This 1986 Chevrolet K-20 Restomod pickup is one of the coolest trucks we've ever featured here at Streetside Classics. Nothing too radical, just a super clean, lifted long-bed truck with a matching camper, a modern 6.0L LQ4 fuel-injected V8, and a sharp red paint job that sticks to the factory recipe. Square-body GM trucks are incredibly popular on the market right now, and with all the updates and good looks this '86 features, this is simply a lot of vintage... truck for the money. You already know we love these square-body trucks around our showroom and we probably sell more of them than just about anyone else. So it makes sense that when a nice one shows up, the entire staff takes notice, and we've been huddled around this red beast ever since she drove through our big doors. This pretty Apple Red K-20 has that rugged, square-jawed look that makes these trucks the latest and greatest collector-value haulers and the finish is really quite good, although certainly not perfect. It's not so nice that you'll be afraid to put it to work, but when you get home and hose it off it'll look good enough to take out to dinner that night and scare the valets. It's not overly flashy, but if a giant pickup can be elegant, this truck absolutely nails it. All of the chrome and brightwork/trim looks newer, including the big chrome bumpers fore and aft, the attention-grabbing billet grille up front, the profile and tailgate trim, and oversized mirrors that all work together to make it practical as well as attractive and you can tell just by looking at the bed that this beast has probably never had to very work for a living. There's a drop-in bedliner just in case you need to haul heavy gear and the heavy-duty tow-hook is a nice option if you have some heavy hauling to do (the K20 is a ¾-ton so it can handle it). Finishing off the look is the matching red camper shell that sits atop the bed, which means that protecting your gear from the elements, camping, or just moonlighting as a makeshift Suburban are all tasks this K-20 can tackle. The matching burgundy interior is typical GM no-nonsense, with a wide bench seat, a handsome wrap-around dash, and plenty of creature comforts. There are original carpets on the floor along with an original seat cover in a sturdy OEM cloth, and it appears that the door panels are preserved originals, same as the dash. The gauges are upgraded units and monitor all the engine's vitals, all surrounded by an original bezel panel that could stand a little detail. Features include factory A/C (R134a refrigerant needs a charge), power steering, power front disc brakes, tilt wheel, and an original AM/FM/cassette stereo system that's still in the factory dash slot. And heavy-duty floor mats are a welcome site if you plan on heading into the dirt. The transmission shifter is on the column, but as usual, the 4x4 system is actuated by the floor-mounted transfer case shifter, which also works like it should, giving you a lot of versatility. For power, this Chevy relies on a modern 6.0L LQ4 V8 with electronic fuel injection, that's also been augmented with 317 heads and a larger camshaft that give this beast a nice lope. It basically plays the part of a fairly stock, Vortec motor with some added-on goodies, so reliability is not compromised, and it still starts, idles, and drives pretty much like a modern truck. The engine bay is incredibly clean, suggesting that this truck has never really ventured too far off road, and there are signs of recent maintenance everywhere you look. The transmission is a modern, virtually indestructible 4L80E 4-speed automatic with overdrive that never seems to mind doing the heavy lifting, and the transfer case and heavy-duty axles make it invincible in the slippery stuff. Underneath there's no evidence of rot and as a lifetime 2-owner truck with a clean vehicle history report, it's probably never seen anything worse than an occasional weather hiccup. A Flowmaster-style dual exhaust system gives it the right sound and the power steering and power front disc brakes manage this rugged 4x4 with issue. And given all the lifted trucks with oversized flashy wheels, we have to say we like the simpler American Racing alloys on this big K-20, which carry fresh Toyo Open Country off-road radials at each corner. Nothing too radical here, just a nicely finished truck with great upgrades and no stories. If your tastes run more towards stock look with a modern powertrain, then this Chevy deserves a closer look. Call today!
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