1965 loaded Custom Cab

[JQ-72]

I've been out of the 64-66 trucks for a while but have been patiently looking for another one. Well, my patience paid off when I found this 65 short bed. It is a 2 owner truck with 86K miles and equipped with 283, Powerglide, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and tachometer. It was kept in a shed most of its life and only has one very small spot of rust on left lower fender. I acquired the truck from a guy who flipped it from the 2nd owner, but he got me in touch with the son-in-law of the gentleman who owned it since 1968. After talking at length with the son-in-law and closely inspecting the truck, this is what I've come up with:
The trim tag says the truck was white/fawn and I can still see some fawn color under the worn blue paint. PO (son-in-law) said that the truck was blue when they bought it in 1968 and they have 1968 title with the truck. I noticed there is some old body filler on the back of the cab and in cab corner. I can also see some black primer on the inside of the left bedside where tailgate closes. I'm figuring the truck was wrecked on the left rear within the first 2-3 years of its life, GM bedside installed and then repainted blue. The truck was sold new at Buchanan Chevrolet in Osceola, AR then bought by this family in Memphis in 1968.
PO also told me his father-in-law was one of those guys who never sold his vehicles, he'd drive them for a while, park them and go buy something else. He told me that this truck was parked in a shed in the early 1980's and used as storage. The Memphis 1979 registration was most likely the last time registered.

[JQ-72]

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[cwcarpenter98]

That's a great find and cool that you were able to get a good bit of the story behind it!

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

What A Beauty Looking For One Right Now But Prices Are Stupid High

[Getter-Done]

Nice

So They are still out there hiding in sheds.

[rbruno68]

All I can say is wow! What a time capsule. In this case, I hope you are keeping it exactly like it is. Great find.

[Elefuntman]

Nice find! Congrats!!

[JQ-72]

Thanks, guys! It obviously needed tires and brakes. I also serviced the transmission that was pouring fluid out and tuned the engine up. I am going to drive it and enjoy it like it is for now, maybe restore it later.

[60-66]

Nicely equipped and solid looking 1965 ! Congrats on the find .

[factorystock]

Nice find, a C 10 with options 10 years ahead of its time. Most truck buyers back in '65 didn't feel the need to make their pickup have all the comfort and options found in higher end cars, but luckily a few did. What are your plans? IMO, the interior looks fine as is, exterior deserves a complete quality restoration back to original.

[raidmagic]

That looks well worth the wait.

[Rac65]

Congratulations on a great find . I can't help but be a little jealous.

[JQ-72]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Nice find, a C 10 with options 10 years ahead of its time. Most truck buyers back in '65 didn't feel the need to make their pickup have all the comfort and options found in higher end cars, but luckily a few did. What are your plans? IMO, the interior looks fine as is, exterior deserves a complete quality restoration back to original.

Thanks! I'm going to drive it like it is for a little while, but a restoration is definitely in its future. I've built a few trucks over the years and added era correct options to it, but this is the first 64-66 truck I've run across that left the assembly line this loaded. Too bad it was painted over, but the firewall still has chalk marks of "A/C PG J70" and I few more I haven't been able to make out yet.

[Permafrost]

Awesome find! Rare to find them that original, in that condition.
What a time capsule.