Ok so I have been looking for a new project lately and I was lucky enough to stumble across this one owner 1970 short step-side in original paint. I bought this truck from Sandra Appelt who was married to the original owner, Howard Appelt. Sandra was awesome and explained the story of the truck to me.
Sandra told me Howard purchased the truck from the dealership (McRobert Chev Inc. out of Houston, TX) that he worked at. Sandra had the original title (which I had to sign and give to DPS unfortunately) that shows the dealership as the original owner and the proctecto plate showing Howard as the original owner!!!! This was very helpful because the title shows being signed in 1973, so i assume that it is a truck that sat on the lot for a while before being sold. Sandra was sure the truck was new when Howard purchased it. I have not done more research, but I assume since the protecto plate shows Howard Appelt, then he is the original owner (maybe someone who knows more about this can chime in).
Sandra was even nice enough to throw in the original service books with the truck, unfortunately the original plates are long gone. This truck was originally a 350/3 speed with a tach cluster all of which are still in the truck. The motor is now scrap iron due to it sitting with the heads off for the last 10-20 years (completely rusted in the cylinder walls).
Howard really enjoyed his accessories, so the truck is equipped with spot lights, fog lights, cb equipment (actual cb radio is missing), auxiliary gauges/tach, bed cover, air shocks and more. The original color is light yellow according to the glove-box. The truck also has the original glass (soft-ray) and the glove box advised it is tinted (I can't really see the tint but does have a light green tint on the glass which I believe is correct). The original full foam bench seat is present and still in decent shape.
Unfortunately the cab is completely rusted out. The rockers are completely gone as well as the top of the cab around the windshield, cab corners and very light rust beginning on the firewall.
This is very unfortunate because even the doors are original with the vin still attached to the driver's door and striker plate on the cab.
Since the motor, transmission, cab, and doors are gone I am going to do a fuel injected 2009 LY6/6L90 build.
And here is what everyone is waiting for....pictures!