Legends Of Chevy Trucks Honors The 1973 C/K Square Body
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There are innumerable Chevy trucks to point to when it comes to remembering General Motors’ best and brightest pickup models. As such, Chevrolet New Roads Magazine is featuring some of the most iconic models from the Bow Tie brand’s history in a series called “Legends of Chevy Trucks,” which so far has included a look at the 1955 Task Force line and the 1962 C/K Series. Now, the magazine is looking at the 1973 Square Body.
Aided by literature and artifacts from the General Motors Heritage Center, this installment of the Legends of Chevy Trucks series includes photos from the period, as well as illustrations and some interesting factoids as well.
The 1973 model year introduced an all-new third-generation for the C/K series Chevy pickup line, including a new look that became colloquially known as the “square body,” also sometimes referred to as “box body,” thanks to distinctive hard edges and panels that created a clean exterior style. “Larger glass areas with curved side windows contributed to visibility from the cab, while a large new grille and a wide stance gave the pickups a purposeful appearance befitting their capability,” Chevrolet writes.
In addition to new styling, the 1973 Square Body Chevy pickup also came with a larger, roomier cabin with more head, leg, shoulder, and hip room than the preceding model year. The cabin space featured redesigned trim and a one-piece instrument panel, as well as “flow-through” ventilation and improved insulation and weatherstripping. Entertainment options included an AM radio or an AM/FM radio.
“It all contributed to making the trucks a more pleasant place to spend long days on the road, farm, or job site,” Chevrolet writes.
Buyers could choose from from five different gas engine options, with the range-topping 454 V8 making 240 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. Additional engine options included two six-cylinders, a 5.0L V8, and a 5.7L V8. Transmission options included three- and four-speed manuals, as well as an optional three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic.
What do you think of this iconic Chevy truck nameplate? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Oh what I would give up to have one of these all cleaned up and sporting a set of BF Goodrich Radial TA’s with Cragar’s all away around. To hell with touch screens, bluetooth, airbags, and antilock brakes…
Or a 4×4 K model with white wagon wheels!
The all time greatest Chevy trucks! IMO
Best looking, best designed, just great trucks! Sure they had their issues and quirks but overall you couldn’t’ beat them! I still have 3 on the property today that we work everyday. Love them!
Wish Chevy could do them again.
To me this design is what put Chevy trucks into (no pun) Suburban driveways with car-like features, 4 door
Suburban and emissions/insurance making cars more complicated to own so buyers started to buy trucks instead.
Trucks have replaced old rwd full-size wagons for the family. They now seat 5-6, sit high, have towing and carrying ability. The Square bodies are a part of Chevy Truck history. Had 1976 step side. Black with factory C-stripes.
I also had a ’76 Stepside. All black and with the Silverado package. Dealer told me no one had ever ordered a Stepside with 4×4 and the Silverado package. I also orderd it with the top of the line in 4×4’s 400CI. It was only 175 HP back then. I wound up putting a 402 Big block in it. I showed and sand draged it for almost ten years. Sure do miss that truck for sure! Bring back the SQUARE BODY!!!!!!
This was actually referred to as the rounded lines series by Chevrolet in their internal literature but we all refer to the stacked headlight early to late 80’s years as the square body trucks. We had a blue 1978 C10 Bonanza trim long bed with heavy rear springs and I inherited when my dad bought a new 87 C10 Silverado trim. Love those trucks…
My dream was a 1975 1/2 short bed step side sport the one in the brochure with 15 ” ralley wheels an h78 15 off road tires 350 and a 3 speed column shift (to be odd) I rode my schwinn sting ray off road like it was this truck , near the beach where I grew up 73-78s rusted real fast , smile when I think of them . Maybe dry eastern Oregon or Washington might find some with no rust at all not even surface rust on the frame it’s that dry
How bout a 1981 3/4 ton 4×4 with a 292 inline 6 low gear 4 speed
Love that old big straight 6!
My Grandpa had a 73′ Cheyenne 1/2 ton & my Dad had a 76′ Scottsdale 1 ton. I bought the 76′ from my Dad it was my first vehicle. I wish i had it back! I’ve looked all over for a 76′ Scottsdale 1 ton with a 350 & 4 speed with granny low. Can’t find one nowhere.
I still own a 76 Scottsdale that I bought in 86 from the original owner….. Three quarter ton 350 with four speed granny fully loaded…. 315000 miles and still going…..
I have 73 C30 camper special with a 454 400 turbo 4:11 gears 59000 original miles powder blue with woodgrain sides. my uncle bought it new.
I am restoring a,1973 GMC that’s been in the family since it was just a few years old . It’s awesome love that style pickup!!
Bought a new ’74 1/2 ton blue base model and installed side pipes. Sold it and replaced it with a ’76 3/4 ton copper Cheyenne finally replacing it with a ’78 2 tone green and white Blazer. Loved that style and wish I had all 3 sitting in the driveway!
I always loved the 70’s and 80’s GM trucks. They had a style all their own. To be honest, I have loved all GM trucks through the years. Even the new Chevy 1/2 ton is starting to look nice. But these years stick with me, mainly because I was a young boy and teenager, making an impression on me. We had a few on the farm and as work trucks in other business ventures. Never let us down, ever.
I have a 1973 Cheyenne super 10 with 29,000 original miles on it I inherited from my uncle this year he passed away from Alzheimer’s still has the price tag sticker laying in the seat it is red with wood grain 454 still has the tires on it that come from the factory they are weather cracked all to pieces I just never understood why he never drove this truck but I’m glad he didn’t it is my baby now I have only drove it one time I will be using it for a show and parade truck
Yo tengo una Chevrolet custom 1974, heredada por mi padre, es un vehículo exelente, ya le he echo varias modificaciones, pero sin perder su escencia, sigue siendo un vehículo muy confortable, sin contar el gran valor sentimental que posee, solo de imaginar mi niñez en ese vehículo, nada se le compara.
Ive had many of these thru the years. My first one was a plain jane blue 1/2 with the 6 with 3 on the tree. Then in 78 I traded it in for a fully loaded 78 3/4 ton with the 350 and a heavy duty auto trans. Wish I could find that truck again it was the silver color with blue interior. She was my baby should have never gotten rid of it
I bought a 73 Silverado new in73 it was the second of 9 new Chevy pickups my first was a 70 4×4 which all of them memento were I wanted another black one but black was not offered in 73 so I ordered a dark green after waiting months it arrived but it was baby blue which was not acceptable to me said I made arrangements with the dealer to paint it black at there body shop then I had the only black 73 in the area
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Got a 73 K5 Blazer in 81 of my cousin . All stock second motor original ralley whls. 4×4 lock out. Cheyenne pkg. PEOPLE who ask if for sale I always say you ain’t got enough MONEY LOL😁 Frank Jimenez.
I had a 1976 GMC High Sierra new in 76. I live in western Canada, where the 73 – 75 models took 1 winter in the snow and salt to show signs of rust over the rear wheel wells. The salesman told me they cured that problem in 1976, with a different design on the inner rear well. He was right. It took 2 years for the rust to show up on mine. GM quit making trucks with real body strength and integrity after 1972. I have owned a 1968, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001 and 2005 GM trucks. Just my opinion, but there was not much improvement in 1973.