Wide-Side, Fleetside, Styleside, Townside, Step Side, Fenderside, Flareside, Thriftside, Utiline, gaaaaaa! It’s like truck manufacturers have a different name for everything, to misquote an old Steve Martin comedy bit about French people having a different word for everything. This beautiful, Rounded Line survivor 1974 GMC 2500 Sierra Grande Wide-Side pickup is posted here on craigslist in Succasunna, New Jersey, and they’re asking $16,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
What a great-looking truck. The seller has it listed for less than Hagerty’s #3 good-condition value of $17,200. Bronze is a great 1970s color, even though I refer to this as orange. Our 1969 Ford F-250 was “orange”, but I think the official color name for that was Cordova. I guess the word orange isn’t as good, marketing-wise. On vehicles above the Mason-Dixon line, or those from the southern Gulf/oceanside areas, I like to see underside photos, as rust can be a real issue. There is no mention of the body, and it looks like new in the detailed photos the seller has provided. It’s wearing newer GMC wheels, in case you were wondering.
The third-generation “Rounded Line” trucks were available from 1973 through 1991, and this generation had a few firsts for GM pickups. Dual rear wheels were available in this generation, as was a crew cab, and a diesel engine. This example looks super nice, and the seller has provided a lot of great photos. The inside of the bed looks almost like it’s another truck, doesn’t it? The seller doesn’t mention whether this truck has original paint or not. I’m assuming not, as the exterior looks like new, and the bed and engine compartment both look old and weary.
The interior looks almost perfect from what we can see, although for a nice trim level such as a Sierra Grande, I expected fabric or nylon seats or a combination of fabric and vinyl. I’d want to redo those with a factory-looking breathable fabric for a bit more comfort in hot weather, although the vinyl looks perfect, as does just about everything else inside. The seller says this is a one-owner Florida truck and is “very solid and straight.”
Here’s what I was referring to as a tired-looking engine compartment. If it were as shiny as the exterior of the truck is, I’m sure they would be asking more for this example. This is GM’s 350-cu.in. OHV V8 with around 150 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Is that a replacement carb or just a new high-flow air filter? This one is backed by an automatic sending power to the rear wheels, and it’s said to run and drive well, and the AC is cold. Any thoughts on this Florida Orange beauty?
Maybe hauled oranges 🍊 around the groves. Nice rig.
squares like this are why we love um. they had a long run
Had a 76 same color I wish I never
I like the front clip design better on the pre 81’s. I like how they did the two tone paint schemes on the earlier “Square bodys”. Thats about all I’d change looks wise with this one, is have the white two tone sides and not just the roof. I was a little surprised at how it looked under the hood, especially with how clean the inside and outside is
We had the near identical twin to this one as a service truck. It was a good reliable conveyance and we used it for years. One thing I have to say is that 1974 was the absolute worst year GM ever had for fuel economy. We sold one with a 454 and the customer bought a heavy 6500 3-ton with a 366. The customer said that the 3-ton got better fuel economy than the pickup.
But some smart tuning got those guzzlers a little easier to handle. They were running so lean and the timing stifled to the point where they were gasping. Well, the EPA wouldn’t agree but they went like Jack, the Bear when we got through with them…
My late father bought a ’74 2500 Camper Special 454, Turbo 400, for use on our farm.
Even doing the flip the air filter cover trick helped wake it up.
He loved mashing the throttle turning on to the highway.
Grecian Bronze. Seat’s been recovered or updated. Late model wheels look alright on these. Should make a solid rig for someone.
Lovely looking truck. Although I was too young at the time to drive a car, I remember when GMC Trucks looked like this.
Nice looking truck inside n out, curious why the engine compartment isn’t the same, either way,love to own it