Square body chevy trucks for sale on facebook marketplace

When is a truck not a truck? When it's a muscle car. What we're getting at is classic muscle cars are at a price point where many fans must count themselves out of participation. Perhaps it's all for the better because classic trucks—classic Chevy trucks in particular—are not only cheaper than muscle cars by a long shot, they're a lot simpler. That means the skills needed to roll your sleeves up and dive in are a lot more manageable for the average gearhead. Fewer numbers of parts also mean the repair and build-up portion of your project can sail along at a faster rate, leaving you with more time and money to enjoy your classic Chevy truck.

At HOT ROD, classic Chevy trucks are the current kings of affordable performance. Except for their box-like profile, there's hardly any difference between them and classic Chevy muscle cars like Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, and Impalas. Classic Chevy trucks respond to all the standard hot-rodding tricks and swallow all the standard Chevy engines including small-blocks, big-blocks, diesels, and any number of swaps such as the late-model LS V8. Beyond the availability of big horsepower, the aftermarket supports classic Chevy trucks with big disc brake kits, performance suspension systems, cooling upgrades, ignition systems, sheetmetal, rolling stock, trim parts, upholstery, and all manner of creature comforts.

Types of Classic Chevy Trucks

Within the classic Chevy truck world there are different types. Those most favored by performance enthusiasts are the half-ton varieties, which are closest in mass to muscle cars. The Chevy (and GMC) C10 is the one to watch and was available in a dizzying array of choices. Body styles are broken down into long wheelbase and short wheelbase models, with slab-sided style-side (sometimes called fleetside) and contoured step-side further differentiating the look. Though crew-cab compartments are all the rage today, the shorter standard cab predominated truck fleet sales in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. For the hot rodder, this translates into less weight, a more elegant silhouette, and greater simplicity.

Classic Chevy trucks are further divided by model year breaks that define the styling. First-Generation C10 classic Chevy trucks were built from 1960 to 1966, Action Line models were built from 1967 to 1972, and the Rounded Line (also known as square-body) from 1973 to 1987. These are the ones most sought after and are the subject of our treasure hunt today! We looked through Craigslist in all the major markets to see what's currently out there for sale and dug up these 10 cool classic Chevy trucks for your next hot rodding project. Let's take a look.

1979 Chevy C10 Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $2,800

You gotta love a guy who can be this honest, "has lots of rust in all the most common areas." Get past that and you'll fall in love with this 1979 Chevy C10 short wheelbase style-side Bonanza model. We can't argue with the seller's $2,800 asking price, and it even "yard" runs, whatever that means. The ubiquitous small-block Chevy V8 resides under the hood and interested parties can click here for this Dahlonega, Georgia offering. You'll want to check out the extra photos of this one in our gallery, along with extras from the next nine classic Chevy trucks.

1971 Chevy C10 Style-Side LWB, Asking Price $4,999

If you're looking for a long-wheelbase classic Chevy C10 that has "Roadkill" written all over it, this multi-colored basketcase stands ready to fulfill your Freiburger dreams, non-running small-block V8 and all. As one of the later Action Line models, it's more desirable, and the (mostly) unmolested grille is a plus. We found it on the San Diego Craigslist here in the Escondido area, so rust is limited to mostly surface patina.

1978 Chevy C10 Style-Side LWB, Asking Price $5,500

Moving up another $501, we find this 350ci-equipped 1978 Chevy classic truck—also from the San Diego-area Craigslist. The seller had to search pretty hard to take a couple of rust photos in the rocker panel at the door jamb, but we wouldn't even bother with painting this one as its condition is just the right shade of ratty for a sleeper muscle truck. Note that this one has been off the road for a few years and California buyers will also have to cough up an extra $330 for back registration fines.

1984 Chevy C10 Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $6,300

Clear across to the East Coast just south of Orlando, Florida in the berg of St. Cloud, we find this sweet LS-swapped short-bed style-side unit from the square-body syndicate. This one has all the desired traits in a junior muscle truck: short-bed, fleet-side, LS swap (a 5.3-liter LM7 from a 2001 model truck) and a Turbo 350 trans with 2,500-rpm stall converter. It sounds like the seller has gotten a great head start on a muscle truck build (hey, it's red too!), saving some lucky buyer a lot of extra trouble. Mind the minor rot in the driver-side drip rail.

1963 Chevy C10 Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $6,800

Inexplicably, First-Generation C10s aren't as expensive as second-generation "Action Line" models, making this 1963 Chevy C10 short wheelbase (Stockton, California) a screaming deal. A mix of light surface rust, mold, and peeling layers of an old repaint give it a serviceable patina, with no fatal cancer in evidence. It will need a new wooden bed (don't they all?), the small-block Chevy V8 (presumably a 283ci or 327ci) will need a rebuild, and the interior really deserves a new dash and seat covers, but this one is a keeper.

1969 Chevy C10 CST Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $6,975

The more seasoned project builder will want to seriously investigate this rare CST trim-level 1969 C10, which originally came with a 396ci big-block Chevy. The CST was a loaded machine when new, and included bucket seats, center console, and various up-trim bits that—though long gone here—make this short wheelbase a desirable model once fully restored. This is strictly a roller, but the seller is also including a ton of extra sheetmetal (both old and new), a bench seat, and a bunch of parts that you can browse in the Scottsdale, Arizona Craigslist ad listing here.

1980 Chevy C10 Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $7,000

It's not clear whether this 1980 Chevy C10 short wheelbase is a running vehicle, but the seller (Rialto, California) claims zero rust and for an extra $1,000 you can take his 454ci big-block Chevy crate engine and (presumably) Turbo 400 three-speed automatic transmission. You'll need to install it yourself, but if it all proves to be functional you could have a running muscle truck by the end of the weekend. The seller says he's absolutely firm on the $8,000 price tag, but if you'd rather supply your own updated LS drivetrain you can take it home for $7k.

1966 GMC C10 Style-Side LWB, Asking Price $7,000

New York cars always have a dark cloud hanging over their head because of the harsh winter climate and all the salt on the roads, but this intrepid seller found this 1966 GMC C10 long wheelbase in Idaho as a mostly complete mid-level restoration. Rhetorical question: is Idaho salt and snow any better than Long Island's? You'll find out fast if you pull the trigger on this inline six manual trans pickup, just make sure to carefully follow the New York-speak directions to your holy grail here.

1981 Chevy C10 Style-Side SWB, Asking Price $8,000

We don't know what garage tool this seller's wife hit him with, but he's abandoning his 1981 Chevy C10 short wheelbase project truck (Eastern Connecticut) in favor of a BMW or Mercedes. As a mid-project reject, this one has tons of stuff already done (frame is already notched in the rear, frame is restored and rebuilt with new suspension parts in front) and it comes with a pair of rearends and a pair of 350ci small-block crate engines. There are also scads of new sheetmetal all around, but as with most reject projects, you may need to perform more remedial action. Try selling the extra parts you don't need and score this baby for next to nothing.

1973 Chevy C10 Style-Side LWB, Asking Price $9,000

It breaks our hearts to hear a story like this, but the seller of this sweet 1973 Chevy Cheyenne long-bed style-side (Phoenix area) bought it and fixed it up for his birthday, only to find he needs $9,000 for a new roof on his home. We've been in that situation, and it sucks. It's your gain, as this one (according to the owner) has a strong-running 350ci V8, new tires, new battery, new bench seat, new alternator, new radiator, new master cylinder, and new taillight lenses. This running, driving classic Chevy truck also comes with a front-end rebuild kit and new calipers, which aren't installed yet. The seller even promises the buyer sexy grandpa vibes for days!