Home Automotive Forty Years of Memories Charles Mudd’s Beloved 1972 Chevy C-10

Forty Years of Memories Charles Mudd’s Beloved 1972 Chevy C-10

March 26, 2024

Cruise through 41 years in a big-block powered, long-bedded bow tie beauty

Nostalgia. When you have owned a truck for over 40 years it’s difficult to not have a lot of it. Every time you turn the key and see the air-fuel mixture exit the pipes, you’re reminded of the memories you have from when you first drove it to your driveway to how many times it was driven on familiar terrain and how many times it was customized with Dad.

For Charles Mudd of Mesa, Arizona the bond with his 1972 Chevy C-10 long bed couldn’t be stronger. Charles Mudd bought the truck off a Chevrolet dealership lot in San Diego CA in 1978. The original owner of the pickup had traded it there. Charles was on the hunt for a truck at the perfect time. The C-10 captured his attention. Charles’ C-10 accompanied him through a time of career changes, moving and family life. “Old reliable” as it were no matter what was going on the truck was a consistent and reliable source of stress relief, fun and self-fulfillment.

As with most enthusiasts and long term vehicle ownership the truck went through “phases” as time and money would allow Charles to personalize the truck to his taste never straying too far from what the Chevrolet Gods intended when they created this beauty in ’72. First, an upgraded AM/FM and aftermarket speakers were mounted on the bpillars. After all Charles needed the soothing sounds of Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen and Mick Jagger to accompany him on his long journey back East in ’83 stopping only in his hometown of Tucson, AZ for a few days of reliving the “glory days”. Charles cringes even today that he had to drill holes in the cab for the speakers. Luckily a steady hand and a clean installation make that a slightly less regrettable act-hey it’s what you do when you’re 20-cruise and play music loud.

After getting out of the Navy in the early 80’s Charles migrated back to Tucson to begin his post-service life. While living in a Townhouse back in ’83 in Tucson on Charles’ daily morning jog he kept noticing an unsightly ’69 Chevrolet Caprice four-door in the parking lot and didn’t think much of it until one day a pair of 427 Flags on the front fenders caught his eye and he opened the hood to find a box-stock 68,000 mile 335 horse 427 back by a Turbo 400. Charles thought the old Caprice looked pretty cool, and he went looking for the owner. The Caprice’s big block was removed and its Turbo 400 slushbox was also taken away.

In the early 80’s Charles stumbled across a ’69 Chevy Caprice 4 –door that had a 427 big block in it. The engine and transmission were removed from the car and shoehorned onto the truck. The 427/TH400 has served reliably ever since.

After the 427 was plucked from the undeserving crew cab Caprice Charles’ Dad Mr. Mudd set up the heads for unleaded fuel, replaced a few seals and dropped the big-block and 3-speed combo into its new position of power in the ’72. After a few minor upgrades, such as a Transgo Shift Kit, Hughes Converter and an HEI Ignition, the car lasted for many years. Other than that, the big-block runs like a watch. The look under the hood is very factory original as if GM put the big cubes in there in ’72 when the truck was born. Only the dual-snorkel is not stock. The aluminized exhaust mimics the sound of the big blocks while the clean exit behind the rear tires emulates what Chevy did with their SS Chevelles.

After the motor swap in ‘83 Charles’ Dad rolled the truck into the family carport one morning at 5am in Tucson and freshened up the factory colors with single-stage Hugger Orange and White. That same paintwork Dear Old Dad lovingly laid down in ’83 still shines bright on the truck today.

Fast forward to the mid 90’s and the truck received its next phase of mild customizing in the form a 4/6 suspension drop using parts from Early Classic Enterprises in Fresno, California. Circle Racing Wheels cut the 17-inch Rally’s which are shod with Michelin tires. The truck’s conservative stance, factory-like rubber and wheels give it a nice blend of OEM heritage with aftermarket classic style.

Around 2005, Charles took the truck to John Sewell of Hi-Speed Customs Tucson for some minor bodywork. John filled the stake bed holes, mirror holes and removed the auxiliary fuel tank fill door on the driver’s side. On the passenger side, a factory toolbox can be found. John repainted the bed to make it look like it was factory-made after the mild metal modifications. To give the bed a factory look, John also painted the interior of it.

The interior was retrimmed in an escque factory pattern, with original door panels dyed to match new seat covers. In order to replicate the original AM/FM slider unit, a new radio was fitted into the factory hole.

The interior has been restored to its original condition with a few mild tweaks. Simple and functional, this is the interior of a classic truck.

Charles Mudd achieved a balanced classic truck with his 1972 Chevy c10. Charles Mudd’s memories of driving his truck across the country with his father and working on it are priceless. Charles loves to drive the truck as it brings him back to simpler times, and the memories he made on the road. Cool old trucks are the best!