What a great-looking truck. Being a Montana truck since it was bought new there in 1976, it appears to be better preserved than if it would have been a couple of states east of there where tons of road salt is used every winter. The seller has this 1976 GMC K1500 Sierra listed here on eBay in Winston, Montana and the current bid is $10,212 and there is no reserve!
Ok, this side isn’t quite as awe-inspiring as the first photo was, but bidders are all over this original Montana truck, despite the rust, dents, and whatever else is going on. 99% of you know that GMC referred to this box style as a Wideside as opposed to their Fenderside box, which some of us generically call a stepside. These are just about the hottest trucks on the market today, although if this would have been a 6.5-foot shortbox instead of the 8-foot box, the price may have been much more than ten-grand right now.
Believe it or not, a buyer could get a wood floor in the pickup bed on the 8-foot version. This one has a sprayed-on bedliner back there over a standard steel bed floor. Hagerty is at $14,500 for a #3 good condition truck for a general comparison.
It’s back to looking like a perfect original truck again here. The third-generation GMC and Chevrolet K-series 4×4 pickups were made from 1973 to 1987, the C-series pickups were the two-wheel-drive version. The seller says that this 77,000-mile GMC has been in the same family since being purchased brand new in Helena, Montana by a service station owner and was mainly used as a parts runner and then parked inside.
The interior appears to be in beautiful condition and is there anything cooler and more 1970s than lime green with plaid seats? This is a base Sierra trim level and there would have been three levels above this one with even more plush features inside. This truck was taken care of by a meticulous owner according to the seller who bought it from the original owner’s daughter last year. Despite rust showing up in several places, including on the right front fender as seen in this close-up of the bottom of the passenger door, it really looks like a solid truck. There are no underside photos, however.
The engine compartment looks super clean for being 46 years old now. It’s a 350 cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor which had 165 horsepower. Am I missing the power steering or isn’t there power steering? It would have been an option so maybe the original owner didn’t care about that too much. This one runs well with the usual puff of smoke on startup. Any thoughts on this GMC Sierra 4×4?
Good looking truck. Love the 70’s green plaid interior and green exterior. Back when trucks were made to haul and work like a worn pair of work pants that always seem to find their way to the top of the stack this will be the vehicle you want to grab the keys and enjoy a simpler life. The RPO code sticker says N41 variable ratio power steering so unless it’s been removed this truck crosses off the basic essentials for carefree cruising. I’m more of a Ford guy but I think the square body has better looks than the comparable high boy.
We sold a pile of trucks very similar to this one back in the day. Had to replace a few front drive chains until they came out with a better quality one. This one would have a TH350 transmission in it, which is more than adequate although until 1978 they could crack transmission cases when coupled to a a 203 transfer case. GM came out with a good bracing system that eliminated that problem in ‘78. Scotty, I’m pretty sure that this one has power steering. The Saginaw steering pump is tucked very close to the left front of the block. I’m pretty sure it would be running the F-44 package that mandated power steering and brakes. I had a customer that was the very definition of “Cheap Skate.” I’m sure he could squeeze a penny until Lincoln’s eyes popped out. He bought a ‘76 3/4 ton 2WD and was downright incensed when he found out that power steering and brakes were standard equipment on a 3/4 ton. He actually expected us to remove those items and install manual steering and brakes. But he bought the truck after squeezing our sales rep down to his shoelaces. And, oh yes, EVERYTHING was under 12/12 warranty.
Thanks, Geo. I couldn’t see it but I should have figured that it would have that. A GMC brochure that I found online said that both power steering and power brakes were optional.
For the half-ton version power steering and brakes were optional on the lighter trucks but get up to the heavy half or the F44 package and those were included…
That’s good info, sir, thanks much.
Mayzwel get in on this one too. If you look on the “line sheet”, option “N41” indicates “variable ratio power” and we can’t see “steering” part, but does indeed have P/S. I couldn’t imagine a 4wd without it. Foolhardy to do so, however, back then, this was still considered a “mans truck”. Sorry ladies, trucks hadn’t gotten cushy enough yet, ( not to say there weren’t some gals that could wrestle a manual steering truck, but not many, and I surely wouldn’t pixx them off) and I bet there was some spirited old cuss, that didn’t think power steering was “manly”, and there is a shred of merit to that, I do like the feel manual steering, but gets old fast, like the 1st corner. I drove a friends older Ford pickup without P/S, you wouldn’t believe what a chore that is. This truck appears to be sold, for a price of,gulp,,$14,600. I just can’t believe that, as I told of a truck just like this last summer, 4×4 and all,,okay, not as nice, but don’t be fooled, this truck been around the block a few times, sat on a busy highway near me all summer, price was $4000. Now, I may out of touch, in some regard, but that truck probably sold for $3,000, maybe $3,500, how can this sell for, a whopping( to me) TEN GRAND MORE?? Sorry to derail the post, but something fishy,,,
A 4×4 with manual steering was a good way to develop those triceps. We had a few of them before finally getting the P/S option. I don’t like to get too involved in asking/purchasing prices unless I’m ready to pull out the checkbook. Incidentally, Happy Birthday, Howard! Hope you have many more…
The power steering booster and master cylinder or right there on the firewall I see it in my picture
“Power steering booster”?
LoL 😂!
I see no power steering either
LoL 😂!
I see no power steering either.
Wouldn’t mind this truck in my driveway. Nice.
Proper truck.
Got the same mudflaps on my 86 K20. Nice truck, I wish one of my 5 square bodies was this nice but mine get rode hard and worked hard.
Another example that again proves the PNW+ Northern Mountain States are the regions to find prime squarebodies.
IMHO GM could’ve just as well stopped developing the C/K series in the late 70s and simply kept producing trucks just like this and we would’ve had trucks that lasted for an eternity. Or maybe GM simply realized this mishap and decided that for their own existence’s sake they’d better produce lousier trucks …?
“Movin to Montana Soon, wanna be a dental floss tycoon” fz
+10!
You don’t see the state mud flaps anymore. My dad had the WA version with “the evergreen state” on them.
Back in the day there were ‘Big Sky’ mudflaps everywhere. I also remember Wyoming flaps with ol’ “Steamboat” the bucking horse, on them. They were all over the place into the ’80s then they vanished like a fart in the wind…
The power steering pump is in this pic. End of discussion.
https://flic.kr/p/2mT9PqC
Boom! Thanks, Jwzg!
Sold $14,600!!!!!! The buyer got a heck of a deal!
350 with 165 hp I don’t think so 305 had 165 hp and it was a piece of sh$t
You want to drive something without power steering, drive a semi tractor without it. We called them “Armstrong” steering because your arms would be strong after driving them awhile.
Now THIS is a truck! I’ll take an 8′ bed over 6′ all day every day. If I didn’t already have a bunch of square bodies, most of which are drivers, I’d be on this one!
I still have my 1976 Chevrolet C 20. The rear bumper was also optional, spare tire was, radio was, P steering was and Power brakes. Mine was spring green which is the color of this GMC. They may have called the color by a different name. Mine had the 350 4bbl and manual 4 speed.
Anyone remember those Luverne rear truck bumpers?
I had a 1975 K5 Blazer this color, 2 wheel drive, inline 6, 3 on the tree. Factory heat delete. Made for a cold ride here in Wisconsin in January & February lol.
Sure miss the truck though!
Auction update: this great-looking truck sold for $14,600.
I owned a ’76 GMC 8 foot bed 4×4 with a 400 motor coupled to the 400 transmission…
The truck would CLIMB TREES!
Miss the truck… but DON’T miss having to fill 2 22 gallon gas tanks.
Can you say “sponge on wheels”?