Extremely clean early Action Line pickup. L30 327 with 4-speed manual transmission. Recent paint and interior. New oak bed floor, fresh Cragar wheels and new tires, upgraded radio. Runs and drives very well, no issues, ready to have fun this summer!

Chevy was perhaps the first truck maker to realize that people used their pickups for things other than moving stuff all the time. The Action Line series was specifically designed to be as comfortable commuting to the office as it was on the job site. Perhaps that’s why they remain some of the most popular trucks on the market today—good looks, great road manners, and infinite possibilities thanks to a vast aftermarket that sprang up to support them. This 1968 Chevrolet C20 gets everything right, starting with its handsome good looks. The paint is pretty close to Camaro Hugger Orange and it works just as well here as it does on low-slung muscle cars. The angular Action Line styling has aged quite well and many enthusiasts regard the early trucks as the most attractive thanks to their lower hood and simpler grille. You’ll note that the bodywork is quite well done, with super straight sheetmetal and good gaps all around, suggesting that someone spent the extra time and money to get it right. The grille is painted off-white, as is traditional with vintage pickups, and the wood floor in the bed is new. It also carries bright stainless trim along the fender arches, a white pinstripe, and clean-looking chrome bumpers that enhance the styling rather than the job performance. That’s OK, because this truck’s hauling days are probably over anyway.

Inside there’s a nicely restored passenger compartment with a new seat cover, fresh door panels, and durable black carpets in place of the original rubber mat. The gauges in these trucks are some of the most attractive ever put into a production vehicle, and they’re all operational here. Adding to the fun is a 4-speed manual transmission that shifts easily and makes this truck more fun to drive than you’d expect. There’s also an upgraded Retro-Sound digital radio that does a pretty good impersonation of the original unit, so everything blends together quite nicely. Even the door panels were replaced, giving it a polished look that’s out of character for trucks in this price range. The sliding rear window provides great ventilation without a lot of turbulence and seat belts are fitted for safety.

The engine is a smooth and torquey L30 327 cubic inch V8. Rated at 240 horsepower and 330 pounds of torque, it makes for an entertaining package in the relatively lightweight C20. It’s nicely detailed with a coat of Chevy Orange engine enamel, factory air cleaner, and “ram’s horn” exhaust manifolds, so it looks right under the hood. There’s also a big, new radiator up front, a 4-barrel carburetor for performance, and both power steering and power brakes are part of the package. It starts easily, runs surprisingly smoothly, and pulls the big orange truck around without ever seeming to work very hard. The 4-speed manual gearbox deserves some of the credit here, along with the 4.10 gears out back that make it feel punchy around town. The independent front suspension makes for a surprisingly car-like ride, even in the 3/4-ton C20, and coil springs in back were a big step forward when it comes to comfort. You’ll note that the cab floor, cab corners, and outer rockers are in excellent condition and the exhaust system with side exits has just the right V8 sound. It sits on recent chrome Cragar wheels and 245/75/16 radials that fill the fenders perfectly.

Documentation includes the original owner’s manual and a manual for the aftermarket radio.

The more we look at it (and drive it!), the more we like this pickup. It’s still practical if you need to do a little work around the house, but it’s also welcome at the local cars and coffee shows where it’ll surely be a big hit. The 4-speed makes for an entertaining driving experience that’s a bit different than your usual Action Line pickup, and that strong 327 makes it feel like a Camaro with a bed. If you like it as much as we do, give us a call and we’ll tell you all about it.

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.