Bob Bernstel's 1965 Chevrolet C-10 Short-Bed Pick-up Truck

It had been recently painted a beautiful orange color and it looked really good.

The silver paint and ghost flames were added in 2012.  My color choice was Smoke Silver from Mercedes Benz.

This vehicle was initially titled in the state of New Jersey and then it was titled in the state of Pennsylvania in 1988.

I purchased it July 1997 – to be used as a “farm” vehicle.  It had been recently painted a beautiful orange color and it looked really good. (see below)

However many areas of the body needed extensive repair.

Once I had a chance to give the truck a thorough inspection I found that there were many areas of the body that needed extensive repair.   It was at this time that I decided to convert it to a Street Rod, so I met with a retired body man to begin the conversion.  I designed changing the hood-mounted turn signal lights where they now are “frenched” and the “vent” openings are much smaller.  The bed of the truck was changed to eliminate the rails, boxing them into the body above the fenders.  I then had the rear bumper molded into the bed body and added “frenched” ’59 Caddie bullit tail lights.

The gas tank was removed from behind the seat in the cab and a new one was placed under the pick-up bed where the spare tire was located.

I removed the “tacky” plastic instrument panel and replaced it with a full complement of gauges.  

The bench seat was then replaced with buckets.  

The engine conversion only lasted until the fuel mixture washed out the lower bearings.  So, the truck sat in my Pennsylvania garage for several years until I finally broke down and bought a small block V8

and had it dropped it in to power the 4-speed manual transmission.  

The original “6” was tired, so I found a suitable replacement 235 “6” and had it completely re-built with all new interior workings including a “hot” cam and oversized pistons.  

Carburetion was through three One-barrels.  Also added were dual exhaust manifolds which added a mellow rumble on the street.

I don’t consider my ’65 to be anywhere near “vintage” with all the changes I’ve made.  

It isn’t a fully customized Street Rod either.  I guess you could call it a “tweener”    

Even though the truck isn’t near complete – it is fun to drive.

The truck moved to Florida with Jennie and me in 2014.

The rear bumper molded into the bed body and the added “frenched” ’59 Caddie bullit tail lights.

I designed changing the hood-mounted turn signal lights where they now are “frenched” and the “vent” openings are much smaller.