Chevrolet’s third generation of full-size pickup trucks, produced from 1973 to 1987, represented an abrupt change in pickup style. General Motors marketed the style of these models as a “rounded line.” But ironically, truck enthusiasts quickly pinned the trucks with exactly the opposite label: “square body.” Despite the use of rounded windshield corners, curvy roof lines, and wrap-around rear taillights, it was the truck’s squared-off profile and blunt front-end that stood out in everybody’s minds—and what makes them so appealing today.
This fully bagged 1985 Chevrolet C-10 shows off the square body in all its glory. The Air Ride suspension and C-notched frame allow the truck to scrape the ground while rolling on 22-inch wheels. Its cammed 350 V-8 provides plenty of power for this blue baby.
If you like the boxy style, eBay Motors commonly offers dozens of this generation of square-body C-10 Trucks. Of course, there is a wide range of vehicles displaying a boxy shape (which people either adore or despise). From the utilitarian look of classic Volvo station wagons to smaller boxy sedans—such as the Scion xB, Kia Soul, and Nissan Cube—portions of the motoring public have always been fans of the square.
Vendors responded to the enduring interest in Chevy (and GMC) square-body models with plenty of aftermarket parts to restore or upgrade the trucks. These trucks arrived from the factory with power windows, capable sound systems, cloth interiors, and power everything—so they were at home on the streets or in the dirt.
The underlying goal of Chevy’s early-1970s shift in style was better aerodynamics. In the era of the 1973 oil crisis and rising environmental concerns, the softer contours of the “rounded line” were designed to make the trucks more slippery through air—and thereby squeezing out a few extra miles per gallon. By 1987, the third-generation models equipped with V-8 engines and four-wheel-drive were estimated by the EPA to consume 13 miles per gallon. It was a slight but still significant improvement.
We continue today to make strides in technologies used to improve fuel economy—such as better aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and advanced engine technologies. The technology will continue to change and evolve, but beautiful automotive design, such as the crisp and clean corners of a square-body truck, never goes out of style.
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