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Ready to Drive: 1960 GMC 1000 Custom

The owner of this GMC 1000 Custom purchased it 2-years-ago. He has completed a fair amount of mechanical refurbishment on the vehicle but has now decided to sell it. This looks like a nice, solid vehicle that the new owner could choose to either continue down the path that has been forged so far, or they could just choose to drive it as it is. Located in Mount Angel, Oregon, you will find it listed for sale here on eBay.

This pickup is a clean looking vehicle. The owner says that he is in the process of replacing the missing hood on the GMC. It apparently had the wrong one fitted, but he has sourced a replacement, and it is currently being painted in preparation to be fitted to the vehicle. Someone may also need to correct me on this. By my reckoning, the grille fitted to this pickup is not from a 1960 model. To me, it looks like it is from a 1962 model. Please tell me if I’m wrong on that. Rust is pretty minimal, and the small amount of surface corrosion on the cab floor has been treated to stop it from deteriorating. The timber in the bed looks to be in good condition, and it looks like it has recently received some form of treatment or sealer to protect it.

The interior is complete, and it is in quite good condition. The seat looks like it wears a new cover, and the dash is complete and unmolested. The owner has also fitted a new turn signal switch, a new heater core, and a new heater switch. If I were to buy this one, I’d probably install some Dynamat and a rubber floor mat, and just leave the rest of it exactly as it is.

The truck that was used to source the replacement hood has also been kind enough to donate its 305ci V6 engine to the cause. This engine has only clocked 35,000 miles, so should have quite a few years left in it yet. Before the engine was installed, the owner went through it and replaced every gasket and seal. The entire hydraulic system for both the brakes and the clutch have been renewed, the original radiator was rebuilt, new shocks were fitted, new wheel and differential bearings were installed, and five new tires were also fitted. That’s a fairly decent amount of work to hopefully ensure that the pickup remains solid for a while yet.

I’ve got the feeling that older pickups like this GMC will always be popular, and I fully understand that. They have a great look about them, and they are enormously practical. This is a solid example that has some real character about it. The owner has set a BIN price of $14,000 for the vehicle, with the option to make an offer. I suspect that this one will be finding a new home fairly soon.

Comments

  1. Avatar Dean

    Had to look up the ” I brake for artesians” ..Olympia beer. (maybe it should be “break”) I like these big back window GM trucks and the color on this one

    Like 4
  2. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    Nice little Jimmy. Looks like a nice job fixing it up, The only thing I don’t like about this is the 305. That one was a dog. At least I never had any luck with them. Good luck to the new owner.

    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 4
    • Avatar 68custom

      Might be the 305 V6 that was available in these old gmc trucks!

      Like 0
  3. Avatar John parrinello

    How about what looks like the old suburban laying out there

    Like 0
  4. Avatar geomechs Member

    The ‘60 and ‘61 would’ve had the ‘eyebrow’ hood, which is my favorite of the early 60s GM trucks. I’m inclined to agree that the grill is newer. It seems to me that the earlier grills had the headlights sunk in more. I might add that the bright grills are harder to distinguish. GMC was very subtle on its changes compared to Chevy. The V6 is a well-established work horse; it will take you anywhere you want to go and bring you back but don’t be in a big hurry. Myself, I like the V6 and wouldn’t be too quick to swap it out. The big disadvantage is that a full rebuild is going to be considerably more than the Chevy counterpart. It’s said that the vendor replaced all the gaskets and seals. I tend to at least roll in a set of bearings while I’m at it. The GMC block is HARD! A set of rings is going to be hard to seat and it will always have a tendency to use some oil. But I’m of the old adage: If it doesn’t use any; there’s something wrong with it.

    Like 1
    • HoA Howard A Member

      What you doing up at this hour, my friend? I like this truck too, it’s what I was looking for before I bought that gas-hog square-body. Price a little steep, as usual, but a very nice truck. Don’t have much experience with the V6. Old man had one in a Suburban, and didn’t tow a trailer well, that much I remember.

      Like 1
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        Morning, Howard. I see you couldn’t sleep either. For me it’s called the flu and I feel like I got wrapped up in a fire blanket and a bunch of guys had at it with baseball bats. Anyway I like this style too. I don’t think you would see any change in the fuel economy; most reported 12-14 with little changes over in the Chevy camp. But understand that 58 years ago with gas prices down as low as two bits, there wasn’t much concern over fuel economy. If you wanted to increase your range you just did what Dad did with all his trucks: put an extra tank in the bed. That torsion bar front suspension still rivals what’s available today. I sure miss Dad’s ‘61 Apache 10. The smell of that white greasy stuff they used to seal things up combined with hot engine grease and stale cigarette smoke. You know, that’s almost a trademark odor for ‘60s GM trucks. I’m sure it soaks right into the metal because I’ve sat in trucks fresh from a resto and they still smell the same. Maybe it’s all psychological?

        Like 1
  5. Avatar Comet

    I remember my father telling me that these GMC V6’s were well known as incredible workhorses.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar fringecarcollector

    I have a 61 GMC 1502 with 50k original miles, garage kept from new. 305 V6. Fully documented, from the original offer packet from the dealer through and including each registration.
    The 305 V6 backed by a 4 speed is an unbeatable combo. Torque-y, reliable, and still keeps up with modern highway traffic.

    I agree that this body style is the best of the 60-66 because of the hood.

    My 61 has the same grille. I think this one is correct for the truck.

    This truck will make someone very happy.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar NOAH SANVILLE

    I believe the grill is correct. I love these era gmc trucks. I myself have a 1960 gmc with a big-block 305 v6 and a granny low 4 speed. I found the truck about an hour away from me at a farm. I was parked next to the barn in 1998 when the farmers bigger barn burnt down and he lost all of his cattle. He then had no use for the truck and it sat for 20 years until i saw it through the woods and walked over and bought it. Anyways…like i said these trucks are cool and the motors are just torque monsters.
    This truck is nice but a little on the high side. The old gmc’s are hard to find but not worth a ton.
    Picture of my truck in the jpg link above (1960 GMC 2500 (1 ton)). I plan on putting it on a newer chassis and keeping the v6 for awile. When I get tired of it the truck with go onto my 2003 gmc 3500 duramax chassis.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar NOAH SANVILLE

    This is a picture of my 1960 gmc grill

    Like 0

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