1970 C10 - Dream come true - Project "The Rebirth"

[ZUBZ]

Hi All.

As you know I have been on the forum for a little while and been doing a lot of browsing and learning. This forum is invaluable for somebody into trucks and wanting to preserve them.

I have finally decided to start my thread, if you want to know more about my and my truck you can read my initial threads here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=495448

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=498139

A little information on the truck:

It is a 1970 C10 "Fleetside" (307 v8), Canadian Spec Import into South Africa, original LHD then converted by General Motors SA to RHD. Has a 3spd manual transmission, column shift (I have never owned or driven a column shift before), short bed with coil springs all round, 16inch wheels (6 x 6.5 lug) etc.

I am the true 2nd owner as I have all the original manuals and booklets that accompanied the truck, (will upload pics of all the paperwork, brochures and manuals. The truck manual says GM Canada).

So the truck is still at the previous owners house, we went this weekend and started by removing the "home built" canopy which was put on 42 years ago, few months after the owner purchased the truck. It was very hard to remove it as the glue and other products used were stuck very tight.....but we managed to get it done......here goes the pics of the "Takedown"

Enjoy.....more pics to follow as soon as I tow her home and start....







This image is interesting, when the canopy was built the tail-gate was removed, wrapped and stored like this for 40 years, it is like brand new and the paint work is like new on it, you will see the difference when I fit it on.

Also you will notice the big Donaldson air filter which was optional, as the truck was first purchased in South West Africa where there is a lot of desert they added this on.









let me know what you guys think.....

[67c10rustbuket]

Looks great Z, whats the story on the "fleetside" emblem on the bed? never seen one of those before. Glad you finally got this baby!!

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Looks great Z, whats the story on the "fleetside" emblem on the bed? never seen one of those before. Glad you finally got this baby!!

thanks, yeah I am very excited. I will do some research on the 'fleetside' emblem and advise, I dont see much on the internet but will check the books and manuals I got with truck....

[BB72CHEVKT]

Looks like a great start. With you being where you at the tailgate alone is probably worth a thousand US dollars.

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

Looks like a great start. With you being where you at the tailgate alone is probably worth a thousand US dollars.

Thanks, actually I cant wait to unwrap it myself, I am like a kid with a candy just waiting to unwrap. Well I have been to see a few trucks for sale here and most of them had the tailgate lost or removed and never found, I am very happy this truck has the tailgate.... will send pics of it soon....

[67cheby]

WOW...cool truck, cant wait to see the Tailgate !

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

WOW...cool truck, cant wait to see the Tailgate !

thanks again guys... will post pics soon....

[cubber]

Great find! Looking forward to seeing a build from somewhere so far away.

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by cubber

Great find! Looking forward to seeing a build from somewhere so far away.

yeah very far....

[ZUBZ]

Hi all,

Weather was not the greatest over the weekend but I managed to take some pics of the tailgate, interior and the vin plates etc.....(I need some help with decoding the VIN plate)

You can see on one of the tailgate pics the original dealer decal which is over 40years old and still looks brand new.....

[darkhorse970]

Nice! I'm along for the ride....
Posted via Mobile Device

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

Nice! I'm along for the ride....
Posted via Mobile Device

Nice one Darkhorse, hope you enjoy the ride, it will be a slow ride because most of the parts I require will need to be imported from the States so will take time and also $$$$ as I need to save up.....

[widewhite70]

This is a nice find! can't wait to see how it comes along!

[67cheby]

HOLY SMOKES....i love that gate...i would hang it in my living room !! LOL

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

HOLY SMOKES....i love that gate...i would hang it in my living room !! LOL

Thanks 67, tell me do you guys have similar style gate in the US? As I said in my earlier post this truck was a Canadian import into the country so does look like a Canada specific gate or perhaps specific our country ? I wonder.....

[67cheby]

no our gates look nothing like that , it looks like the gates off of our body style trucks from Mexico to me !

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

no our gates look nothing like that , it looks like the gates off of our body style trucks from Mexico to me !

Interesting...

[STOCKISH]

I love the tailgate too. Also looks like the taillights are farther inward (closer to the tailgate) on the bed than the trucks here in the states? Maybe an optical illusion? Killer truck man.

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

I love the tailgate too. Also looks like the taillights are farther inward (closer to the tailgate) on the bed than the trucks here in the states? Maybe an optical illusion? Killer truck man.

Thanks SuperC..... Not sure about the taillights but I guess you are in the states and would know best about that.... I cant wait to fit the tailgate, you guys getting me excited but as you know it gets hard to work on the truck in the week...but it will be school vacation soon here so I will probably try and get some work done..... PS: Will be posting some interior pics soon, i wonder the interior is different...

[ZUBZ]

Interior shots as promised..... Enjoy...

[superduty_59]

Nice truck! I have a curiousity about RHD trucks. Could you post more pics of dash, firewall, steering box, shifter, clutch pedal assembly, ect.

[67c10rustbuket]

Funky tailgate and amazingly clean! I did a little search and got some pics.

the first (blue) is a mexico tail gate.

the second one (red) is just like yours and supposedly an argentina tailgate.

The third (red) is our USA tailgate.


Never seen the one you have until I just found the pic of the alleged argentina gate. Interesting. I like it!

Borrowed the pics of course from others on here

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Funky tailgate and amazingly clean! I did a little search and got some pics.

the first (blue) is a mexico tail gate.

the second one (red) is just like yours and supposedly an argentina tailgate.

The third (red) is our USA tailgate.


Never seen the one you have until I just found the pic of the alleged argentina gate. Interesting. I like it!

Borrowed the pics of course from others on here

Thanks for the pics 67c10....

Yes it does resemble the Argentina one especially the handles that open the tailgate........

I wonder if GM purposely made tailgates different from country to country...... Would be good to find out....

[Tinkermc]

I will have to keep tuned in on this 1

[ZUBZ]

Originally Posted by Tinkermc

I will have to keep tuned in on this 1

cool tinker, you guys are now putting pressure on me to ensure I keep this project going and also keep you guys updated regularly.....well we heading into lovely summer at the moment so will definitely try to get a lot done....