Find the Sports Car in the Picture
This worn-looking but still handsome 1972 Chevrolet Custom 10 half ton pickup truck was a surprisingly good handling vehicle. The reason for that I feel was its rear suspension setup.
In contrast to many trucks and cars equipped with only simple leaf springs in the rear, this truck was designed from the factory with coil springs. From a cost and simplicity standpoint, leaf springs manage to simply and economically fix the location of the axle fore and aft, and from side to side in addition to its expected springing duties. Coil springs on the other hand require other devices to fix the location of the axle with respect to the frame, necessary to guarantee predictable vehicle handling. Hence, the rear suspension of this truck comprised trailing arms, an anti-roll bar and quite surprisingly, a Panhard rod to limit lateral movement of the rigid live rear axle! That's a decidedly more sophisticated rear suspension than what my 1976 Camaro had or either of the Mustangs my family owned, cars that were equipped with leaf springs in the rear.
The front suspension of this truck was an independent A-arm style with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, not unusual for most vehicles, even pickup trucks. With a good set of Michelin tires added, the vehicle control afforded by that relatively sophisticated set-up assured very predictable, confidence-inspiring handling, oh say, on the first turn of Seal Beach Blvd. offramp from the southbound San Diego Freeway.
With its 350 cubic inch V8, Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, power steering, power front disc brakes and GM air-conditioning system, it was a great every day driver. The fit of the doors was so good that slamming them shut was simply unnecessary; a gentle push was adequate to close either door. Once closed there was not a hint of a rattle or a squeak.
The 1967-1972 Chevrolet and GMC fullsize pickup trucks were the last to have round wheel well openings. All the fullsize pickups from General Motors up to this day have had "square" or flat top wheel well openings.
Find the Sports Car in the Picture
This worn-looking but still handsome 1972 Chevrolet Custom 10 half ton pickup truck was a surprisingly good handling vehicle. The reason for that I feel was its rear suspension setup.
In contrast to many trucks and cars equipped with only simple leaf springs in the rear, this truck was designed from the factory with coil springs. From a cost and simplicity standpoint, leaf springs manage to simply and economically fix the location of the axle fore and aft, and from side to side in addition to its expected springing duties. Coil springs on the other hand require other devices to fix the location of the axle with respect to the frame, necessary to guarantee predictable vehicle handling. Hence, the rear suspension of this truck comprised trailing arms, an anti-roll bar and quite surprisingly, a Panhard rod to limit lateral movement of the rigid live rear axle! That's a decidedly more sophisticated rear suspension than what my 1976 Camaro had or either of the Mustangs my family owned, cars that were equipped with leaf springs in the rear.
The front suspension of this truck was an independent A-arm style with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, not unusual for most vehicles, even pickup trucks. With a good set of Michelin tires added, the vehicle control afforded by that relatively sophisticated set-up assured very predictable, confidence-inspiring handling, oh say, on the first turn of Seal Beach Blvd. offramp from the southbound San Diego Freeway.
With its 350 cubic inch V8, Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, power steering, power front disc brakes and GM air-conditioning system, it was a great every day driver. The fit of the doors was so good that slamming them shut was simply unnecessary; a gentle push was adequate to close either door. Once closed there was not a hint of a rattle or a squeak.
The 1967-1972 Chevrolet and GMC fullsize pickup trucks were the last to have round wheel well openings. All the fullsize pickups from General Motors up to this day have had "square" or flat top wheel well openings.