The Carmel Artomobilia – Great Place to See Rare Classic Cars
The Carmel Artomobilia is a great place to catch sight of rare and unusual classic cars like this 1972 Chevy C10 Cheyenne Highlander truck. AMIG’s Rick Drewry talks with Jim, the owner of this great looking pickup.
Love at First Sight
Jim’s C10 is a stunning example of why Americans fall in love with trucks. From the beautiful tartan blue inserts on the bucket seats to the stock 350 engine, this Chevy looks just like it does when it rolled off the factory line almost 45 years ago. “I was hooked on ’69 Camaros but when I saw it at the body shop, I had to have it,” he laughs.
Highlander Package Makes This a Rare Find
Chevy was about to introduce a totally different model truck in 1973 so they offered the ’72 class of C10s with a special Highlander package, which consisted of additional trim on the sides, plaid bucket seats and a factory installed snap-based tonneau cover over the bed. There aren’t too many of these unique pickups on the road, which is why getting an up-close look at Jim’s is such a treat.
100% Numbers Matching on This Beauty
Jim did most of the restoration himself, shying away from some of the larger tasks. “I’m not a painter but I can tinker a little bit. I left the painting and detail work to the professionals.” Finding parts for a Highlander package is challenging but Jim managed to stay true to the restoration. “It’s 100% numbers matching; exactly the way it would have come from the factory.”
Father and Son Bond Over Their C10 Trucks
The story behind this restoration is one of a father and son bonding over their love of trucks. Jim has rebuilt two C10 trucks; one all black and the other with the Highlander package. When they had finished the Highlander, the two drove both trucks in a Labor Day parade in North Salem, IN to show off their hard work. It was a proud moment for the family. Sadly, Jim’s dad passed away just two months later. “These trucks mean a lot to us. We’d never get rid of them. They are a member of our family.”
Hard Work Shows in Our Restorations
The classic car community is filled with stories like Jim’s. Families bond over the work that goes into restoring these great cars and their blood, sweat and tears shows in every detail. Events like the Carmel Artomobilia are a great way to come together and appreciate these fine examples of automotive history and to meet the people who help preserve them.
Collector and Classic Car Insurance for Less
Year after year, Classic Auto Insurance has been intimately involved in the Carmel Artomobilia, sponsoring the two-day celebration of automotive art and design and the unending passion we have for our classic and collector cars. Let us help you customize the perfect insurance policy for your one-of-a-kind collector car or collection. Our friendly, expert staff will answer all your questions and help you find the right coverage for your needs. Visit our website at www.classicins.com and see how we can help safeguard your dream classics.
