyond loading it on and off a trailer.

Overall, this is a pickup that will need some attention, but be a reasonably easy restoration or mechanically refurbished as needed to be a driver as-is with character – correctly representing a typical working farm truck from the central High Plains from the late 1970’s. Buy just this one or, with this unique opportunity, continue the legacy and also bid on its long-term stable mate and keep the pair together.