1963 Chevy truck update
I’ve now taken ownership of the great white beast. I have to say I’m pretty happy with the purchase. I’ve bought plenty of old cars from second and third owners (my Giulia Super was still in the same family, and lived barely 10 miles from where it was first sold), but until now had never had the experience of buying from an original owner.
Wayne, the original owner
In addition to the knowledge that an original owner has about the car, there’s a lot to be said for the emotional appeal of a car that’s been a very real part of a family. Wayne’s daughter, who was 2 years old when dad bought the car said, “you’re buying my life.” Maybe it’s silly, but it kinda makes you want to take extra special care of something when its walls have that many stories in them.
Now, driving this thing was easier than I would have thought. It’s a crazy long vehicle but the wheelbase is more or less standard for a big truck. I was able to do a couple of tight U-turns without much extra effort. The steering (no power-assist) is geared very high.
Shifting with the 3-on-the-tree is also a vintage exercise; there’s no going into first gear unless you’re at a full and complete stop, and any notion of ’synchro’ after that is still just a notion. Otherwise, the 350 pushes the truck along easily and smoothly. It was pushing 100 in Concord when I left, and the temp gauge barely budged as I charged up the hill on highway 24 going an easy 65 mph.
Dash, with 3-on-tree shifter
Once home, I spent the better part of the afternoon washing the truck. The square-footage of washable surface is quite a bit greater than on any of my other cars, and most other cars on the road other than schoolbuses and semis. It cleaned up nicely and the closer inspection gave me a good sense of what was needed in the shorter term (not much: a couple of cracked lenses and new wiper arms and blades).
A few more pics for the curious:
The distinctive rear end, shared with Suburbans of the same vintage. Commercial plates.
The cargo area is truly a cave, almost all of which utilizable. I kept one square of carpet from the dozen or so that the original owner (a carpet installer) had left in the cab.
One look and you know it's a Chevy. 1963 was the last year of the huge wrap-around windscreen, which makes me glad this isn't a 1964 model. Radio is from a 60s Oldsmobile, and doesn't seem to work.
The Owners Manual, in some kind of original Chevy plastic envelope.
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Add a 2-wheel dolly and a trailer hitch and you’ll be every car nut’s best friend.
May 26th, 2009 at 12:07 am
I thought he already WAS every car nuts best friend.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
IM TOO AN OWNER OF A 63 CHEVY PANEL THAT I INHERITED FROM MY DAD.A FEW YEARS AGO MY DAD PAST AWAY BUT 2 YEARS BEFORE THAT HE GAVE ME THIS VEHICULE AND MADE ME PROMISS THAT I WOULD NEVER SELL IT CAUSE HE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND KEPT IT ALL THIS YEARS.HE ONLY USED IT TO GO FISHING AND A TRIP TO THE DUMP ONES AMONTH IM VERY PROUD OF IT.I HAD MANY OFFERS BUT TO ME IS WORTH A WHOLE ALOT MORE THAN MONEY
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
i have a 63 chevy 2 door C30 and i was wondering how many C30 were made. mine origanally was a school bus. then the fire department had it . now i have had it for five years .