69 c-10 Longbed Stepside

[Tinsmith9]

I am the new owner of a 69 c-10. It's got a 250 engine, 4-speed on the floor and tire well in the drive side fender. We have it running great and it brings back memories of growing up on the farm in the 50's-60's. I really like it. I don't see many of these on the forum and wondered how common they were then and are now. This forum is great and I have learned alot from all of you about all the little issues that need addressed. Thanks!
Dan

[yuccales]

Welcome from Northern California! I've seen more long stepsides then short ones in my neck of the woods. Good old trucks they are.

[Tinsmith9]

Yep, work truck it is and that is why I bought it. It won't get worked hard at this point in my life, but I enjoy having it and being able to haul just about anything. Mine doesn't hab ps,pb and is a handful but runs smooth down the road. I met the fella who bought this truck from NASA in 1974 in Florida. He is now 90 years old and hadn't been able to handle it for some time. I'll try to post a pic of it soon.
Dan

[special-K]

Hey Dan,welcome to the site from Mt. Airy. I can't wait to see pictures. I hope to see it around in person sometime. The long Stepsides are right uncommon,really. I really like them for a great example of just a good ole pickup. More traditional than a Fleetside,as far as the good old days go.

[da-burb]

If you can believe the latest Hemming's Motor News article they state 18,179 long step C10's were made compared to 268,233 LB fleets, 54,211 SB fleets, and 49,147 SB steps.
They didn't mention any of the 4x4's. By 71-72 they only made 7,xxx each year of that body style.

Welcome to the board and enjoy your uniqueness.

[Tinsmith9]

Thanks guys! Judging from your indivdual inventories you are both "into" trucks. I have been called "unique" before owning this truck so I guess I'd better get prepared huh? It's not a show truck by any stretch, but folks are suprised to see me hauling brush, etc with it and I just tell them that's why I got it.
Dan

[custom1970]

Man if you could prove that NASA part that would be pretty neat. IMO that truck would look amazing if restored back to how it would have looked back when it was a NASA truck. Don't know about in Maryland, but down here i believe that would add a lot of $$ to value of the truck

My poor attempt at showing what it's look like...

[RenoKeene]

Welcome from Central Florida! Need pics....does it still have the NASA logo's on it? The cape used a lot of our trucks thru the years. I actually considered doing a tribute truck at one time.
Check this pic out (no hijack intended)...anybody ever seen one of these "two-way cabs"

[custom1970]

Not trying to hijack your thread, and maybe it's a Florida thing, but a NASA tribute truck would be really cool.... I tried to find a pic of an old NASA truck but didn't have any luck. I'm going to miss walking outside and watching the Space Shuttle go off.... or having the sonic boom wake us up early in the morning when it'd land

Be interesting to lightly sand through the old paint to see what was there....

Brad, we'll have to keep our eyes out, you know there has to be some of those old NASA trucks around here somewhere

[CParnell]

If that is a NASA truck, that is way cool. Now we need pics!!!

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by custom1970

Not trying to hijack your thread, and maybe it's a Florida thing, but a NASA tribute truck would be really cool.... I tried to find a pic of an old NASA truck but didn't have any luck. I'm going to miss walking outside and watching the Space Shuttle go off.... or having the sonic boom wake us up early in the morning when it'd land

Be interesting to lightly sand through the old paint to see what was there....

Brad, we'll have to keep our eyes out, you know there has to be some of those old NASA trucks around here somewhere

Dave, if you spy one for sale please let me know, I've been looking for a while with no luck.
Now....how about those pics

[Tinsmith9]

Thanks for the interest guys. First of all you are dealing with a computer Neanderthal, just so you know. Having trouble posting the only pic I have and we are leaving shortly for KY for the weekend so it'll have to wait til next week. Sorry.

I haven't been able to find any kind of markings on the truck related to NASA and don't think I will. It had been recently repainted unfortunately because it was an Earl Shieb job. The main thing I was looking for was a sound truck mechanically and body wise and I think I got one. $5900

I figure the paint will do for a couple years or so and by then all the incidental things should be corrected. My "old school" mechanic friend thinks I did well (got lucky). I'm not really a car/truck guy but have a clue and have been looking for a couple years. Been to the Carlisle car shows and couldn't touch anything even close to this truck for 12-14K. I wish this truck hadn't been painted, but, oh well, it runs great and puts a smile on my face.

Thanks again for the welcome and I'll get the pic up ASAP. Have a great holiday weekend!
Dan
Dan

[custom1970]

Ok, but you know we're not lettin up on the NASA deal..lol
Posted via Mobile Device

[Tinsmith9]

OK guys, here is the pic I have of the truck. I'm with the family for the weekend in KY and lots of computer brain power here. I don't know what to add about the NASA connection, but I can probably get ahold of the previous owner at some point. As I said, I have been all over the truck and haven't seen any evidence. Thanks again for all your interest and input.
Dan

[GRX]

Welcome to the forum

Nice truck! I like the old school wheels & caps. Yours is almost exactly like mine (one in my signature) except for the 4-speed. Mine is a North Carolina farm truck survivor. Still have the original NC farm truck licence plates. It sat in a barn forgotten for 25 years. Long bed steppers are the only way to go in my opinion. Cannot stand SWB's.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by da-burb

If you can believe the latest Hemming's Motor News article they state 18,179 long step C10's were made compared to 268,233 LB fleets, 54,211 SB fleets, and 49,147 SB steps.
They didn't mention any of the 4x4's. By 71-72 they only made 7,xxx each year of that body style.

Welcome to the board and enjoy your uniqueness.

Interesting numbers. Seems consistent with what I've seen. LB steppers like ours are indeed pretty rare. And so is the side mounted spare. The cut out fender is not being reproduced. A lot of people don't like it. But I think it makes the truck.

[Tinkermc]

you could do a title search through DMV and lock it in that way, Reno K. that truck was built for people who can't back up!!!

[wilbilt]

I had a '56 long step many years ago. I loved that truck.

[Tinsmith9]

I also like the fender mount tire. Never had that on any of the farm trucks and always had the spare in the bed which was in the way. I hope over time to get everything repaired and in working order. But I am having fun just using it to haul stuff!
Dan

[special-K]

Maybe it's from down at Goodard Space Flight Center near Beltsville,MD. When I lived on Daysville Rd. I had a 3/4t longbed '69 Dodge Power Wagon. Maybe you saw it around 1977-82.

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Welcome from Central Florida! Need pics....does it still have the NASA logo's on it? The cape used a lot of our trucks thru the years. I actually considered doing a tribute truck at one time.
Check this pic out (no hijack intended)...anybody ever seen one of these "two-way cabs"

Yeah,there was one up in Littlestown (PA) for a long time and I thought a lot about trying to buy it.

[Tinsmith9]

special-K, Nope this truck was from Florida for sure. Didn't catch way back cause I didn't come here until 87. My buddy up in NY has a mid 50's power wagon. What a beast!
Dan

[tommys72]

nice truck, ill try to catch up with you sometime, my wife is from thurmont. we get up that way every couple months or so

Tom

[special-K]

Dang,we should have a gathering sometime when you come up. Plenty of places to gather and EAT!