Project: Couldn't pass it up... 69 C20

[69 Camper CST]

I have lurked for a while and after buying my latest find I had to join and share. Back in the day we had a 67 and 68 short-bed step-side growing up and a 79 long bed fleet-side that we wanted to turn into a short-bed step-side 4x4... It never materialized.

Fast forward to this past super bowl and we were enjoying the game at a friend of a friends house. I step out side to get some air and see he has a nice 69 Chevy 2wd fleetside. Didn't think much of it except that it was very clean and didn't have the typical rust in the rockers or cab corners. I ask the owner about it and he takes me out and shows me the inside and confirms my suspicion that it is very clean... he also tells me its for sale... Dangit!!! I don't need another project right now, my wife will kill me.

Long story short, couldn't pass it up. 69 C20 Camper Special with the CST package. Coil spring rear end, original wood bed, dealer installed saddle tanks (I believe), 350 / TH400 drivetrain with factory tach and 61k original miles. I have records on it dating back to 86 when it had 40k along with the original dealer metal stamp plate, owners manual with plastic envelope. It even has the original Colorado dealer sticker on the tailgate.

Now the bad... small pin hole in the fender behind the passenger rear wheel, trim needs new wood grain tape on the lowers, and a few spots are warped but its all there and the paint is worn through.

My plan is a partial resto with finished wood bed and repaint on the outside as the inside is close to show room condition. I want to keep it all original so it will go back the white, saddle, white scheme. Will get rid of the camper shell when I get it done and can find a soft tonneau that I can clamp on the bed rails to protect the bed from rain and snow.

Just finished remodeling our kitchen so now i can play with this....

[69 Camper CST]

A few more shots of underneath the dash, the bed, the picture with my hand is the rear of the driver seat with the original cardboard insulation.

He gave me 3 original radios in various shape, factory service and overhaul manuals and a brochure for the 69 pickups. Dash is uncut and without cracks, but at some point speakers were added to the door panels. Almost all original.

[gcburdic]

WOW wow wow.....wish I could find a truck with those thing "bad"!!!

to the boards and thanks for joining us finally.....I always feel like somebody's watching

You have posted this in the builds forum.....will you be updating this thread as you make the small changes, or do you want to star a separate build thread.....just wondering....I can move this to the 67-72 message board if you'd like to get a little more exposure.....I know the all original groupie's would love to see this

[lolife99]

VERY nice truck!

[dan42]

Wow, It was fate that you walked outside. Very nice find. More pictures!

[no moa]

Damn dude. U suck!!!! Lol j/k
Sweet truck. Very lucky to have found that.
Posted via Mobile Device

[69 Camper CST]

Thanks guys.

I knew when i saw it, it was a done deal. I took some pictures with my phone and sent them to my dad hoping he would want it. Then it turned into a partnership, then I bought it.

Gcburdic - If the other message board would get more traffic that would be great. I am really trying to understand what is the best to do with it. Being that it is in such good original shape i just want to improve it and not redo everything or do something that would take away value.

As I start doing whatever i am going to do, I'll start another build thread.

Here are some additional Pics

Shane

[gcburdic]

Moved it to the 67-72 message board....ttt....hoping others will see this survivor!!!

[69 Camper CST]

Thanks Geoff,

I took a quick look at the projects in your signature. Great looking cars and trucks.

Alright, a couple more shots.

Look forward to the advice as to what I should to maintain the value.

[oldgold70c10]

Nice score on such a clean truck. Thanks for posting. Love the engine bay pics.

[scrapmetalart]

Very nice. I would have a hard time painting it. You only get original once...

[toms68cst]

That white/Saddle/White color is a really sharp color combo on our trucks. Great find!

[70cst]

I also agree...Very nice purchase.

[Husker]

very nice looking truck.
Ron

[tow guys]

Real nice original find. Patena goes a looooong way my friend. Think long and hard before painting this one.
Posted via Mobile Device

[IndyRich]

Great truck....

You asked for advice... Don't ever drive in the winter near salt!!

If you don't mind, what did you pay for that? Prices are all over the place and it would be a nice baseline for a good, clean, low mileage truck.

If you don't want to divulge what you paid, that's cool I understand, but it can't hurt to ask.

[teeitup]

GREAT find, congrats!!!!!

[factorystock]

Nice find! Very well preserved classic! A common question on this forum is What is a Custom Camper ?, which most of us know by now, but the best thing about them is that they were originally purchased to be a recreational vehicles, not work trucks. Many are found with lower mileage and in better condition than the typical 67 thru 72 pickup. These are heavy duty pickups, not street rod material. Most original owners took pride in their trucks, kept them up and did not abuse them.

[Sicklajoie]

Congrats on a great find! Welcome to the Custom Camper club! 8^)

[69 Camper CST]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the compliments.

I am in Utah now, but it is a Colorado and Wyoming truck so I don't know how it made it without all the rust issues. I have one small pin hole behind the passenger side rear wheel. I need to take some more shots of the underside but in my initial digging it was pretty good other than typical surface rust on the frame. Heck my 2004 Dodge looked worse.

I am a fan of oiling the frame with bar and chain oil as it has some phosphoric acid to kill rust. Seems to be working well now that I have treated my ramcharger and dodge pickup.

The mentality behind the camper specials seems to hold true for this one. Well taken care. I have a notebook with everything done to it since 86 when it had around 40k miles on it. It drives great, but its geared to run about 55 or 60. 65 I am turning about 3200 RPM.

Million dollar question... What to do with it? Re-spraying the outside with some clean up of the trim and then keep it stock. It would look showroom and be almost all original. I love trucks but I bought it as an investment so my options are clean it up and turn it... or store it for a while. It would be great to have as a toy and a weekend cruiser but that is not high on the priority list. That being said I get attached easily so I may have to do some more negotiating with the wife.

I want to clean up the underside, but still not sure if I want to paint the frame or just clean it up and oil it. The wood bed is original and aside from some slight warping where it got wet I could clean it up as well. It looks like they sprayed right over the top and from what I know had a camper on it most of it's life.

Again... appreciate all the advice.

[PanelDeland]

Welcome!! That's a sharp truck.It's one of the ones that makes me wonder why none of the paint co. has started making a "Patina Keeper" coating.You know like a clear coat with a neutral shineI think I would have a hard time painting over that nice of original.

[Lemield]

WOW! Nice truck! Congrats!

[Lemield]

How about a picture of the Colorado dealership sticker on the tailgate? Just curious...Thanks!

[69 Camper CST]

Here is a shot of the sticker. Burt Chevrolet out of Englewood. I also got a good laugh that the truck was purchased 42 years and 5 days ago. Original purchase was 19 March 1969... I am not that old so I don't have any memories of that time but some of you... wiser folks might.

Still debating on the paint no paint. The lower wood trim could use new wood grain tape and that might help my paint / no paint dilemma as at least it would look 100%. I think the driver side cab mount might be shot as well as it has a slight sag to it, but haven't investigated too much as it keeps raining.

Shane

[Longhorn Man]

good looking truck. That would be an early 69, I'll bet therre's no cargo light over the rear window on the outside.
And, I have to point something out... it's a custom camper... camper specials were fords in 67 - 72.