United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
United States
1970 Chevrolet C10
Beds, wheelbases and trim
A C10 is a two-wheel-drive half-ton; the four-wheel-drive version is the K10. There were two bed styles, the smooth-sided Fleetside and the Stepside with separate rear fenders, and two wheelbases: 115 inches for the short bed and 127 inches for the long bed.
Long-bed Fleetsides were by far the most common trucks when new. That is why a genuine short bed costs more today, and why long-bed trucks are sometimes shortened. Trim ran from the base truck through the Custom to the CST (Custom Sport Truck), the top level in 1970; the Cheyenne name did not arrive until 1971.
Engines and transmissions
The 1970 engines were a 250 cubic inch six (155 hp), a 292 six (170 hp), a 307 V8 (200 hp) and a 350 V8 at about 250 hp. A big-block was also offered, sold as a 400 but displacing 402 cubic inches.
A three-speed manual on the column was standard. Options included four-speed manuals, Powerglide and Turbo Hydra-Matic automatics. Most Chevrolet half-tons rode on rear coil springs and trailing arms, with leaf springs optional; GMC did it the other way around.
How to tell a 1970 from the years around it
The 1969 and 1970 trucks share the same front-end shape with different grille inserts. The 1971 and 1972 trucks have an egg-crate grille and front disc brakes as standard equipment, and two-wheel-drive half-tons went from six-lug to five-lug wheels at the same time. Grilles are easy to swap, so go by the VIN: the digit for the model year is 0 on a 1970.
Reading the VIN and the glovebox label
The VIN plate is on the driver-side door pillar. A 1970 C10 VIN starts with C for two-wheel drive (K for four-wheel drive), then E for a V8 or S for a six, then 1 for a half-ton. If the Service Parts Identification label survives inside the glovebox door, it lists the options the truck was built with, which is useful evidence of an original CST or big-block truck.
To check a short bed, measure the wheelbase and then look at the frame. A shortened long-bed frame shows cut-and-weld seams, relocated mounting holes and a shortened driveshaft.
What to inspect before you buy
- Cab rust: cab corners, rocker panels, the floor and the cab supports under it, the drip rails and the area above the windshield.
- Front fenders and bed: the fenders behind the wheels, and the front of the bed floor.
- Frame: check around the body mounts, and look for the welds described above.
- Modifications: engine swaps, lowering and disc brake conversions are common and often an improvement. Judge them by the quality of the work, and ask for receipts.
Related listings
- Other years of this generation: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971 and 1972 C10 for sale, or every 1967 to 1972 C10.
- Four-wheel drive and three-quarter ton: 1970 K10 and 1970 C20 listings. C10 vs C20 explained.
- All of them: classic Chevy trucks for sale.
In-Depth Answers
Editorial Q&A · 2 articlesHow do I decode a square-body Chevrolet truck VIN?
Square-body Chevrolet trucks (1973–1987) use an 11-digit VIN through 1980 and the standardized 17-digit format from 1981 onward. The 11-digi...
How reliable are square-body Chevy trucks (1973–1987)?
A well-maintained square-body Chevrolet C/K truck is one of the most reliable classic vehicles you can own. The 350 small block is bulletpro...
Recently Ended Chevrolet C10 Listings
See all 3,124 past listings →| Vehicle | Last Asking Price |
|---|---|
| 1970 Chevrolet C10 | $18,295 |
| 1972 Chevrolet C10 | $48,495 |
| 1966 Chevrolet C10 | $21,995 |
| 1972 Chevrolet C10 | $52,900 |
| 1987 Chevrolet C10 | $30,995 |
| 1986 Chevrolet C10 | $26,495 |
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