1986 Chevrolet K10

from David Branch, on the road in West Texas
"I have been in Austin for three weeks on a job, heading back today to Marfa. I meant to drive my '95 suburban which has been a highway mobile for the last year or so but at the last min I found it had a crack in the case where the tranny mounts up to the transfer! Leaky seals my ass! So I spit shined the '86 with new ujoints and fluids, a "rolling set" of used tires from my jeep and hit the road. I've been rumbling around Austin in it and she has served me fine. Wish me luck on my return and I'll keep my eyes out for old iron along the way. If nothing else, I'll shoot a few road pics...

"So, the story on the K10 as I have it:

"Bought from Bruce Matney, new owner of the former ABC Pump. He only had the truck for a year or so. Previously belonged to Robin Surber at Surber Ade and was driven by her, her kids, her dad and everyone else over there. Yes, servicing goats (not like that), delivering feed, round bales, etc. it has a Gooseneck hitch which seems funny given it's only a half-ton but it does have a 350 and a granny low. It's a manual which I vastly prefer. Now everyone has 1ton duramax diesel duallys for show goats and showing off. Robin says she's pulled many a stock trailer up a ranch road with that truck. At some point, Dennis Dickinson, gallery owner (2d) owned the truck and loves it still. It has twin pipes and a billet shifter. Otherwise it is almost as far from his gloss black and tuned Firebird as you can get and still be driving an American car... He waves at me all the time. Before him the truck was owned by Manny Lujan who ran a service station on the corner of Austin st and hwy 90 for years. Manny recently died so I haven't had the chance to ask him about his history with it. Not sure if it came from Pierce Motors. It is not badged nor is the bumper. It has been painted at least once in the original color. I meant to ask robin if she put all the towing equipment on it or if it came that way. Neither Robin, Bruce, or Dennis took it out of the area. She's pretty worn in but by no means worn out. It's funny, she's totally stock, but looks a little squat to me. Maybe the "soft ride" package makes her sit low that way, perhaps the springs are just tired. If I could find some 6 lug 16" rims I think she'd look better. Might give her a bit of a "rubber overdrive" too cause top cruising speed is 60-65. Though I have had the speedo pegged at 85, just to find out! It felt great to stretch her out on the road and really work wonderfully the whole time. Traveling with a vehicle is really the best way to become attached. "--DB