While I am not necessarily a vintage truck guy, my favorite of the domestics is the short-box, stepside-bed GMC and Chevy twins from the middle 80s. This truck is a great example of the breed and perhaps made a touch more desirable for being the less-often-seen GMC version. The seller notes this one is unique for its combination of the high-output V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, along with being completely rust-free. Find it here on eBay with bids approaching $6K and the reserve unmet.
The seller has added some of his own touches to the truck, including a mild suspension drop, Bluetooth audio, and a Flowmaster exhaust. These are all easily reversible mods, but I believe they make the truck more enjoyable without ruining its wonderful survivor appearance. I’m glad the seller resisted the urge to add a set of obscenely wide, staggered wheels.
The interior looks quite nice, and as the seller points out, the four-speed manual is rare to find – particularly in such a formation that first gear isn’t a “granny” gear and fourth gear is an actual overdrive gear, making it pleasant to use both in-town and on the interstate. Other options include air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes. I love how the lower edge of the dash is color-keyed to the exterior.
This is actually one of my favorite trucks from the large Georgia collection we’ve listed here as a Barn Finds Exclusive. This is a very similar truck, right down to the manual gearbox and stepside bed. It needs a motor, but that’s also what makes it a perfect candidate for a sleepy hot rod build with its patina’d exterior and a modern powerplant under the hood. How would you build a stepside like this?
I’ve always preferred my pickup to be the long bed. Just from a styling perspective. If I gotta have a shorty, then stepside is my choice! I could DD this as long as my gasoline budget held up!
Seeing the 4 speed, what is that, a New Process 833 something, I’d love to have that. Quite frankly, I’ve never seen that trans. in a squarebody before. Everybody that bought one, used it for HD work, pickup truck work, and the low 1st gear came in handy, and saved the clutch, very few wanted an O/D transmission, the truck just wasn’t used for that. I wonder how hard of a swap that would be, and if all that work would be worth it. I’d have to cut a new hole in the floor, for starters. As equipped, this is a really nice squarebody. I’m sure the 4 speed will drive the price up considerable.
I have a 91 91stepside with high output 350 with a 5 so train and it good running truck
For me, it’s just crying out for (at least) some Chevy truck rally wheels, and a slightly wider “tar” to fill out/balance those humongous wheel wells! I once met a guy who had a long bed Silverado, identical to mine, EXCEPT for the factory four speed!! :-)