Today on Shitbox Showdown, it’s truck versus truck as we look at two beat-up stuff-haulers, and decide which one is the better motorized pack mule. But first let’s see how yesterday’s Chrysler K-cars fared:
The wagon has it, it seems. And it also seems everyone has a K-car story; those little boxes were such a huge part of the American vehicular landscape for so long that it was almost impossible to avoid them. Thanks all for the votes, and the memories!
These days, love ’em or hate ’em, Americans drive trucks. They’re everywhere. Ford sells more than 2,000 trucks per day on average alone, and its competitors aren’t far behind. And it seems like the machines get bigger and tougher-looking every year, while growing more soft and luxurious on the inside. Owners love to personalize them with all sorts of heavy-duty bric-a-brac, and increasingly inappropriate wheels and tires, in an attempt to say… well, honestly I’m still not sure what they’re trying to say. “I really love black powdercoating,” maybe, or “I can order from an accessories catalog like nobody’s business.”
But then there are other trucks, and you know them when you see them, that make a different, quieter statement about their owners: “I do stuff. I own furniture that I made. I’ve used a tile saw. I have different hammers for different purposes. I know how to wire a three-way light circuit and calculate board-feet of lumber. Now, if you’ll excuse me, that new half-wall in the living room isn’t going to sheetrock itself…”
Let’s look at two such wonderful workhorses now.
1977 Chevrolet C20 “Camper Special – $2,000
Engine/drivetrain: 350 cubic-inch V8, 3 speed automatic, RWD
Location: Amboy, WA
Odometer reading: 168,0000
Runs/drives? Runs well, according to the seller
Ironically, this truck was not built for work at all. It’s a “Camper Special,” a 3/4 ton truck outfitted and optioned specifically to be used with a slide-in camper. The package added an extra 6″ of bed length over a standard 8 foot bed, a wiring harness for the camper, heavy-duty suspension bits including a thicker front stabilizer and, on this truck anyway, air shocks (which are said to work just fine). It’s powered by the same small-block/Turbo-Hydramatic combination that has provided motivation for everything from sedans to hot rods to box trucks. It’s good, proven stuff.
You also get this sweet “Camper Special” badge:
This truck appears to be doing retirement backwards, however, and now that its campground days are done, it has been put to work, as witnessed by the trash can and bits of greenery in the bed.
Cosmetically and creature-comfort wise, it’s less than ideal, with some damage to the interior (sadly not shown in pictures), which has apparently been mistaken by mice for a public toilet. (Though how the seller determined that it’s specifically mouse urine I’m not sure. Were there chemical tests involved?). “Keep in mind this truck is very photogenic,” the seller writes. “Keep your expectations low.”
(As a quick aside, back when I drove my own beat-up Chevy truck to work daily, it was twice the backdrop for an impromptu amateur modeling photography session. I’d look out the window and see some trendily-dressed ingenue leaning against the side of the bed, while a wanna-be Mapplethorpe snapped pictures of her. The second time it happened, I went out and unlocked it for them so they could take photos with the girl at the wheel. “I just love the texture of this thing,” the photographer said. I just smiled.)
Despite the rodent issues, with all the heavy-duty stuff, an apparently clean bill of health mechanically, and that sweet orange and white two-tone job, this looks like an awesome rig to pull up to the lumber yard in. But let’s look at its competition before we make any decisions.
1993 Ford F-150 XL – $2,150
Engine/drivetrain: 300 cubic inch inline 6, 5 speed manual, RWD
Location: Federal Way, WA
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Runs/drives? Like a top, if the seller is to be believed
If there is such a thing as a “default pickup truck,” this is it. Ford’s classic F-series, from arguably its best era. Built like a tank and mechanically simple, with Ford’s clever “Twin I-Beam” front suspension and an inline six that is the stuff of legends, this is all the truck you ever really need. By 1993, the six was fuel-injected for improved drivability and slightly better mileage (though it’s still a thirsty beast), and the rest of the truck had been in production so long that pretty much all the bugs were worked out. This one has the Mazda-built five speed manual behind it, which, while it’s no Miata gearbox, is easier to live with than some trucks’ transmissions.
The seller = makes a point of how ugly the truck is, which I suppose is a point of pride for a work truck — that “texture” again. Honestly, it doesn’t look too bad to me. It’s dull and faded, and there’s a painted-over logo on the driver’s door that indicates it used to be part of a fleet. I’ve seen a lot worse. 
Inside it’s all work truck, with a vinyl bench seat, rubber floors, and crank windows, though apparently it does have AC, which is nice to have after a long hot day at a jobsite.
There isn’t a lot of information to go on about its mechanical condition, but these are about as complicated as an anvil, and built just about as strong. At 200k, it’s about half to two-thirds the way through its service life, from what I’ve seen of these trucks. Just treat it right, and it’ll keep doing its thing for years to come, like a good tool should.
So there they are. Two good old honest trucks, in slightly varying flavors. Which one do you want?
I really, really like the look of the old Chevy, but the mouse urine in the interior ruins it for me so I had to vote for the Ford. I’ve had to deal with the sickening mouse urine smell before in a first-gen Mazda MPV, and it took MONTHS to finally get all the smell out even after deep-cleaning every piece of cloth in the interior. For whoever decides to take on that project, the thing that finally got rid of the smell (after the deep-cleaning, of course) was lining the floor, seats, and every other flat surface of the vehicle with newspaper and ad flyers, closing it up, and leaving it for about two or three weeks. Then changing out the newsprint and doing it again. The porous paper absorbed the smell, and it was easy to clean up compared to baking soda!
People are enamored with the Chevy’s looks, but personally I don’t see it. In fact, aside from the color, I quite prefer the body panels and front grille of the Ford. Maybe if you’re ambitious or just really set on it, get a $1-2k respray to really make it a looker?
Ford all day, err day. This one’s a no-brainer.
Need a farm truck, the Chevy. Need a work truck around the ‘burbs, the Ford.
For some reasons unknown, GM trucks seem to live longer once set out pasture on the farm than Fords.
I pretty much agree here. The Ford has a more civilized/ergonomic interior than the Chevy. I would take the Ford interior over a later model GMT400 interior as well (I have had both in reg cab configuration).
The 77 has more history to it. It looks at you square in the eye and says. High gas prices? So what? I’ve seen them come and go four times in my life. Been through two recessions and stagflation too. Don’t worry about it. We got things to build. Get in and let’s go.
Change the C10 to a K10 and omit the camper option and that Chevy was the EXACT truck I had in high school. Near indestructible. If this was 4WD, I might be looking into how to ship it to myself.
This will be a close one. I would avoid the Chevy for lack of interior pics, and for the mouse damage description. If you haven’t de-moused a barn find, go ahead and tell me how fun it was…. Ford for me.
Paging David Tracy, please bring the mouse removal package!
Based on location alone I’d go with the Chevy, because I cannot think of a single good thing that has ever come out of Federal Way, WA.
In all seriousness, the square body is a steal at $2500. I sold my ’83 K10 for $1300, and it was only front wheel drive at the time and had none of the aesthetic charm of this one.
I’m consistently picking the loser. I think the Chevy would be more fun to mod than the Ford. The straight six is intriguing, but the small block is just too good to ignore. Plus an auto is really where it’s at for a truck and with enough torque, three gears is all you need.
That square body Chevy has that great ’70s pickup look….
But that Ford is just so honest and simple. My first car in ’91 was a ’81 F100 with the 300, 4speed, and the hose it out interior. When I was 16 I didn’t appreciate it nearly as much as I should have. A few years later I acquired an ’84 that was equipped the same way that I kept until 2006 when rust and old age became a major issue. This is the type of truck that every suburban dad needs for Home Depot visits and picking up a yard of mulch at the landscaping supply. It sits in the street or driveway until you need it on the weekend or one of your buddies needs to borrow it and its simple to service or repair.
I’ll take the Ford.
On looks alone I almost picked the Chevy because wow is it a looker but I couldn’t go against the F-150. If this had been C20 vs F-100 my vote would have gone C20.
I know it’s just my own seared memories but it’s hell to the naw on that F-150. My dad had a ’90 F-150 with manual trans and was on his third clutch by 50,000 miles, plus it was an absolute dog performance-wise. Admittedly this was the 302 V8 rather than the 300ci straight-6. (And before you accuse my dad of being hard on clutches, he ran manuals in a ’70 C-10, a ’77 Dodge, and an ’82 Dodge out to over 100,000 miles each and never replaced a clutch.) I hated that Ford with a passion, having had an equally irrational love for the previous two Dodges which despite being malaise-era were great trucks, and it put me off Ford pickups for years.
Plus, square-body Chevys just look really good and the Chevy would probably be worth the work to fix up. With that being said, I get the rationale of the Ford voters. The 300ci six is indeed a classic, durable engine and if that particular transmission and clutch isn’t made out of glass it will still provide many great years of service.
It’s kind of a toss up so I went with the Chevy since it has a hitch and the tires look to be in good shape. I couldn’t tell about either on the Ford.
…also those aren’t chocolate sprinkles on the Chevy’s driver’s seat.
Both would be good farm trucks/crap haulers.
I voted the Ford because manual. Otherwise both a fine for what they are.
Why do I feel like both of these would sell for 10x’s these prices at Barrett Jackson or Mecum on any given weekend?
A 6 and a manual is more work truck than a V8 and auto. That said when I was shopping for my F150 I found a loaded 93 F150 Super Cab Flareside XLT with a 300 and a 5 speed.
Damn you, Mark Tucker! Damn you to hell! A square body Chevy vs. one of the best F-150’s ever. Do you get off tormenting us with these difficult choices, you sadistic bastard?
The Chevy is a truck that I’d feel like I’d have to restore to bring it back to it’s original glory. The F-150 is just a straight workhorse truck. For that reason, I’d have to go with the Ford. You could steal use it as a beater hauler for quite some time to come. The Chevy is just too far gone for that. Whoever buys it needs to be of the mind of a full restoration or a restomod. It’s just too beautiful of a truck to let rust away to nothing.
Who said I had to make it easy?
well said; My take is similar:
If goal is fix & sell = Chevy
If goal is drive & keep = Ford
(Chevy could be a drive & keep but for the mouse piss issue )
I would buy either one. actually im buying a 77 c10 once we can drag it out of my buddies backyard. id rather buy the one you found than the one i am buying
There’s a reason Ford sells more trucks than any other US automaker sells of anything. I’ll take the F-series all day long. Also, I grew up in ranching country, where a “Ford vs Chevy” argument is a great way to ruin Thanksgiving dinner. Ultimately, for a beater truck, either of these two is a good choice. It all comes down to who you want pissed off at you on Thanksgiving, the Ford gang or the Chevy posse.
I love everything about the Ford except the “RWD”. I just don’t know if I could bring myself to buy a non-4WD truck. Put some weight in the bed, I know…
Agree – probably would not buy unless 4wd; pickup I bought in May for $2000 is so equipped.
** HOWEVER ** it was a steal & barely running then; have sunk north of $4000 into it to get it mechanically reliable since.
Guess what I’m trying to say, you will not find a $2k 4wd truck that is reliable – not now and not in the before-times either.
Ford all day.
Now I’m biased a little. Right out of high school, my dad gave me his 80 F-100. 2WD, I-6, 3 on the tree, manual everything! It was a great truck! Threw some 31 10.50 BFG ATs on it and drove it for a couple years until I sold it.
Years later, I sold it, and the owner promptly blew it up after failing to diagnose and correct an oil leak.
Still the most fun little truck I’ve ever owned. A pipe dream of mine is to find another one and turbo it.
Neither are daily drivers to be sure. I tried with my nearly identical 94 F-150 XL I-6 Auto just to see if I could delay buying a new daily after cashing in on dieselgate. That seat, while very usable, is like sitting on a park bench, and highway driving sucked with all the wind noise and vague steering. However, as a tool for Lowe’s runs and picking up craigslist buys, you cannot beat it. Fuel injection is a HUGE plus as well. I was looking for a Chevy originally, but resale was higher on those, and reading the specs/history of that inline six got me looking at Fords. I don’t regret it. Also – that Ford in Oxford white (my truck) or the gray on the truck listed is one of the most incognito vehicles you can cruise in as it looks like a work truck. I love the 350 and the two-tone of the Chevy, but it’s the Ford for me.
Yep, I tried dailying my Chevy for a year, too. It’s just too much of a pain in the ass. But now I get to look forward to bombing around in it for weekend chores.
Mine is not exactly incognito, however. In fact, it sticks out like a sore thumb. A big, green sore thumb.
https://jalopnik.com/why-this-ex-forest-service-chevy-k1500-may-be-the-perfe-1844339625
So, is that email to DT how you ended up with this gig? “Ode to a Utilitarian Work Truck” for the win, I guess.
Am guessing your drive to/from work is much longer, or you have health issues with sitting on the bench. My daily is a ’71 F100 and comfort is not an issue; but then my commute is 15 min / 5 miles, no highway. Either way – my only gripe with the Ford I drive is the weekly cost of gas (390 cu in V8).
This is a tough one, my brain is telling me to pick the Ford but my heart is saying to go with the Chevy. Ultimately I went with the Ford.
The Chevy looks great but the mouse pee in the interior scared me away. I once helped clean out a basement that had a rodent issue and I’d rather not have a truck that smelled like that. Coincidentally after I finished with that basement, I got really sick for about a month and a half and even doctors weren’t really sure what was wrong with me.
They are both perfect and the only kind of truck I’d want – a bit dented, a bit worn down, but still will do anything you need. Just like the old farmer you bought it from.
It’s an incredibly difficult choice but I straight up have more nostalgia for this era of Ford so it won the day.
Longtime F-150 Guy here.
Two-tones all the way, baybee!
+1 Camper Special