Chevy K10 Pickup Is Built to Be a Perfect Cruiser
A lifelong passion for GM cars led this K10 owner to seek out an imperfect K10 pickup specifically for its paint.
As enthusiasts, we all like our vehicles for a particular reason. Most of the time it’s because of the power it makes, or the capabilities it has. Nick Dressler likes his truck because of the paint. With a soft spot for vehicles that pre-date himself, Dressler bought the K10 you see here. That soft spot was developed through memories of a ’72 Pontiac LeMans, a ’68 Malibu and Dressler’s own 1980 Camaro. That Camaro happened to be the same brown as this K10, and emotions made this very much an impulse buy.
When purchased back in 2019, this K10 was a field-find. But while barns typically protect the finish, the brown paint on this Chevy was left to bake away in the sun, leaving a perfectly aged patina. Dressler had to have it, according to our friends at LS1Tech and OffRoadExtreme.
Where Dressler’s build differs from most is that he didn’t want it built to extremes. He just wants it better. Which is why he picked an LQ4. That was a great idea till it hydrolocked from a sticky injector. And so he put another one in, but with the assistance of a place called Skip’s Machine Shop. That motor now makes 413 horses, and makes things a bit easier, especially when it comes to the 35 inch tires and the truck’s overall heft.
It still doesn’t take away the fact that it’s a K10. Highway driving? According to Dressler, “it feels like a school bus with a flat sign on the top catching the wind.” A steering box and 35″ tires will do that…
Still, the reliability of the car is the strongest appeal. Hop in, know it’ll start. Know it’ll have the power reserves when you need it. And go anywhere your heart desires with that added LQ4 grunt. It’s refreshing to see one of these builds as opposed to the four-digit monsters. Yes they are impressive, but they are a beast of burden to live with. This K10? You can park it outside without guilt. It’s not going to hurt the paint.
Photos courtesy of LS1Tech
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