How’s this for a gnarly survivor? Did someone throw battery acid in its face? But it’s still going, and I’d like to hear its V6, as it’s been a while since that rather distinctive sound of a big Jimmy 60 degree V6 has penetrated my aural cavities.
Somewhat curiously, it’s missing the same piece of exterior sheet metal between the hood and front door on both sides. That can’t be a coincidence.
Another four speed; the sign of a real work horse.
The back end has developed just as much patina as the front. And those wheels and axle tell us this is a 3/4 ton version.
This is the downside to these Chevy and GMC pickups of this vintage: wood floors, that inevitably rot. This is one solution, but hardly a permanent one. The floor on my F100 is still solid steel.
More:
CC 1963 GMC Pickup: The Very Model of a Modern V6 Truck Engine
When did GM finally adopt steel floors in the Wideside/Fleetside bed? 1967, or not until the squarebody trucks?
I believe the steel floor became standard on the Wideside/Fleetside in 1967.
My father’s 1968 GMC CS1500 Wideside with 8ft longbed had the wood floor, which, according to the spec sheet was an option(!). Why he insisted on a wood floor was because the wood was replaceable whereas the steel floor would rust and not easily replaced.
Judging by the front wheels, I’d say its a half ton with a 3/4 ton axle swap. Easy to do, GMC’s had leaf springs. In high school I had two friends, one had a ’68 Chev truck, 396 the other a ’68 GMC, 327. Both 3/4 ton 2wd, THM 400 trans The GMC had a steel bed floor and leaf springs, the Chev a wood bed floor and the trailing arms and coil springs.
Ah, a 5/8 ton version, then.
I’m speculating that it was the front that was lightened, so this could be 11/16 ton.
Whatever it’s called, it requires 2 different spare tires.
My Dad had one of these in 1978 that he bought for practically nothing from a farmer. His had the big rear window. It was replaced in 1980 with a shiny new Ford F100.
Gnarly is right. And that front end means business
Always thought the gauge cluster on the GMC of that period also meant business too. Round, no nonsense gauges. The GMC had a real truck engine, rear leaf springs and a spartan interior compared to the Chevys. It was debatable which was the more rugged of the two.
Son of duel?
I worked in a Cadillac/Olds dealer back in the mid 60s. The shops tow truck was a GMC V6, 4 speed. Our driver would hook up a Fleetwood and it seemed like he was idling the engine while pulling that Caddy! What low end torque.
Photo three:
“And there it was, after so many years of searching, Detective Niedemeyer had finally found The Eugene Doorcard Thief”.