Much has been written about the looming demise of the car hobby. From electrification to the baby boomers aging out, anyone who wants to push a grabby headline can do so by claiming we’re going to collectively push all of our Camaros and 911s into the sea. This is hardly the truth, obviously, and when we start to see classic models reborn with modern conveniences and reliability, it may sting a bit to admit what we knew is gone but it’s also incredibly encouraging when we see a truck like this 1990 GMC Sierra 3500 reborn with new components from stem to stern. Find it here on eBay with a $120,000 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
Right off the bat, I know what you’re thinking: “Well yeah, for $120K, I’d expect a brand new truck and then some!” Totally get it. What I find more relevant in this instance is taking a truck that was formerly just a highway department workhorse and seeing the potential in it as a restored rig that someone with the means can continue to use like an everyday driver. Let’s face it: if you’re willing to pony up six figures for a loaded F150, doing the same with a truck equipped with a 454 big block in place of where the new Lightning pickup’s “frunk” is located seems like a worthy trade-off. As you can likely tell, this GMC benefits from a full respray with a bed that has clearly never been used.
While this isn’t actually a restomod (thank goodness, as it was a perfectly good truck before it was restored and just needed some of its rough edges smoothed over), the idea of a restomod doesn’t bother me at all. For many younger members of the hobby, a restomod Camaro or Firebird may be their entry point into classic muscle car ownership. An antique vehicle that doesn’t feel like an antique when you sit in it but still looks like nothing else on the road. The GMC here benefits from a completely new interior, a refreshed suspension with a lift kit, and a brand-new braking system. There are plenty of other enhancements which suggest no money was spared in its revival, all the way down to replacing the weatherstripping and door handles.
The 454 big block was also rebuilt, along with the transmission and transfer case. I do wonder if the builder intended to use this truck or if a shop built it as a means of advertising. It would seem like the kind of vehicle you’d want to enjoy for a few years before selling it, but it could be a case of a new project or build catching the owner’s eye. This GMC will likely never again be used for heavy lifting but it certainly could work as a brawny beach rig or an elite hauler for an equally-elite show car stowed on a gooseneck trailer. Either way, it’s going to cost a few bills to call it your own; what would you pay for this restored crew cab?
Decent truck,if you have actual use for it (not going grocery shopping),
but at $120,000.00,it’ll never be used as a work truck.For that price,you could buy a work truck,& a bunch of cool,lesser cars.
An awesome truck, but a helluva price, wow! These square body trucks are great, but they come with a lot of compromises. Anyone spending that kind of cash is not going to love the ride. They’ll jump in expecting a 2022 Denali, and instead they get a full leaf spring ride that’s bouncy and handles like a potato. When you’re spending $15,000 those compromises are fine, but bump that price up and you’ll end up with a lot of buyer’s regret.
Love the “handles like a potato “ comment. Gave me a good chuckle
Very cool, although high priced. However unusable up where I live as there is no way on God’s green early I’d subject this beauty to road salt, which we have for significant portions of the year.
I don’t like doing it on my new trucks either, but at least I can get rid of the new truck before it’s too bad and GM will make more. I do like the extremely clean, tidy appearance of this build, and you can see quality clearly mattered.
I wonder how the new 6.6L Gas engine performs compared to the 454 big block in this truck. I’m guessing it performs just as well, and maybe gets better mileage? On the Ford side I’m obviously a huge 460 fan, but I’m guessing the new 7.3 Gas is a a more efficient option.
The prices for these old square body Chevy and GMC trucks has gotten out of control. This is a really nice truck but come on I really doubt that you are going to have a long list of people willing to pay $120000 for it. Get real. Realistic money would be closer to $75000 in my opinion and that is only because it is in like new restored condition.
120K is a mighty ambitious price point, but there are quite a few members of the more money than sense club
$120,000 = I don’t really want to sell it but if you’re stupid enough to give me this amount then that’s on you
Interesting, I have a 1990 GMC and this does not look like a 1990, this is a 1987 my brother back in the day had one that was a 2500 Chevy and it was the same body style. Mine is a 1990, I bought it new, regular cab long bed, and it is a different body style. Nice truck! Maybe 3500 had the old body style. And mine drives and steers great, not like a potato, sorry you are wrong, better than some trucks much newer, oh yeah, I took care of mine.
@Daniel Bell Chevrolet kept the Square body design on the 3/4T and 1T trucks as well as the K5 Blazer and Suburban until 1991.
3500, Suburbans and K-5 didn’t change until 1991. I thought 2500 didn’t either, but there may have been some overlap. The had separate designations for the carryover models–instead of C/K (C referred to 2wd and K to 4wd for those unfamiliar) they were referred to as R/V.
Unfortunatly you have fell into the stigma that in 88 the square bodies were gons forever. Untrue, 88 to 91 the Suburbans, crew cabs/ with duals, and Blazers were Squares. How do I know this? I have a 88 CrewCab Duallie, and a 89 Suburban that are both Squares. Also I have factory shop manuals that show them along with all the rest of the typical items.
@Don And in Mexico the Regular Cab Short Bed were still the square body until 1991.
Imagine a regular cab short bed square body with this front end and those are the trucks Mexico has.
The new rounder style came out in 1992 so Mexico was selling the square body through the 1991 model year.
A lot of them are still around and in really nice condition.
I’m restoring a 1989 3500 round body with a454 reman body in clean condition with a 171000 miles motor blew a rod been parked for several years interior is very clean so it will cost me about seven grand to get it on the road 120000 bit too much always be scared it will get scratched or wrecked no insurance will cover that amount unless certified as a collectable unrestored original
3500, Suburbans and K-5 didn’t change until 1991. I thought 2500 didn’t either, but there may have been some overlap. The had separate designations for the carryover models–instead of C/K (C referred to 2wd and K to 4wd for those unfamiliar) they were referred to as R/V.
My First Boss Owned A General Automotive Shop And A 77 4×4 Surbuban ,Which We Installed A 454 Big Block , 4″ Lift Kit And 38″ Tires , What Stands Out How Poorly The Truck Handled And How Horrible The Truck Stopped , Other Than That Was Badass , Two Tone Silver & Grey Monsta
One similar to this except in red sold at Barrett-Jackson a couple weeks ago for $100,000.
https://youtu.be/LXs2Dmgrugo
I sold my version of this, except dually/Chevy, because it needed everything and was just too much truck to restore “moneywise”! The bed was bad enough that I just ditched it.