1970s Chevrolet C20 (Chevy C/K) - the best classic American pick up truck?

Thank you to Tom from ‪@TemptingFateTours‬ team for lending me your pick up - you're the best! Give these guys a follow if you can! If you picked up an advertising brochure for a Chevy truck like this in 1972 you’d see the front of the marketing material proudly boast - chevy trucks are built to last and priced to go - right now! I don’t think i’ve ever seen a more confident and brash sales pitch and I love it, as did the buying public, because by this point in the vehicles lifecycle, the second generation was coming to an end and the third generation was looming - there really was no stopping these. And built to last it really was, with standard front disc brakes, tough double-wall construction which is perfect for the end user who will batter and bruise their truck in a tough working environment, massice girder beam independent front suspension and best of all for the buyer with a mindset of making things last, a proven track record. The exhaust is also fully aluminium with a view to it never rusting and the rear brake lines are steel wire wrapped around critical points to help guard against impact damage. A brochure of the time proudly informs me that 55% of Chevy’s trucks from 1956 are still in use - putting their vehicle lifespan at a better average than every other manufacturer in America at the time. Interestingly even now, Hagerty reckons this is one of the most popular and reliable of the classic pick ups and is also seen as the turning point for the trucks, because it’s when Chevy start adding in the ’nice to haves’ modern conveniences and comfort options - unlike companies like Ford who still had that mindset as we had in Great Britain that a workhorse was a workhorse - no frills needed. In terms of your pick ups, the 1972 brochure states there are 16 different choices and there are Fleetsides in three different wheelbases, stepsides, chassis cabs, stake trucks. Two wheel drive, four wheel drive. you can add in a slide or a shell camper; you essentially build a holiday home on wheels. The idea was simple: Chevy had an enviable selection of models with available equipment to suit the needs of the majority. The public loved it - so much so in fact that if you look at production numbers for these they are churning out hundreds of thousands a year with 1969 the best year for this particular generation of the truck whereby 400,000 were built. 1972, the year of this truck isn’t far behind though; 390,000 were made! This particular example is fitted with one of Chevy’s best selling engines - the small block 350 - a 5.7 litre V8 engine which GM had only brought to market a few years prior in 1967. The greatest thing about buying into one of these engines, is they’re actually one of the most popular engines of all time, especially in America, so if somerthing goes wrong you can be sure you’ll find somebody nearby with the skills to get it sorted or swap it out. The engine on this is paired with the 3 speed auto - the 3 Speed THM-350 Automatic and the car has been fitted with the Highlander package; which we discuss later in the video. The truck was replaced by the C/K third generation which then ran until 1991. Today there are still thousands of these marching on proudly, so if you’re watching this video and getting the urge, it’s definitely possible to get one of your own!