looking for opinions

[denverslim]

I bought this C-20, '66 LW bed from a Craigslist ad here a couple of months ago. It is really an original one owner truck. (I bought it from the original owners son, Jr has no interest in it and has stored it in his garage for a year).
The truck is the camper special and has had an overhead camper on it most of it's life, pretty much protecting the wood bed. The bed has faded a little is mostly intact, with a few splinters. The paint is original, a bit chalky as you would expect, the stainless trim has a few small dings, the bumpers are in very nice shape.
There are a couple of rust spots, most notable behind each front fender (about 3-4 inches around) and in a few other areas to a smaller degree.
88,000 miles are on the odometer, I have no reason to doubt this as being true. The truck runs well, does not smoke, uses very little if any oil.
The protector plate is in the glove box, along side of the operators manual, also a 60's windshield scraper with an ad from a local insurance co.

Initially, when I went out looking for a '65 or '66, I had planned on doing some minor upgrades to make it a better driver, maybe give a clean paint job, maybe duel exhaust, some wheel upgrades, just moderate changes etc. I am now having second thoughts. Should I restore it? Leave it alone? Keep it stock?
Without starting a big argument among the group, what are some ideas on which way to go. Looking seriously at consensus as I am right on the fence. Slim

[Chevy Fleetside]

I wouldn't paint that truck. Clean it up a bit and drive it. You might want to upgrade brakes and such if they are scary. It might be nice to source some wheels and get rid of those split rims but the hub caps are cool. Would love to see more pictures if you could take some.

[TJ's Chevy]

I'd clean it, tune the engine, make sure the suspension and brakes are either restored or working properly and Drive it. Camper specials are not seen everyday so it would be a shame to ruin one by chopping, lowering or modifying. If you really wanted to do that I'd sell this one and find another. Just my opinion.

[The Rocknrod]

That's what I'm sayin.

[oem4me]

What you have now is far less common (and in my opinion more interesting) than what you'll end up with if you go the upgrade and restore route. True, brakes are important and are arguably a forgivable improvement, but if sorted properly, the original system will stop the truck well enough.
Examine the paint closely. If indeed it still has original paint, by all means save it. The original enamel on these trucks usually cleans up quite well if done right. I can tell you it has had some touch up though. At least the red side stripe and tailgate letters are redone. Originally, the side stripe was white, and the letters were black.
Please post more pics of this very cool truck, and let's also see the glove box sticker if it's still there. Thanks for posting!

[LostMy65]

I say do what needs to be done first.
Then, only take small bites at a time.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=Proper

[old cruiser]

As others have said brakes and suspension make it safe but leave it otherwise stock.
In saying that , it's your truck you can do what ever you like and what ever makes you happy.

[shp4man]

Just repair what needs repairing and leave it original. Damn nice truck!

[spacedebris]

Just my $.o2 worth. (probably overpriced at that LOL)

I'll echo some of what has been posted above. Dont mess with a really nice camper special survivor. Clean it and do some general maintenance and make is safe to drive then leave it alone.

Now personally I'm a fan of resto-mods. I like classic looks with modern performance. However some trucks demand to be left alone. With so many people looking and hoping for a nice "survivor" type of truck this one looks too good to mess with. If you want an older driver, fix and drive. If you are looking for something to modify and enjoy, I'd take this and sell to someone that is dreaming about this kind of truck and envious of your luck. Then find either a project that is on its way to what you like or find one that that needs to be made better. So many trucks you can look at just scream to be upgraded. This one however is screaming to be left alone.

[franken]

Brakes
Change all fluids (more than you may think).
Inspect and rebuild the front end.
Replace bushings, etc. in the rear.
New tires.
Fix the wiring.
Fix oil leaks and pressure wash.

After all that, you can worry about cosmetics...

[denverslim]

I am attaching some more pictures of the truck and it's contents. I am coming of the feeling it is really too damn original to modify. I'll clean it up, arrest the few rust areas, go completely through the mechanicals and drive it.
It was sold from Edwards Chevrolet in Greeley Colorado on 9-21-1965. The owner moved to Kansas shortly after the sale and the truck stayed in Kansas until a little over a year ago.

Interesting enough, oem4me, you are spot on with the paint. I bought the truck from the original owner's son. He told me his dad thought the truck was "just too white" when he bought it and talked the dealer into painting the area between the side stainless and the tailgate lettering red. It has been like this since the day he bought it.

The interior is very nice with the wear you would expect from someone riding in the seat (a sixties non-smoker, a rare breed) for 88k miles. There is a '60's style labeling sticker on the ashtray that says, "No Smoking", and I think he meant it! The man had pride in and took good care of his truck. The seat and steering wheel are both covered I have not inspected underneath the covering.

The jack and lug wrench under the seat look like they have not been used and is tucked down properly in the carrier.

The plate next to the left kick panel is very much intact and fully readable.

The Owners Guide booklet and the "protect-o-plate booklet was in the very clean glovebox, all in the original plastic folder.
Also there was a pretty cute little plastic credit-card sized, pink, windshield scraper what looks like the totally unused ashtray in the dash. Text on the card is an ad for the Oberlin Ins Co out of Oberlin, Ks.

The pictures are not the best quality, I have been too busy with other projects to get the truck out of the garage much. A couple of things he did was to weld a bumper hitch under the rear bumper. The "required" gun rack is attached in front of the rear window. The older "west coast" mirrors are pretty dated also. I can see where he has changed his mind a time or two with the mirrors and screw holes are still apparent.
slim...

[denverslim]

Thanks for your interest, Fellows. You have inspired mine. I can get more info or pictures if wanted. Slim...

[mongocanfly]

I'd give a opinion but its been covered already. ..make it safe and drive drive drive...

[LostMy65]

Spectacular!

[Clyde65]

I too would make her safe, clean and drive her!

[Brad54]

Yeah, I'm gonna go with the consensus here and say "clean it up and preserve it."
As someone else said, definitely check to see if the paint is in fact original. If it isn't, then "preserving" becomes a lot less of an issue. At that point, restore-as-you-go for things. Repaint the bed wood, repair any rust, etc.

It's a FANTASTIC starting point!

I know a lot of guys will disagree with me on this, but I don't care: add a dual reservoir master cylinder to the brake system. And I'll also head this off at the pass, too: It doesn't matter if you go through and restore the original brake system with all new parts, new lines, etc. etc.: If you blow a rear wheel cylinder like I did on my '54 Buick a couple months after replacing EVERYTHING, including the wheel cylinder that blew, you will not be able to stop the truck... and that includes standing on the parking brake, and slamming the trans into 1st. When one rear drum is hosed with DOT3, you aren't stopping it in anything short of a football field at 45mph.

Even a lot of show car organizations will forgive a dual reservoir added to a car in the Original Class, along with the addition of seat belts.

I'd be real interested to see what the original camper looked like, if you've still got it.

-Brad

['63GENIII]

Im also a restomod kind of guy. Everything I own gets "touched". Fuel injection, disc brakes, blah, blah blah. Everyone's doing it. That Camper Special would make me insane if it were mine.

That said, I wouldn't be able to do anything other than clean and drive it in good conscience . Its just too unique in the age of bags, LS swaps, notches that we see one that is pretty much the way they came. Cool factor of 11 in my book.

Seriously though, that truck was looking for someone to take care of it like the original owner did. I think its cool that the old guy had the dealer put some custom paint on it. Try doing that at a dealer these days!

Enjoy the truck. Please post more pics.

[oem4me]

Your truck's twin .... well, close anyway.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...439322&page=23

[bj383ss]

What an awesome truck. I agree with consensus. As 63GENIII said all you see is bagged trucks with everything cut up and $20,000 worth of suspension crap welded on the original frame and no usable bed. When you get a chance how about pictures from under the hood.

Bret

[65chevysub]

As said several times above. Safety items such as brakes, fluids etc, then leave stock. I wish my 65 Suburban was more stock, but I am leaving the body stock looking even if the drivetrain isn't. Great looking truck.

[denverslim]

oem4me, great truck! Looks like I could learn some tips from you!

[TJ's Chevy]

Does it have a 327?

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by denverslim

oem4me, great truck! Looks like I could learn some tips from you!

We all learn from each other! There are quite a few really knowledgeable members here who contribute priceless information on various aspects of our trucks. One thing that gets those experts excited is when a quality fresh find hits the board. That's where you are now!
You can enjoy the attention just as much as we enjoy your story and pictures. No doubt there is lots to learn for you and all of us about this one.

Side note: Your pickup appears to be a C20, and may have been equipped to carry a camper from day one, but for some reason was not ordered from the factory as a "Custom Camper". This was an option (RPO Z81) that came with a host of goodies and included a special side emblem. Sometimes very little separates a true CC from a similarly equipped C20. Your truck may even be more highly optioned, but apparently that Z81 option code was not checked off on the order sheet. If the SPID sheet (list of factory options as built) is still attached to the inside of the glove box door, that would tell some of the story.

[studeclunker]

Great looking truck! Hope you enjoy the heck out of it!

[rvrfoot]

We all say this all the time. Make it roadworthy then enjoy it.