Some classics have better stories to tell than others, and the one for this 1963 GMC Custom Pickup is a beauty. It started its life on a farm in Wyoming before making its way to California in the early 1970s. It was the pride and joy of its owner, who padlocked it away in a darkened garage for safekeeping soon after it arrived in California. After he passed away in 2020, his daughter sold it to its current owner. After decades in isolation, they have returned this original and unmolested classic to a roadworthy state, ready to head to a new home. Located in Palmdale, California, you will find the GMC listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently stands at $10,801, although this remains short of the reserve. The seller also offers a BIN option of $38,000. I have to send a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting yet another beauty for us.
Decades spent hidden away in a darkened garage have seen this GMC emerge from hibernation in remarkable condition. Its first owner ordered the vehicle in a winning combination of Crystal Turquoise and Cameo White. The paint is said to be original, and if true, its condition is remarkable. It holds a beautiful depth of color and shine, with only a few noticeable defects. The bed has marks and scuffs, but none of the damage suggests that it has worked hard to earn a living. The bed timber is graying, but I think it could be preserved or revived without resorting to replacement. The original black paint remains intact on the underside of the timber, offering protection from the elements. There is rust for the buyer to consider, but it isn’t extreme. There are matching spots in both lower front fenders, but it hasn’t deteriorated where panel replacement is warranted. If the next owner felt inclined, they could leave it untouched in the short term until they choose the best way to tackle it. The windshield has accumulated a couple of minor chips, but the remaining glass appears perfect. Speaking of perfect, that is probably the best term to describe trim and chrome. It sparkles magnificently, providing a nice finishing touch to the exterior.
If the exterior condition is enough to impress you, its interior could take your breath away. Once again, everything is original and unmolested, and its condition is stunning. There are a couple of cracks on the wheel, but that’s the only fault worth noting. The seat wears Champagne and Turquoise vinyl and cloth, and there is no evidence of wear or physical damage. The floormat is in a similar state, while the dash appears perfect. The seller flushed and cleaned the heater core, and it works perfectly. The factory radio is intact, while a cluster of aftermarket gauges monitor the engine’s health.
If you feel ready for more good news, I’m happy to supply it. Lifting the Custom’s hood reveals its numbers-matching 305ci V6 bolted to a four-speed manual transmission. Capable of producing 150hp and 260 ft/lbs of torque, those figures placed the V6 ahead of the 140hp and 220 ft/lbs produced by Chevrolet’s 230ci Turbo-Thrift straight-six. The 292ci six and 283ci V8 offered potential buyers more, but the increases from both were negligible. When the seller took possession of the Custom, it had been idle for around five decades. They flushed the fuel system, then fitted new tires, a fuel pump, thermostat, water pump, heater hoses, and radiator. They were rewarded with a classic that they say purrs like a kitten and drives perfectly. It has a genuine 34,600 miles on the clock, suggesting it has plenty left to offer its new owner. The originality of this beauty isn’t just demonstrated by the state of the engine bay but by the fact that the original factory chalk marks remain intact on the underside of the hood.
Initially, classic pickups held no great attraction to me. I saw them as little more than workhorses and failed to understand their appeal. I’m pleased to say that I’ve seen the light and would happily find one parked in my garage. Sadly, it won’t be this 1963 GMC Custom. However, my loss could be your gain. Finding a vehicle of this type in such a stunning original and unmolested state is a rare treat, and I’m surprised that the bidding hasn’t been more spirited. I would love to think that it will find a new home with someone who will cherish it as much as its deceased owner. Do we have any takers?
That truck is a beauty! The chrome bumpers and the colors make it happen. I’m currently working on a customers 63 GMC with the same drivetrain. Don’t know why people hate on the V6 engines. The one I’m working on runs and sounds good. These are industrial engines that were so overbuilt. High nickel blocks, stellite exhaust valves and hardened seats. Not the most economical engine but they easily outlived the truck.
Those V6’s were strong, but they went through gas especially for a V6.
Dad’s ’64 GMC 305 got a steady 14 mpg for years, then in 2002 when I drove it to Phoenix to hand down to my son, I got 17 mpg while doing 70 mph to keep from getting run over. Don’t think I’d ever done 70 in the Jimmy until then (after 50 years of family ownership), but it ran like a top.
AZVanman, I get the 17mpg, but only can go a max of 50 with the 4.75 gears that are in my 1962 C1500, the original 3 speed is not helping with that fact either, but at 19 years old don’t have much time to do more than 200miles in it a day with it, but the v6 always runs amazing, wouldn’t want to take away from the originality of such a great truck
Not sure if I should smack the daughter upside the head for selling dads pride and joy or what. Probably left the kid with a pile of health related debt or more accurately, no “power ports” and a stick pretty much kills it for anyone today. Naturally, the truck is a beauty, not the most optioned truck, but GMCs didn’t need to be. They were intended as a “Chevy with lockwashers”, until recently, of course. Not sure where the V6 got a bad rap from, it, for it’s time, was the best of both worlds. Had “V” torque, with a shred of economy, even though, most were held to the floor all day. Many were used in all sorts of heavy duty trucks, including, the Almighty “702 Thunder” V-12, which was 2, 351 V6’s with a common block. Not the best solution, but diesels were a ways off, and it was clear, trucks needed more power. The GMC V6 the only V6, aside from some Italian exotic, I’d give you anything for, no relation to the crap V6’s of today. Nice truck here, going to “nickel and dime” someone to the 9’s, but a great example from a time when a simple “Chevy” wouldn’t do, and a little pride here. To many, it was worth the extra $300 bucks( almost $3 grand today) over a Chevy. Too bad that didn’t make it to the daughter, yeah, I think it’s terrible, dads truck,,,
But that V6 is thirsty, more than the 283 V8.
Dad’s pride and joy, yet as soon as he’s gone, the truck is out the door. It really makes you wonder why even bother saving something for kids when they just don’t understand or appreciate it. Keep it for as long as it makes you happy, and then before you die, sell it and give the kid cold hard cash. After all, that’s all their interested in anyways. Maybe she used it for a down payment on a brand new Tesla with self driving so she could watch Tik Toks during her morning commute to the local Starbucks and on to the office!
I’m sure after the daughter drove or attempted to drive a 60’s truck with manual steering, manual brakes, manual transmission, and a choke knob she said pretty but I will pass on that one. I’m laughing to myself because she probably tried to start in 1st. which got her a lot of screaming engine and only 5mph!
Actually the standard 4speed was a close ratio 435A New Process. While 1st gear was not synchronized it was not a super low granny low. First was 4.56 to 1 and the granny low ones which was the 420 Muncie that had about 6.5 to 1 first. So it isn’t as much of a screamer as you think. I usually did start out in first on these, seeing 2nd on the NP 435A was 2.20 compared to the Muncie at 3.5 second.
Perhaps she is selling it for a down payment on a house for herself and family. Or to put food on the table. Maybe she has medical bills or a student loan to pay off. Who knows? You certainly don’t, and neither do I. It was a final gift from her father and we are not to judge what she does with it.
Hey fellas easy on the daughter. While it may appear this is what’s happening it’s best not to assume. He may have instructed the kids “sell after I’m gone”. Armchair quarterbacking from where we stand is not cool. By the way what a fine truck!!
Absolutely love the colors on this truck, this is the first time I’ve really liked the looks of a wideside. I’m really jealous of the original radio, and oilbath air cleaner, I need to find one for my 1962 gmc longbed fenderside, just Absolutely love these v6s. So cool to see another early 60s gmc on here, last time I saw a post was when I was doing research on my own.
Unpopular opinion: better the daughter sell the truck to someone who appreciates it, than put it away in a garage as a “shrine” to her dear departed dad out of a sense of obligation or because she can’t bear to part with something Dad loved.
She didn’t dig driving an old truck, and that’s fine. Worst-case, she’s someone who lives in a large city somewhere and would have had to have altered her entire lifestyle in order to get a place to keep the truck. Kids grow up to be their own people and you can’t blame someone for not sharing their mom or dad’s hobbies and interests.
Well, yes and no, Bill. The way I see it, how kids are raised has a profound effect on what kind of people they grow up to be. A strong connection to ones past SHOULD still have some merit, and I know for a fact, MY daughter would never sell something her dad cherished. Memories fade, as well as the money she made on this, but a visual reminder of dear old dad, well, I’m sorry you feel that way, even though it may be true, something like this will never come into their lives again, and the next owner couldn’t possibly share the memories, I mean, this daughter probably rode in the back with her brothers and sisters to go get an ice cream, or whatever, that’s worth nothing? You know, my late moms favorite joke was, “apathy could be our countrys biggest problem,,but who cares?” I hope “dad” is spinning a tire iron when she gets to heaven,,sell my truck, will you?
Hey, it is her truck! She can do with it what she wants to do, as Dad did with it as he wanted to do, like store it in the garage and not drive it. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but these are the cold facts. Still a nice truck that I would appreciate.
thats facts bill
Very well preserved old pickup it really looks beautiful and has seen a whole lot of care units life. I hope the daughter get what she hopes for it!
They were built like a tank everything heavy duty on them. I bought a 63 in the late 70’s it would go anywhere with that low 1st gear. The original owner put an aftermarket electronic ignition on it that did increase the MPG ‘s pretty good
The driveway it’s parked in looks like every home from Redding to Palmdale and all points in between. All my cousins were raised in homes like this and now, cannot afford to stay. They build it so Philistines can come and displace them.
They’re better off not staying.
I have a model t left by my dad. Not a special car by any means but I can’t imagine selling it. I’ve already built a succession plan for it, LOL. It will stay in the family for at least another generation.
If if was Dad’s pride and joy, why was it locked up in a dark garage for almost 50 years? I wonder what else she had to get rid of when settling his estate. I would love to have this truck though.
Me too Rex but for 38 large? No thanks. After putting an engine in it that would make it affordable to drive (283 2 barrel) and power steering and brakes you’d have a pretty penny in it just to be able to comfortably drive it every day.
I don’t really think that is original paint and I’ve never seen one painted in this pattern (top half of bed different color). I’m thinking dad had it repainted some time prior to locking it away.
It could very well be original paint, just like the early 60s chevy pickups, you could get the Kustom for Chevy, and the Custom for the GMC, I’ve only seen a handful of them, and most are c1000s, personally this is this first wideside I’ve actually liked the looks of. I might be a bit biased though since I have a 1962 c1500 long bed fenderside
Had same pickup in high school, only short box, same original paint, white on top of bed, sold it to my brother, he rolled it on way to Crown King Az, tow truck from Prescott pulled it out of the canyon never saw it again
That exact truck but with a gun rack was in my high school parking lot.
If you went to Arcadia high school in Scottsdale Az in the 60’s it was mine
Wouldn’t be right without the V6. They had a sound and feel all their own. The correct 4 speed is icing on the cake. If you want a Chevy, buy one, but please leave this gem unmolested. They were scarce in their day, and there can’t be more than a very few left, and fewer still as beautiful as this example.
They lip stick a pig and ask 38K?
Unbelievable. They did a quick spray on the body and wheels, maybe the engine, not sure there.
Paint right over the rust, sure, 38 large please. What a joke.
Sorry fellas, what’s the ga ga over this for?
The seller added that they ended the auction because it sold locally. Must have gotten $38k or close to it. Hopefully it went to someone who will take care of this time capsule. Wish they still made trucks like this, best looking body style GM ever made IMO.