Chris and Jenn Powell aren't like most young 20-something married couples these days. They each have their own '67-72 C-10 classic truck that gets used for daily duty no matter rain, shine, or even snow, which they see quite a bit of living just north of Denver, Colorado.
Jenn's '69 started out as a $1,000 "find" in the local paper back in 2002. It had been relegated to bad winter weather service when everyone else on the road would be slipping and sliding on the snow and ice. Believe it or not, Jenn fell in love with the longbed and its 350, four-speed, rusted rockers, wrinkled fender, Isuzu wheels, house carpet, trailer mirrors, oversized rear bumper, and rattle-can paintjob. Basically, the kind of truck that would land most of us guys in the doghouse if we drug it home, but Jenn was pleased as punch.
Over the next couple of years the truck would slowly evolve as Jenn racked up the miles. The "upgrades" the truck received on the farm were eventually reversed-Jenn even began to learn to weld using the old beat-up bed as a scratchpad, if you will, before it was swapped out with a cherry example. The fenders and hood eventually got the boot for better pieces, and after the rocker replacement, Jenn had her truck just about ready for paint-of sorts. The truck was flat black when she got it, and despite the fact that it was in much better shape now, she wanted to stay with suede.
Soon, Jenn replaced the Isuzu wheels with a set of Rallye wheels she had powdercoated apple green for some needed contrast. She also installed new dark green carpet, homemade door and kick panels, door and window cranks from a '50s Chevy car, a '65 Chevelle steering wheel, and eventually swapped out or painted the rest of the interior items for matching dark green pieces. Her grandpa gave her a Mexican blanket for the seat, and pretty soon the truck was looking sharp after all these years. But the big surprise came for her birthday from her closest friends. They pitched in and had her doors lettered with the logo for her business-the '69 was now officially a shop truck.
Unfortunately, engine trouble would soon plague the C-10 after Chris replaced the worn-out small-block with one that was said to be "good to go." Well, it wasn't, and after a good amount of time, money, and work, they got an engine from good friend Ben Hawkins, and the 350 is still running strong today.
Eventually, Chris and Jenn found a shortbed frame that she and friend Brett Heddington had to dig out of the snow to bring home. Through another stroke of luck they happened upon a nice bed about 100 miles away. As Jenn puts it, she "lured" a group of friends over one night with dinner and had everyone help swap the old cab and new bed onto the shortbed frame-that was a glorious sight for her and Chris after all those years. Jenn says she's still driving the "snot" out of the C-10 and wouldn't have it any other way-and neither would we!