As rewarding as it is to restore a classic vehicle, sometimes it makes more sense to cut to the chase by just buying one that is already a turnkey driver. Let someone else do the heavy lifting!

Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 312-Powered 1976 GMC C2500 Pickup.

It’s rare these days to find a square body GM truck that hasn’t been destroyed through decades of use, so finding one that has received mechanical and cosmetic restoration work is even more of a feat. In addition to its fresh coat of orange paint, this C2500 recently saw work to the interior, cooling system, suspension, seals, and brakes. The truck is being sold by a private party in Lynden, Washington, and the auction ends on Wednesday.

The odometer shows just 42,248 miles, and although the five-digit setup makes that figure difficult to corroborate, the seller says that it is reflective of true miles on the truck.

The third-generation C/K-Series body style was long-lived in the automotive marketplace, ranging all the way from 1973 through 1991 in a variety of chassis configurations, bed lengths, payloads, drivetrains, and trim levels. Development had actually started much earlier, in 1968, under the direction of Bill Mitchell. Some design elements were limited to one-year-only, and in 1976 the grille was specific to the year. One big advancement from the outgoing Action Line trucks was that this generation had a sedan-style dash with driver-focused controls, whereas prior generations had a flatter dash layout.

Power comes from a rebuilt 312cid V8 that has received mechanical work including a tune-up as well as replacement of the radiator, heater core, and water pump. A three-speed automatic transmission and a rebuilt differential transfer the power to the back wheels. Based on the video that the seller has provided showing the engine running at idle, it sounds healthy.

Whether you choose to use this truck as a dedicated show vehicle or as a handy rig to have around the house, it has a lot to offer. It even comes with an aluminum toolbox in the bed, so it’s ready to work when duty calls.

The auction for this 1976 GMC C2500 Pickup ends Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 1:45 p.m. (MST)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery