Words & Photos: Tommy Parry

With an incredible amount of patina and rust, this ‘64 C-10 started its build process with what some might generously describe as “character.” However, even with years of dust on the dash, flat tires, and some probable rust damage, Irwin saw the potential in this Chevy and pushed forward.

The build was, for a number of reasons, put on the back burner, so Irwin wisely covered the C-10 in a coat of black primer to keep the weather from having much of a negative effect. At that point, he decided that the truck would get a silver and black treatment from the paint shop, keeping it sinister, yet simple.

However, that coat could only have a superficial effect; the floor and tank were completely corroded.

With all that rust damage motivating him to improve and prevent any further headache, Irwin bought a poly tank for a ‘49-‘52 Chevy Styleline/Fleetline and completely overhauled the rear suspension. After a simple, five-lug swap, new spindles, outer tie rods and ball joints were thrown on, and while he was at it, he added a new steering box and power steering.

Next up on the to-do list: the motor. Irwin pulled the Chevy 327 and updated the transmission by chucking the aging Turbo 400 and bolting in a 700-R4. With a coat of silver paint, the powerplant looked the part within the color scheme.

To make the new rear end – one from a 1984 Chevy truck – work with a three-link setup, Irwin opted for a panhard bar from Summit Racing. The shocks received a coat of red paint, but despite their color, they would be near-impossible to notice against the stunning paint job the rest of the truck would receive.

With a new set of rear fenders, some bondo, a coat of primer and a little Rustoleum, the C-10 was ready for its final coat. With two stages of paint, Irwin sectioned off the relevant parts and doused it in midnight black before topping the roof with silver. The result was impressive, and certainly forty dollars well-spent.

After ditching the 20” rims, Irwin picked up a set of 15” polished wheels which, though arguably less “bling,” have a much more purposeful look that suits the subdued appearance of the Chevy. A re-welding of the axle saddles and new transmission mounts came next; Irwin realized just how punchy the motor was the hard way.

With the interior cleaned up, Irwin added a rally wheel, some simple gray carpet from Home Depot, a new gauge cluster and a tach mounted to the steering column. Simple, purposeful, comfortable and yet very exciting, it seems the interior complemented the exterior.

And with that, all that was left was a little bit of flair – a little color. A set of red steelies help draw the eye to the subdued machine, which many will say is too pretty to be considered a real “rat.” However, Irwin knows full-well that beneath the polished exterior are plenty of dings and bumps that a seasoned, well-traveled truck like this ought to have.