Forgive yourself if you’re not familiar with the this truck’s original 305 cid (5.0L) V6 powerplant. Before GMC trucks became a virtual clone of Chevy in every way, GMC made its own line of engines including some interesting V6 and related motors. This 1961 GMC Wideside pickup in Loveland, Colorado starts and runs “smooth,” according to the seller, and is nearly all original except for its dual exhaust. The stablemate Chevy C10 pickups are hotter than a $2 pistol these days, and you’re probably more likely to find a modern GM LS powerplant under the hood of one than a stock 305. The listing here on Craigslist asks $5600 for the solid eastern plains driver. Thanks to reader Gunter K. for spotting this Colorado field schooner.
With valve covers reminiscent of the mighty 409, the 305 might fool the novice into mistaking it for a powerhouse until someone starts counting exhaust ports and spark plugs. I remember seeing the V6 badge on GMC dump trucks back in the day and thinking it must have been some underpowered slug with 5.86 gears. This 305D made a reasonable 165 HP according to GMHeritageCenter, and the 60 degree V6 line was praised for its smooth operation and torque. If you think the 305 is interesting, check out the 702-cubic-inch (11.5 L) V12 “Twin Six” utilizing a block cast to operate as two of these engines fused together.
The “made it in metal shop” rear bumper should guard well against daydreaming texters to your stern. A rear-ender that might cost the GMC owner $5 for a rattle-can of silver spray paint would send most modern cars to the junk yard.
The silver interior is original according to the seller, providing seating for at least three abreast. A yard-long shifter stirs a manual gearbox of unknown cog count, though the number of the counting shall most likely be three. Stylized door panels remind you this truck barely escaped the ’50s. Fast forward another decade and such design cues were replaced by flat panels in a flurry of Form follows Function. Would you have expected a stock a GMC V6 under the hood?
I always thought it would be cool to put a twin six in a truck like this but I think you would have to put your cup holders inside the air cleaner. Still neat that the GMC truck was built as a true work horse compared to its Chevy rival. Even more cool was GM allowed each brand under the GM umbrella to develop its own engine.
I remember when I was a kid our plumber had an early 1960s GMC with that V-6 badge on the fender.
He drove nothing but GMC trucks over the years
My dad has driven nothing but a GMC since his first 53 “5 window”. He is getting late into his 80s and has a new Acadia AT4 that he is driving. He is still putting on 20+ thousand miles a year. The old guy just keeps on trucking!
How was he at unplugging the pipes?
I’ve had GMC products.
The ‘64 S/Bed truck had a horrible starter switch. Other than that it was a good truck.
Loaned it to my brother and he drove the pizz out of it when I moved to Seattle.
I had to pry his hands off of it!
Moral of the story: NEVER loan your truck!!!
Another beloved Eyebrow! 1961 was my favorite of this body style and the eyebrow hood was part of it. My dad had a ’61 Chevy Apache 10 and we had a GMC 3-ton. I always thought that the ’62 models were missing something. And that was the eyebrows. Those torsion bar front ends were the ultimate in giving a good smooth ride. Lots of V6s around my home 40. Definitely not speed demons but you sure couldn’t beat them for lugging power…
Funny ,I always thought those were a 302 V6. Old school bus engine among others. 5.0 litre in a mustang = 302
The Ford 5.0. Is actually 4.96 litres. A litre is 61 cubic inches. 61×5=305
Is this the same truck used in the Charles Bronson movie; “Mr. Majestik?” That was a cool flick. He is a classic ‘Bad Azz’ dude!
🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉 and do is this truck!
I thought that was a ‘68 Ford…
These 305 V-6’s have a pretty loyal following.
https://6066gmcclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9
My BIL had a ’61 305/3spd and my dad had a ’64 305/4spd, both LWB Fleetside’s (as we called them). Dad passed his down to me, which I passed down to my oldest son years later. That ’64 was the best truck ever, would pull stumps in granny-low and get 14mpg loaded or empty for the first 30 years of my family’s ownership. Then when the truck was 37 years old and I was driving it down to Phoenix to give to my son, it averaged 18mpg for the trip doing 70 most of the way(only to keep from getting run over!). I had to keep re-checking my figures, but that’s what happened. Blew me away.
My dad had a 65 GMC with the V6 and a 4speed it was a very good running old truck till he got a little drunk and decided to check the oil. He must of misread the stick thinking he was low on oil and put 3 quarts in it and then he drove it like that, it never used oil before that and after you could not keep oil in it, I miss the old fart.
Used to see them quite a bit in the Midwest when I was young. That old V-6 had a sound all it’s own. Most of the
one’s I saw were 4-speeds which this
one probably is. Sadly though, the rust
monster got most of them and it would
start in the front fenders just ahead of
of the doors on either side. And it was
all down hill from there. Even though they rusted into oblivion, they’d work
until the end came. Would love to have
this one, but don’t have a place to keep it.
Drove a couple of those over the years, a good solid truck. Now here’s a question/comment. I seem to remember someone siameseing 2 of these engines together to make a V12 at one time. The name Falcon comes to mind but, but I don’t think it’s the current Falcon Racing. Is my memory still decent or am I way off base?
GMC made a factory V-12 for heavy trucks.
https://youtu.be/S0cgWNLo6Ng
I was looking at a very clean 67 GMC 3/4 ton no rust skinny deep lug tires it was off a ranch in Montana of course it was a manual and looked really original. Imagine my surprise when I popped the hood and saw a giant looking V6, I had no clue what it was? I started asking questions and a day later I called the owner to arrange the purchase and it was gone! I lost a nice one there!
same motor was used in Yale liftrucks…i used to show the motor to people & ask them…Where are the sparkplugs?…real torque-monster
my neighbor back in the day had a GMC pickup ,flat bed ,and large dump truck all had the V6 he loved them ,He passed the the trucks sat and rotted, wife would not sell them.she passed and the junkie got all three .
The website CurbsideClassics.Com had a very good write up about the GMC V6 a few weeks ago. Until a few years ago I had assumed this was the same 3/4ths of a V8 found in Buicks at about the same time.
These V6 engines were made from cast iron and are extremely heavy, especially compared to a modern 6 cylinder engine like the GM/Chevy 4.3.
A true beast of an engine, huge cylinders lots of torque…… we had several of these back in the 70’s. Only thing they wouldn’t pass is the gas station and mud holes
A high school friend had a ’62 w/305 V6 and 4 speed that would pull the right front wheel off the ground in “granny”. Maybe they all would?
My brother’s and I know that our ’64 would, but don’t tell Dad!
Almost certainly the transmission is the 4 speed with the very low first gear (Muncie 420??) On the east coast, Fisher Manufacturing in Maine made this type of rear bumper in several variations, all from their “Step-n-Tow” line, often found on trucks with Fisher snow plows that had been dealer installed. Both the plows and these bumpers were very ruggedly constructed and often outlived the first truck they were installed on. One of their bumper variations allowed the tailgate to drop straight down (to allow the truck to back up tight to a loading dock) while still protecting g the tail lights. And we think we’re so smart nowadays…….
Those “valve covers reminiscent of the mighty 409” remind me of 1973 when I worked at a gas station. This was before the switch to self serve stations. A customer pulled up in an early 1960s Chevrolet pickup truck. He hopped out and raised the hood while I began filling the tank. When I went up front to check the oil I spotted what I thought was a GMC V6. It turned out the guy had yanked the original 283 and had installed a 409. That must have been one screaming truck.
Back in January 1964 I had just flunked out of High School when my dad put me on a greyhound bush to Tacoma, Washington to work on a chicken farm with my older brother outside Puyallup, Washington. The owner of the farm who also owned a pharmacy in town had a 63 GMC pickup with the 305 ci v6 with 4 speed granny transmission and positraction rear end. This guy had more money than the federal government but complained about the poor gas mileage the pickup got.
God bless America
My mechanic is working on a white ’62, with the 305. People are telling the owner to drop in an LS, or whatever. But he wants to keep it stock. Neat truck.
Back in that time the standard 4speed in GMC 1/2-3/4 tons was a close ratio 435 New Process, the Muncie wide ratio was optional.
Good thing I have some improvement projects on deck or I’d take a look, fuel mileage notwithstanding.
As a kid, I knew several folks who had 305’s (and in one case, the 351 V-6) in pickups and Suburbans. Gotta love these beasts. Love the unique sound.
Next up were the same vintage Chevy’s with the 292.
Looks like the valve covers have been resprayed and he ran out of masking tape before he could fully cover the dipstick.
Apparently sold – listing has been deleted.