engine color '63 C-20

[chevyrestoguy]

Yesterday, I looked at a '63 C-20 that a guy at work has been storing for a friend of his. This guy is moving to another house, and so his buddy has decided to sell the '63 because he will soon have no place to put it. I have always been on the hunt for another 60-66, as they are my favorites of all the Chevy trucks I have owned. I prefer the short/fleets, but I had to go look at this one anyway.

The body is in extremely good shape (no rust outs anywhere), and it's never been butchered or modified in any way. It's a V8 (not sure if it's a 283 or 327), manual trans, 8-lugger. No options. Original California black plates. The interior is 100% stock, right down to the factory seat cover. It's been sitting outside in the weeds for 4 years, and I don't know the condition of the engine on whether it'll fire or not. I only had about 5 minutes to look at it, and after I left, I thought of about 20 things I missed. I'll try to get back over there (it's 45 miles away) soon and get some pics I can post here. He's asking $2500, but I'm seriously considering offering him alot less because of the possibility that the engine is dead. It's gets below freezing in the winter out here, and if it had straight water in the radiator, then the block could be cracked.

This leads me to my question: The engine appears to have never been apart. The color is a dark blue, unlike any other factory color I've seen. I have a friend who has an original '66 C-20 and his 327 engine is a light green color like a Pontiac. I have always heard that Chevy painted some truck engines a different color to signify their "high torque" series engines. Is this '63 engine one of those, or is it just a case of someone painting the engine the wrong color when it was rebuilt long ago?

Any comments on other things to look for on the truck and possible value would certainly be appreciated.