When I see an older vehicle like this that has obviously been both used and loved it makes me smile. I suppose that moves it from true barn find to survivor status, but I’m okay with that! This 1969 GMC Sierra 2500 is listed for sale here on eBay, where 35 bids as I write have pushed it only to $4,000; the reserve is higher than that. You’ll be driving the truck home from Vacaville, California if you are the lucky high bidder.
The period camper top makes the truck even more usable in my view and adds to the distinctive appearance. We’re told it’s been “pampered since new” and I can certainly believe it.
There’s even a smiley face on the tailgate — so the truck is cheerful too. If you look closely, the rear window of the camper has the name “Shell City” on it. A quick internet search led me to an Arizona RV dealer by that name; I wonder if they commissioned their own camper shells? That’s a pretty serious rear step bumper as well.
I admit, I was expecting a metal bed, but apparently this is original for this vintage GMC. Any ideas (apart from them having been replaced) why the four center rails would look so much different from the outer ones? Sun damage on the others, maybe? 59,610 miles doesn’t seem like enough to warrant replacing any of them, especially if the camper top has been on since new.
Inside, we find blue. Yes, blue. Well, you can’t have everything right, and the tear in the seat would be enough to start me towards a green or gray interior — sorry, originality fans, I’m just not getting into the blue and green mix. I am glad, however, to see air conditioning vents on the dash, although we’re not told if it’s operational or not. I’m also surprised that there are no under hood pictures, but we are told the engine is a 350 V8 and it’s attached to an automatic transmission. All I know is that I’m still smiling even after looking this truck over for a long time — would it make you smile if it were yours?
Maybe the original owner was color blind. My best friend would see this truck and say that brown truck looks great with the darker brown interior
I had a buddy in H.S. who bought weird color pant and shirt combos. I never said anything but one day he asked me if I liked his new grey slacks. They were bright green/blue. I just said yeah buddy those are nice. I guess it goes for cars too. BTW this same guy bought a stellar 1964 Malibu SS convertible. I knew I liked him for some reason.
In case you are not aware there were places that sold nothing but shells of all kinds. At least there were back in the ’80s.
I am not sure if they still exist.
Shell City would have been the name of the shell dealer.
My parents had a place in the 80’s that specialized in pu truck shells and bedliners and such. Except they called them caps back then. In fact they called their place Cap City.
I love the truck, but either the green or the blue would have to go. I had two of this vintage trucks, one a C2500 and one a K1500. Both were very durable and dependable. The 2500 was a big block with HD tow package and would pass anything but a gas station. Come to think about it, the 350 in the 1500 wasn’t much better!
That is just a super cool truck. Makes me smile too.
Probably worth more with the camper shell removed.
Your probably right but it’s period correct, helps protect the wooden bed slats from the weather and makes it more useful for some. Personally, I’d prefer this truck with an open bed with no camper shell (if I had a carport or garage to store it).
A great time capsule that was used and cared for over the years👍👀
I’m thinking they had a roll of carpet covering the 4 center slats in the back of the bed. All the bed slats appear original, except obviously the center 4 being nicer than the surrounding ones. The darker interior pieces are dark green. The only blue interior piece I see is the steering wheel! I got excited for a second when I seen the farther away interior shot……..I thought it might of had the rare factory tach option…….instead, someone stuck a stick-on temperature weather gauge where the factory tach would go. That rear step bumper has got to go, FUGLY! However I dig the 70’s camper shell……..goes well with the truck. Bidding is at $4,850 with reserve not met. VERY NICE truck!
A neighbor had a 1970 F100 with this same cap on the bed. The way it’s cut at the rear makes it look a bit sporty. I’d remove the cap for everyday but, I’d keep it for the times when I’d need it.
I like this truck a lot. They were numerous out west, even in this color. I kind of think that GM took a shine to this the way the majority of truck manufacturers took to Forest Green before and after the war. The middle boards in the bed were likely replaced recently as the wooden floorboards cracked and warped something fierce.
Last time it was listed the BIN was $10,000. The pictures are better generally better this go round, but there is now no picture of the engine compartment. Considering the area the price is fair, he could probably get that on the local market if it’s as clean as the pictures indicate. Neither ad mentions mentioned original paint, just interior, I’d assume it has been repainted at some point.
I have the Chevy twin (except interior) in my driveway. Great truck except at freeway speed you can actually watch the gas gauge move! Most of these came with 4:56 gear in the rear. Great for towing over 55 not so much.
You used to be able to order weird color combos like this. I read an article written about a GM plant that once received an order for a green car with a blue interior. They called the dealer to make sure he wanted it, and the dealer confirmed the order. They then had a frantic call from the dealer right afterword saying the customer had backed out. They had to pluck a punchcard out of a pile and hope they removed the correct card, or else they were going to make a car that nobody wanted. They somehow managed to pull the right one. It makes you wonder if whoever bought this truck new ordered it this way, or got a good deal because of a similar situation.
My guess is the four boards in the bed have been replaced as they look too different from the boards on either side, especially the ends. The bed shows use so over almost 50 years who knows what was loaded or spilled in there and damaged the originals.
The steering column, dash pad and dash panel appear to be green. The door panels appear to be a dark green. The Steering wheel seems to be blue. The seat appear to be blue(ish). Or maybe I’M colorblind? Again, an almost 50 year-old truck could have had a few things replaced in the cab from wear. Don’t care for the cap. I’d probably keep it but that truck would look better without. Original hubcaps almost mandatory on this original beauty.
I had a 1970 GMC, 3/4 ton, 4wd, 4-speed stick, 307 cubes with those infamous lock-out hubs. It was my first pick up, the first of many. Tough as a bag of hammers, awful gas mileage but I loved it. It was my first, after all.
After looking at the picture on ebay, the shot from the passengers side.
The seat is 2 tone dark green and light green.
The steering wheel is green.
I’m pretty sure the lighting is just making the color look blue in the other pictures.
I was told that wood beds were optional and preferred by farmers. Better footing for farm critters. I’m a city kid. Does anyone know if that’s true?
Nice.
Love the interior and exterior colours…for me, that’s part of vintage vehicles’ charm. I however do think those exterior mirrors look odd for a ’69…are they period correct?
The mirrors are not original, nor are they period correct.
I’m baffled about something as well, I’ve never seen one of these with a wooden bed. Gm switched to a steel bed in 67. Hopefully someone will fill me in on the mystery.
RPO E81 (Fleetside wood bed) was available for LWB only, up to 1977 I believe.
Example: http://rmcavoy.freeshell.org/77Truck/photos1.html
76 documentation: https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1976-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf
When I see this done with mirrors, I suspect mis-aligned attachment locations on the body…and a potential for patch and paint work.
Speaking of mirrors I prefer the “West Coast” style. My old F250 was a pretty truck.
Damn nice, I had one just like it, wish I still had it. 66 was a great year.
I’ve grew up in these trucks & have owned I think 13 of them, still have 3 including a 68 that my aunt purchased new. It is a radio, lighter & rear view mirror delete truck. These trucks could be ordered without mirrors installed at the factory. I have had a couple with these mirrors. I believe they were installed by the dealer when someone wanted more than the small mirrors but didn’t want the larger towing or West Coast style mirrors. They usually came without rear bumpers & the dealers installed a large variety, sometimes assembled by local machine shops, some elaborate, depending upon the application. Wooden beds could be had through the mid 70’s, but I believe only on long beds after 72. They were yellow pine, & starting in 67, the boards & slats were painted body color, which usually soaked in or wore off pretty quickly. Those 4 center boards look like they have been replaced. GMC was the higher end truck back then, & they did some things to set themselves apart from the Chevy. Contrasting interiors were one of those things. The columns & steering wheel were usually different colors, such as light & dark green. The gauge bezel was usually body color instead of argent, & quite often the glove box door matched the steering wheel color.
This is a pic from an original 68 sales brochure.