This 1976 GMC 1500 Pickup is an interesting vehicle. Based on the Sierra Grande package, this classic is the relatively rare Royal Sierra variant. GMC produced only around 500 of these vehicles, and our featured truck is an original turnkey survivor, ready for action with its new owner behind the wheel. The seller listed the Royal Sierra here on eBay in Mazomanie, Wisconsin. They set their BIN at $18,900, and it appears that figure is firm.
This Pickup’s history is interesting, although it adds nothing to its potential value. The first owner spotted the vehicle in a dealership in Union City, Tennessee. She was intrigued by the Royal Sierra badges, and instantly attracted to the paint combination of Yuka Gold and Polar White. The dealer informed her that the Royal Sierra was an appearance and trim package for the Sierra Grande, and that only about 500 of these vehicles would leave the factory. The Pickup effectively sold itself, and became that lady’s daily driver for many years. Wind the clock forward almost four decades, and the owner handed custody of the Royal Sierra to her family, who eventually parted with it after she passed away at the grand old age of ninety-nine. The seller believes that most of this classic’s paint is original, with evidence of only minor touch-ups. The panels are straight, and with the underside as clean as a whistle, the only rust is a couple of small spots near the wheel arches. The paint sports a few imperfections, but patching the rust and leaving the rest of the exterior as-is would be a viable option to protect the Pickup’s survivor credentials. The tinted glass and trim are in good condition, and the Rally wheels are excellent.
Part of the Royal Sierra package included a unique Saddle-knit seatcover with bold center stripes. This feature is now deteriorating, with some splits and a couple of obvious seam separations. Sourcing a replacement cover might be difficult due to the vehicle’s relative rarity. Therefore, handing it to a skilled upholsterer to repair the damage might be the only option. Otherwise, the condition is mighty impressive. The carpet is spotless beneath the protective mats, the dash is excellent, and the faux woodgrain hasn’t faded badly. There are no aftermarket additions to an interior that features air conditioning, a tilt wheel, a clock, and an AM radio.
The Royal Sierra package brought no mechanical upgrades, but this Pickup should be a competent performer. It features a 350ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. The LS9 version of the small-block delivered a factory-claimed 175hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque when the Pickup was new, making it a pretty effective tow vehicle or load carrier. The original owner may have used this classic as her daily driver, but her commute to and from work was short. Therefore, this beauty has only clocked 77,500 original miles. It runs and drives extremely well, and is a turnkey proposition. The seller believes it would be even better if treated to a tune-up, which is a cheap and easy process. Those craving paperwork will welcome the news that the sale includes the original Build Sheet, Owner’s Manual, Warranty Card, and an enormous collection of Service Receipts and other invoices.
Rarity claims are sometimes hard to verify, and such is the case with this 1976 GMC 1500 Royal Sierra. Pinning down exact production numbers is seemingly impossible, but several knowledgeable sources suggest that the seller’s claim that only around 500 examples left the showroom appears credible. Our featured Pickup isn’t perfect, but it comfortably ticks the boxes as a tidy, solid survivor. It has garnered healthy attention since hitting the market, but have you seen enough to consider pursuing this classic Pickup further?
I only saw one of these during my days with GM, and it was almost identical to this one. The guy was passing through and his AC belt broke, much like happened to this featured truck.
It’s too bad that things like AC belts aren’t addressed when a vehicle is put up for sale. Better yet, fix it; you’ll get your money back…
To see any Chevy or GMC from ’76 this rust free, and this original is impressive. But, a very rare top of the line one like this even better. This must’ve been her baby since day one. That paint looks great. Like Adam said, maybe a good interior shop can save that unique seat cover. Very nice.
I was thinking the same, perhaps a good upholstery can repair the splits. Then I would probably place a cover over the repaired seat to preserve it. This is a real survivor, especially in the area that clouds, snow and salt on roads are present longer than sunshine and rain during the year.
The only thing that sets this apart from the others is a seat cover. It hardly seems worth mentioning. Let alone calling it “royal”. It’s a run of the mill GMC.
Two of my high school buddies had pickups that were the envy of all of us car aficionados. One was a Chevrolet C10 with the Bonanza Package (mentioned in the write-up as being a cousin to the Royal Sierra) and was equipped with a 454-4V and automatic. The other was a 2WD Ford F-250 SRW with a 460-4V and automatic. If memory serves, the Ford was a 1976 model and the Chevrolet was a 1977 model. It was a regular pastime to gather at the local hangout and watch those two guys race one another. It really humbled this FoMoCo fella’s soul to watch that Chevrolet smoke that Ford nearly every time. But the memories of those times still hold a fond place in my heart. What wonderful times! Beautiful featured truck. Hope it finds a great new home.