Early 1950’s Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks are certainly one of the most iconic American vehicles out there, and they are equally as common restored original as they are in hot rod form. These trucks are one of the few vehicles that I like the original ones as much as I like the modified ones; they just look good no matter what! GMCs seem less common than Chevrolets of the era, so finding one in as good condition as this one is something of a rarity. The desert patina on this truck is the perfect amount of patina: its mostly just wear, and none if it is any more than mild surface rust. This particular GMC can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $12,500, and for the condition that does not seem unreasonable.
The story from the seller is “We found the truck in the Nevada desert a while back and have been driving it since,” and from the looks of it I believe all parts of that story. Its nicer than I would expect for a truck that has been sitting in the desert, and the interior looks to be in largely serviceable condition. I would drive this truck just as it sits, the only thing I would do is fix up the minor things that need to be functional, if any. Having taken apart a couple of these in my lifetime, I can vouch that there isn’t much to the interior on these trucks or any of the mechanisms in there.
Like the rest of the truck, the engine looks old but it looks maintained. This is a GMC 248, and the body tag rating this engine at 115 horsepower is probably accurate. These are known to be more than adequate for any activities you would be doing in a truck like this, and are relatively easy to work on. The amount of blue on this truck inside and out is great, I love blue vehicles and the more blue the better. Some may say its too much, but I think its just enough!
The only thing I would change on this truck is the utility bumper on the rear. While I’m sure somebody is lusting after it, I am not. The original rear would be a lot smaller, but I think it would really complete the look of the truck if one in similar condition was found. I would maybe put some clear coat over this paint and patina, and keep it as is. Guaranteed you wouldn’t worry about door dings, or using it for a truck! The seller states that this truck runs and drives great, and is ready for service. Would you clean it up and drive it, or use it as a starting point for a restoration project?
‘love the dash…
The factory rear bumper is about useless for someone using this truck as a truck. That type of rear bumper is common on western trucks and was most likely installed when the truck was new.
factory bumper was probably an option, had a 72 dodge that came without a rear bumper
Clean it up and use it. It would be a rolling restoration; something to be enjoyed as a truck should be. Clean the exterior rub it down and polish it. A respray (in the same color scheme) would come sometime later. The 248 will be a bit more expensive to keep running than the 235 that the Chevy version ran but it is next to indestructible. If you wanted to get a bit more power, move up to a 270 but the 248 will surprise you. I wouldn’t change it. Great find!
The love of patina just confuses the heck out of me. But if you really love patina, I guess all those 2010 vehicles on the eastern US coast should be fantastic for you. Best clear coat that rust on them now to preserver their ‘beauty’.
A truck is a truck. It’s meant to be a truck. That rear bumper was meant to be functional, not a sissified decoration. If you want to replace it with something tiny and thin, and preserve the truck’s damaged condition, well, perhaps a trailer queen is more your style.
For that point, why not take a 2018 GMC 3500 and start sanding through the clear coat and paint all over the body, start the rust process early. Make it look totally trashed, destroy the interior, ruin the engine compartment, and start damaging items like door handles, breaking the glass, etc. You’ll have a fantastic weathered patina on your $50,000 truck! Awesome!
Seriously though, I would fix the truck up to be a daily runner, tidied up, painted, and usable. If I wanted a vehicle that was just to be seen and not used, or to intentionally preserve its damaged condition for its looks, then I wouldn’t buy it at all. It just wouldn’t be fair to the truck.
I don’t understand why patina is as popular as it is, especially since some people are clear-coating over rough surface rust. That said, I think this truck looks good as it is because it seems to have spent some time sitting in the desert, and the paint wear pattern is a testament to its life prior to now. Peeling paint on a 5 year old car is just peeling paint!
A real truck is one you can wash with a hose. Inside and out.
This one qualifies.
Perfect truck………superior GMC components, full chrome grill, one piece windshield, great GMC instrument cluster…………….clean, put new original paint colors, reupholster…….super truck. The only missing thing is corner windows.
Pretty much what Dave said.
Patina is okay with me. New paint ruins an old car. Never gets used again. No clear, just wax. Just don’t park it outside continuously. Sun and rain not good for vehicles.
WRT the rear bumper, I don’t LOVE how it looks, but it is a really good idea. Excellent rear protection. Plus, these are pretty light on the rear anyway, puts a few pounds right where you need it. Paint it BLUE?
LOSE THE WHITEWALLS. Tires are black. Work tires are ALWAYS BLACK. Whitewalls are like high heels- status symbols that show you don’t work.
YMMV
I agree that the rear bumper, much like the paint, is a testament to the life this truck has lived. If I was using this as my only truck, I would likely keep it even though I think it takes away from the natural body lines! And you’re right: nothing better than a paint job you don’t have to worry about.
I love the truck. Back in the late 50s, my buddy had a 52 GMC that we lowered, split the exhaust, and thoroughly enjoyed. We knew about the limitation of the dipper oiling system in the engine and never pushed it too hard. It was a very reliable, albeit, low performance engine.
This truck has the heavy duty transmission, which I have never seen in the 1/2 ton.
I don’t ever recall seeing a factory two tone blue paint job.
Beautiful truck.
The GMC engines are full pressure oilers (from a pump). Chevy’s have the splash oilers aka dippers. The oil pressure gauge in a GMC goes to a higher max pressure than a Chevy although I can’t recall the numbers of the top of my head. Maybe your buddies truck had a Chevy engine transplant.
That is my recollection as well…..I,was going to ask Geo……mine had a 283 installed before I bought it…….I would have to retrofit some corner windows in it. That full chrome front end is really nice. There were 3 levels of chrome options on the grill, this one has the most available.
Starter on floor next to gas pedal? Then gotta do some ballet move to give it gas when cranking it over? Or forget the gas pedal and just use choke? What’s the proper procedure to get this thing running? Aside from start pushing and pop it into second
The starter pedal is close enough to the gas that you can push them at the same time with your foot. If that bit of twinkle toe ballet is not you, then put it in neutral, apply the parking brake and use both feet. Once it warms up, it should start without needing to touch the gas.
Good info from all who answered, thanks much! Never noticed this feature before. Sounds like a klunky design, but also a “natural” anti-theft device
I had a ’50 Chevrolet PU and a ’57 Chevrolet panel both with 6 cyl engines and floor starters. Never had a bit of problem starting each. If you look carefully at all the old 20’s & 30’s movies you can see the drivers starting the cars using floor starters. I am beginning to believe the best theft proof car today is one with a floor starter and a 3spd manual transmission on the column.
SunbeamerStu, when engine is cold pull the choke out halfway, pump the gas pedal twice and hit the floor starter with the right upper part of your foot. When the engine fires slip foot on throttle, press a little and adjust choke for smooth running. A lot of cars and trucks back then also had separate hand throttles too usually on the other side of the steering wheel from the choke.
Hi SS, the last year for the “stomp starter” in GM trucks, was 1959 for the 6 cylinder, 1955 for the V8, and only sticks, automatic did not have them, 6 or 8. It was a “heel and toe” deal, and since many of the parking brakes didn’t work, you’d put it in neutral and your left foot would hold the brake, right heel, the gas, and right toes, the starter.
You developed a knack for using the foot starter and pumping the gas with your heel. Actually the GM products had the starter and gas pedal close enough to catch both of them with the toe of your shoe. We had a Dodge that you definitely used your heel to pump the gas. The Dodge had a tendency to flood when hot so you just pressed the starter with your toe and held the gas to the floor with your heel. Worked for me…
Neanderthal design. Starter button on the dash made a whole lot more sense
$12,500? Seriously? What are they smokin down there?
Once again I’m late to the comments (I typically download a weeks worth of postings that interest me and read them during my lunch break). I also want to comment on the rear bumper that is on the truck. My first P/U was a 49 Chev 3100 (w/ a shortened 3/4 ton bed). When bought in ’78, it was chock full of “patina” and a mangled rear bumper. I found a very similar bumper as to the one on the featured GMC and installed it on my P/U. For me a P/U must be able to be used to carry. Attached image is of a garage I build back in fall ’87. Every stick of lumber, siding, etc to build the garage was carried by that P/U. The tool box is definitely period incorrect but extremely useful in that I was able to wedge the 16 ft long 2×6 (rafters) tight under to tool box and was able to carry them in the standard length bed without sliding out in the drive from the lumberyard.
BTW, the garage in the image was built around an existing 2 car garage and then the rickety 2 car garage inside was torn down and the material used for decking the attic. My Falcon was always under the old garage roof or the new garage roof during construction while the TR6 and P/U spent most of that winter outside. I moved out of the house 23 years ago but have never vacated the garage – now its my workshop garage and out of season car storage.
As to the starter button on the floor – it may be neanderthal but it eliminates a starter relay – your foot pressing the button is effectively the relay, closing the circuit between the battery and the starter.
I’m curious what the headliner looks like in your truck and the mounting for the rear view mirror.