March/April 2023 Vintage Truck
/The March/April 2023 issue of the magazine is available in our gift shop now and will be available on newsstands soon. Featured on this issue is a 1978 Chevrolet K20 Hawaiian Blue 4X4 owned by Brent McDonald. The ten page article explains the popular “Squarebody” that is sought after in today’s truck market. Story and photos by Brad Bowling
Cover Story | 1978 Chevrolet K20 4X4
HAWAIIAN BLUE 4X4
Brent McDonald’s 1978 Chevrolet K20 explains the “Squarebody’s” popularity.
The third-generation Chevrolet/GMC C/K light-duty truck is known by conflicting names, but whether you call it a “Rounded Line” or “Squarebody,” the 1973–87 model is one of the hottest pickups in the hobby today.* The good news is that Chevrolet pumped out many millions of these sturdy beasts over a period of 15 model years—the longest amount of time the company ever stuck with a single truck design. This longevity means that Squarebody project pickups are plentiful, and the active aftermarket can supply nearly any part a restoration might need.
* Editor’s Note: The term “Rounded Line” came from General Motors but was not used in promotional material. “Squarebody” is the nickname most 1973–87 Chevrolet enthusiasts have given the trucks. Although it is an unofficial designation, we will refer to Chevy trucks from that period by the latter.
When introduced in 1973, the Rounded Line C10 (half-ton), C20 (3/4-ton), C30 (one-ton) and K (4X4) counterparts were a natural evolutionary step for Chevrolet’s light-duty pickup line. The company told anyone who would listen that its engineers had spent countless hours with computers and wind tunnels—stress-testing parts and fine-tuning body panels to get the lowest amount of wind resistance.
The grille was a plain, recessed affair with an eggcrate pattern reminiscent of that used on the 1955 light-duties. The new windshield—now home to the radio antenna—gained 528 square inches of glass and was more steeply raked than before. The cab was designed with doors that cut into the roof, allowing curved window glass and better sealing against weather and wind. (While a good idea in theory, the lack of a drip rail immediately brought complaints of water leakage. The company rectified the problem in 1974 by adding a molding to channel rainwater away from the open door.)
To make the brick-shaped pickup less “brick-y,” designers carved a shoulder line along the body from headlight to wraparound Lexan taillight on each side. Every major body panel—the box sides, hood, fenders, doors, tailgate, and roof—was constructed with double- walled steel.
To read more about the 1978 Chevrolet K20, pick up a copy of the March/April 2023 issue of Vintage Truck magazine!
Articles in this issue include:
FEATURES
I Love Lucy
Jonathan McGibbon’s 1925 Ford Model TT was a restoration education! Story by Brad Bowling, Photos by Al RogersEd’s Childhood Dream Comes True
Ed Patterson’s 1935 Dodge KC half-ton pickup represents the final year of Dodge’s car-based light-duties!
Story by Loren Hoekema, Photos by Brad BowlingHawaiian Blue 4X4
Brent McDonald’s 1978 Chevrolet K20 explains the “Squarebody’s” popularity. Story and Photos by Brad BowlingThe Forgotten Jeeps
1961–66 FJ-3 and FJ-6 Fleetvans
By Patrick FosterFifth-Wheel Hauler … Maybe Not
Tom Thayer’s 1973 International 1110 Wagonmaster is another example of a company being several decades ahead of its time!
By B. Mitchell Carlson
DEPARTMENTS
Letter from the Editor
Letters to the Editor
The Workhorse: 1966 Dodge D300
Independent Trucks: 1949 Studebaker half-ton pickup
Books in the Bed: Reviews by Robert Gabrick
Aid for the Anxious Amateur: Bad Latch Blues
Hey Loren!
Classifieds
Show Guide
Granny Gear: The Hawkeye Contingent
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