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All Original: 1971 GMC 1500 Pickup

This 1971 GMC 1500 pickup is said to be all original except for some small maintenance items that have been updated. With original patina trucks being so popular, this one is certain to have a new home soon. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $4,450. Located in Windsor, California, the ad doesn’t say if this truck has been in California all of its life but based on the lack of rust, it certainly may have been.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of photos in the ad although the seller does indicate they “have over 100 pictures of this truck” which is a good thing. The interior looks pretty honest. A previous owner converted the three-on-the-tree transmission to a floor-shift unit, but the seller says it looks like it will be easy to convert back.

There are a few rust spots on the truck, but they don’t look too bad. The seller says the truck has been a reliable driver and there have been enough maintenance items addressed to keep it running well. What do you think of this truck? Would you drive it as-is, restore it or make it into a patina-performer? Let us know.

Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    I had a 1968 GMC just like this one. It to was a 6 banger 3 on the tree. It was one of the best trucks I’ve ever owned. The GMC were not known as c10 rather they were known as 1500’s at least any I’ve ever seen were. My truck started life as a ESSO station service truck and was in pretty rough shape when my brother bought it. We fixed it up and he had it painted a very bright orange. He later sold it to me for $800.00. I had it for a few year and got into a minor fender bender, I had it repainted to its original copper colour and daily drove it for a total of 18 years. It’s the one vehicle I regret letting go but it was pretty rusted out by then after going through about 25 Canadian winters. This truck brings back lots of memories, nice find.

    Like 19
    • Avatar Junior

      I agree with you that I believe the C-10 was a Chevrolet designation, but not the GMC moniker.

      Like 7
  2. Avatar TimS

    I love these 67-72 trucks. My first ride was a 72 Chevy that’s still in the family. But the GMC grille is hideous across all six model years. I never understood the attraction.

    Like 11
    • Avatar canadainmarkseh

      Personal taste Tim I feel the same way about the chevy grilles, just plain ugly.

      Like 9
  3. Avatar Blaney

    Im a Ford guy but this is a really nice truck. Leave it the way it is.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Miguel

    Montana, I would think you would look at the pictures of the vehicle before giving it a title.

    The truck is clearly a GMC but you used the wrong name in your title as the seller on Ebay did.

    The seller did refer to his truck as a GMC in his write up though.

    This looks like a clean slate to make it into whatever you want.

    Like it or not, the GMC grille has a distinctive look from all the Chevys out there, and that is a good thing.

    Like 9
  5. Avatar R Soul

    Here’s the one I owned back in 79. I can’t recall if mine was a 71, or 72.

    Like 10
  6. Avatar Fordguy1972 Member

    My first pickup was a white 1970 GMC, 3/4 ton, four wheel drive, which I purchased from my uncle in ’75. Tough truck that rode rough and was the worst pickup I’ve ever owned as regards fuel consumption. It maybe got 7-8 MPG city and somewhere around 13-15 MPG highway. Couldn’t afford to drive it every day, mostly used it for hunting and snowmobiling in Northern Maine.

    I like this GMC, though I couldn’t live with the color; looks too DOT to me. I’d keep the shifter on the floor, though maybe go with a factory-style stick. Always disliked three-on-the-tree, especially when everything gets worn. Freshen it up to stock, get that GMC grill to shine and use it as a nice daily driver though I’m a little surprised the MPGs aren’t a little better with the six. Probably go for good money as most folks seem to want the six-footers. That rust spot over the windshield is odd, don’t believe I’ve seen rot-through in that location on a pickup before.

    Like 3
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      You are right about the fuel consumption; it’s on the high side. Same drivetrain combo in my daily driver 77 C5 Blazer with 3.73 turned out 23.5 mpg with mixed driving.It was measured several times and was steady unless I was driving at 60 mph on freeways.

      A truck with brick-like aerodynamics and weighing in at almost 2 metric tons will never break any econo-records though …

      Like 4
  7. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Strippah! That’s the sophisticated older GMC brother to my downscale ’72 C-10 . I’m kinda jealous. Colonel Mustard has the same ugly “ochre” as the seller references. Mine is also converted to three on the floor. I just love the simpler older trucks. I wish I could blow some money on this……

    Like 4
  8. Avatar local_sheriff

    Gotta love that spid label in the glove compartment, not many options there!This is the way I like old trucks – agricultural! Own a 71 Blazer weekend mudder built similarly simple; this generation truck looks so sweet!! I’m one of those that prefer the Chevy face, but that’s obviously individual…

    Great ugly ochre color, was I to repaint mine I’d choose this.Cannot go wrong with that 250/3spd manual combo, putting that stick trough the floor is highly understandable.

    Agree with you Mountainwoodie; would love to blow some $ on this!

    Like 4
  9. Avatar John C.

    I had this same basic truck in Chevy, 71, 8 foot bed, 4 speed, 305 V-8 3/4 ton, NO power steering! That color is an original GM color and if I’m not mistaken it’s called Ochre. Went everywhere with mine, but it was awful to park in a stall along the curb with manual steering.

    Like 5
  10. Avatar DLM

    Love the 67-72 Chevy and GMC truck run! So dependable and easy to work on, not to mention how cool they look, original or modified!

    Like 2
  11. Avatar D. TINBERG

    Cslling it a Chevy is a minor insult

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Jake Stinson

    Ford built the most attractive pickup bar none.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Ken

    There is no 1971 GMC C10. Too often, writers here use Chevrolet nomenclature to identify GMC trucks. For example, I have seen “1951 GMC 3100.” There is no such animal. 3100 refers to the Chevy 1/2-ton. The GMC equivalent is the 100. The truck listed here is a 1500. The 3/4-ton version is a 2500. This hasn’t changed. My 2004 Sierra is a 2500HD extended cab. It is a short bed 2WD with a Duramax Diesel, and I have had three people offer to buy it from me, because they do not want a crew cab pickup.

    I see the title of this article has been changed.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar stillrunners

    Ken got it right – really nice truck there……my 72 1500 Siera has the same mustard color with a white roof…

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Fiete T.

    I call this color “County Worker Yellow.” Ford’s version of this is called “City of Oysterbay Yellow.”

    Like 0
  16. Avatar DAVID6

    i have a 63 gmc short big window 4×4, 6 cylinder one owner, i drove it from wyoming 2 socal in 1979. never missed a beat, i drove it so hard, the exhaust manifold was bright red. that said it is a project. i purchased, new windshield, rear sliding window, new wood & stainless 4 bed, installed power stearing & brake’s, overhauled, 454, turbo 400, transfer case, brake’s shoe’s, cyclinders, & alot more all new old (lol) never finished due 2 broken neck, 10 projects, 2 old 2 finish, hey barn crew please bare with me

    Like 1

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