1978 Chevrolet C10 Scottsdale Bonanza Edition

One-Family California Survivor, 62K Miles, Ice Cold A/C

1978 Chevrolet C10 Scottsdale Bonanza Edition for Sale

One-family-owned 1978 Chevrolet C10 Scottsdale Bonanza Edition for sale. This remarkably preserved survivor shows just 62,000 original miles and has remained with the same Sonoma County, California family since new. Originally sold by Gault Chevrolet in Endicott, New York, it is finished in its original red and white two-tone paint over a completely original red interior and equipped with its original 350 cubic-inch V8, automatic transmission, factory air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, Camper Loading package, and Scottsdale Bonanza trim. Accompanied by an exceptional collection of original documentation, original California-issued blue-and-gold license plates, and the benefit of a five-year mechanical recommissioning, this Chevrolet is ready to be driven and enjoyed by its next caretaker.

Henry Andresen purchased this C10 new from Gault Chevrolet in Endicott, New York, where it still proudly wears its original dealer emblem on the tailgate. For reasons now lost to history, he appears to have driven the truck more than 3,000 miles back to the family's farm in Petaluma, California, where it remained registered and spent the rest of its life. Why Henry traveled to New York to purchase the truck remains one of its few unanswered questions. Perhaps he had a friend at the dealership, perhaps he was searching for a very specific truck, or perhaps there was another reason entirely. Whatever the answer, it adds another fascinating chapter to the story of this survivor.

The original GM certification label identifies the truck as being equipped with the Camper Loading package. In 1979 it was professionally converted to propane using an IMPCO system, with a permanently mounted propane tank installed beneath a then-new camper shell. The conversion ultimately qualified the truck for California's House Car (HSCR) registration classification rather than standard commercial pickup registration, allowing it to be assigned California-issued blue-and-gold passenger license plates instead of commercial plates.

Henry used the truck regularly around the family farm and for errands throughout Petaluma. Documentation includes a propane fill receipt dated July 11, 2001, showing 62,423 miles on the odometer. Based on the accompanying paperwork and the truck itself, it appears the truck was parked inside the family's barn shortly thereafter, where it remained for nearly two decades.

When I pulled it out of the barn on August 18, 2020, the odometer read just 62,480 miles—an increase of only 57 miles in nearly nineteen years. Even more remarkable, the propane tank still contained fuel when it was removed during the recommissioning.

In many ways, this truck wasn't simply stored—it was preserved.

Documentation:

Accompanying the truck is an outstanding collection of original documentation, including:

Original California-issued blue-and-gold license plates
Multiple California registrations spanning decades of family ownership
Clear, California title issued to owners daughter, Aileen Andresen
Original owner's manual
Original maintenance booklet
1979 propane conversion documentation
Propane fill receipts
Extensive documentation of the five-year mechanical recommissioning

Together, these documents paint an unusually complete picture of the truck's nearly five decades of ownership and preservation.

Mechanical Recommissioning:

Rather than simply getting the truck running and offering it for sale, I chose to methodically recommission it over the course of five years, addressing virtually every mechanical system while preserving its originality. The majority of the work was completed during 2025 with one goal in mind—to create a truck that could be driven anywhere with confidence rather than one that merely looked good in photographs.

Fuel System:

Returned to the correct gasoline configuration
New fuel tank
New fuel sending unit
New fuel pump
New fuel lines
USA-rebuilt Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor
Correct California emissions equipment
Complete fuel system service

The truck starts instantly, idles smoothly, runs beautifully, and passes California smog inspection.

Cooling System:

Brand-new aluminum radiator
New water pump
New thermostat
New upper and lower radiator hoses
New heater hoses
Cooling system flushed and serviced

Transmission:

The original transmission was professionally rebuilt and now shifts smoothly through every gear.

Brake System
New master cylinder
New front brake calipers
New rear wheel cylinders
New flexible brake hoses
Complete brake service
Fresh brake fluid
Professionally bled and tested
Charging & Electrical
New alternator
New battery
New instrument cluster bulbs
New quartz clock
Heating & Air Conditioning
New A/C compressor
New evaporator
New heater blower motor
System serviced and recharged

The air conditioning blows ice cold.

Engine:

One of this truck's greatest assets is its original 350 V8. Because it spent nearly its entire working life operating on propane, the engine remains exceptionally clean internally. During the recommissioning process, we inspected the cylinders and combustion chambers with a borescope and found them remarkably free of carbon buildup.

It starts easily, idles smoothly, pulls strongly, runs quietly, and performs exactly as you would expect from a well-preserved low-mile small-block Chevrolet.

Wheels & Tires:

The original factory steel wheels were refreshed and repainted in the correct colors before being fitted with the proper Chevrolet trim rings and hubcaps. They wear a matching set of Kumho Solus KR21 P235/75R15 radial tires with ample tread remaining. The truck drives smoothly, tracks straight, and inspires confidence at highway speeds.

Exhaust:

Another wonderful survivor feature is what appears to be the original factory exhaust system, including the original factory tailpipe with its distinctive crimped outlet.

Road-Tested & Sorted:

Perhaps most importantly, I didn't simply repair the truck and park it.

During the final stages of the recommissioning, I intentionally drove the Chevrolet approximately 1,000 miles under real-world conditions to identify and eliminate the small issues that naturally arise when returning a vehicle to service after decades of storage.

Those miles allowed me to sort the truck exactly as I would any collector vehicle before offering it for sale. Today it starts easily, runs cool, shifts beautifully, brakes confidently, tracks straight, and is ready to be enjoyed immediately.

Interior:

The completely original red interior has survived remarkably well. The original bench seat has a couple of splits, and the dash pad has the typical cracks common to these trucks. Aside from those expected age-related imperfections, the interior presents beautifully.

The original carpeting remains in place, as does the original cardboard panel behind the seat. As originally built, the truck does not have a headliner; instead, the underside of the roof retains its original factory-painted finish, which remains in excellent condition and is complemented by an exceptionally nice pair of original sun visors.

Everything works—including the gauges, lights, switches, windshield wipers, windshield washers, heater controls, original factory radio, and even the clock. The truck also retains its original windshield with the desirable integrated radio antenna. The glass presents well overall with only light surface scratching that should polish out if desired.

Exterior:

After the propane conversion and camper shell were installed, the truck was typically parked beneath a lean-to on the property. The camper remained protected while the front of the Chevrolet extended beyond the shelter and was exposed to the weather. At some point, the entire front clip was repainted, although that repaint has since weathered and is showing its age.

The passenger-side bedside was also repaired years ago and includes body filler beneath an older repaint whose color no longer matches particularly well.

Beyond those areas, the body remains exceptionally solid. The floors, cab, frame, and undercarriage are exactly what you hope to find in a lifelong California truck. While there is some minor surface rust in places, there is no structural rust or rot, making this an excellent candidate for cosmetic restoration should the next owner choose to take it to the next level.

Rather than cosmetically restoring the truck, I chose to preserve its history while making it mechanically dependable.

Collector vehicles are often restored, very few are preserved. Over the past five years we've invested countless hours—not simply repairing this Chevrolet, but understanding it. Every registration, receipt, and piece of documentation helped tell the story of Henry, Aileen, and a pickup that faithfully served one family for nearly half a century.

Today it starts easily, runs beautifully, shifts smoothly, stops confidently, and can be enjoyed exactly as Chevrolet intended. Someone could certainly restore this truck cosmetically.

Honest, well-documented survivors are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and this C10 has earned every mile, every scratch, and every chapter of its remarkable history.

Be sure to check out all 330+ photos and the video below.

Call or text Donn with questions, shipping, and financing options or for a link to the hi-resolution photos at 707-332-8331.

I strive to provide as much information as possible. If buying from afar, I encourage you to read my reviews: on Google and Yelp.

Please note that this vehicle is being sold as-is. We invite you to come and inspect the vehicle in person or arrange for a third-party inspection to ensure it meets your expectations. For loan pre-approval visit https://www.lightstream.com/apply

Thank you for visiting!

VIN# CCL1481158231

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