A little rough and completely ready, this 1963 GMC K1000 4×4 in Neillsville, Wisconsin runs well, featuring a host of mostly-stock replacement parts and some upgrades. Prior to a year of weekend drives by the seller, the GMC enjoyed two decades of dry storage on a concrete floor, according to the listing here on eBay. With about a day left in the auction, it awaits an opening bid of $11,000.
Other than the “deluxe” seat, correct for this year according to the seller, the interior looks highly original, suggesting the factory 4×4 left the factory wearing white paint on the body. A claimed 54,000 miles might be 154,000, but that’s unlikely to matter to most potential buyers. Curiously we get no pictures of the GMC 305 cid (5.0L) V6.
The factory 4×4 K1000 boasts new fenders color-matched to the truck’s worn paint, and the new owner can choose to use the never-restored driver as a truck or convert it into a full-sized Matchbox toy.
The hardwood bed could be ordered on GM pickups instead of the standard stamped steel bed. At least one owner of a similar truck stated in our comments that the wooden bed suppressed road noise on dirt roads where an all-steel bed acts like a giant bell. The bed might look great after a rejuvenation with gorgeous wood, brilliant metal strips, and glistening epoxy, but save that for another rig, or do it last. If you can’t toss a few cinder blocks in the bed, it’s not a truck.
These original wheels come with the truck plus the aftermarket rolling gear shown above. This picture apparently pre-dates the fender replacement. I’m not against an upgrade here and there, but I prefer this look with the deep lug tires, just how I remember farm trucks of this vintage. In addition to this 305 V6, GM commercial vehicles used V6 engines as large as 478 cid (7.8L). Would you find $11,000 to kick off this auction or leave this GMC at the altar?
Cab interior paint looks to be metallic beige. GM painted their truck cab interiors such neutral colors regardless of the exterior color through the late ’60s, they only started matching the main body color when they went to the dip paint process when they switched to the Squarebody or a couple years before.
These were great work horses. Looks like this could still be, but I somehow doubt that will happen. I wish old trucks could still be had for a song and were used as intended. Trying to find a reasonably priced work truck, is pretty much impossible. Stupid companies sold the idea to stupid Americans that 80 grand trucks in suburban garages are the most wonderful thing. The companies only make those kind of trucks, so a reasonably priced one is no longer possible.
Hi Gary, I feel your frustration, but I’ve said before, don’t play into this 5 figure hype crap, 171 “watchers” and no bids, pretty much tells the story here. I hope it’s okay to post this, I don’t think BF’s has an official affiliation with these sites, but stuff like this is all over Colorado( sorry for the long link, but I have a point to make) Not sure where you are, but good deals have to found BEFORE they hit these Ebay and CL sites. BF’s is merely the “piano player”. There have been a few trucks like this near me, in the $4-$5,000 range and sat for months. “Good ol’ boy farm auctions” are about your best bet today, obviously, this one in Pueblo I posted is far from what’s featured here, but for a $10grand savings, well, it can still be done.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/331445878987715/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined&referral_story_type=listing&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-6990399778937252733%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%224863994530347104%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A4863994530347104%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A1%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A4163722050441052160%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A504%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0.00063017634201073%7D%22%7D
Hi Gary, I, if anyone here, feels your frustration. I commented earlier with a FB marketplace ad from Pueblo, a truck like this, not near as nice, $1500 OBO, that hasn’t registered on the comments yet, if ever, but the gist of my post was not to be intimidated by these 5 figure price tags. 171 watchers and no bids tells the story. Not sure about where you are, but out here ( Colorado) there are still a slew of decent trucks in the $4-$5,000 range, most all low or no rust. It’s best to find them BEFORE they hit these sites, there is a ’69 like this, 2wd, sitting for months near me, $4grand OBO. This “5 figures for regular pickups” kind of stuff is for people with deep pockets, and want instant gratification, here’s the check, ship it out, end of story, but for folks like us, it’s a bit harder today, but can be done. I don’t expect everyone to get the deal I did, but take it from a transplanted Wisconsin dirt-eatin’ farmboy, come on out, in Spring, preferably, rent a pickup and a trailer ( DO NOT USE SHIPPERS!!!), I almost GUARANTEE you’ll go home with something, and it won’t be $20grand either.
@Gary; ‘I wish old trucks could still be had for a song and were used as intended’ – IMHO that’s part of the problem.
I totally agree modern trucks have lost it and look back to the simpler utility of gone-by trucks. Problem is the vast majority of these vintage trucks were used to its full extent and then scrapped when something major broke because it was just as cheap to buy a similar one. If owners of these (now old) trucks had known how desirable they’d be in our time they’d taken much better care of them…
That could apply to a lot of things we threw away, my friend. In my neck of the woods, it wasn’t that something broke mechanically, a 3rd grader could fix one, more like they BROKE in half because of rust. 4wd trucks didn’t last long because of the very environment they were created for. I do agree, pickups were the cheapest offering from a car company, and a worn out pickup meant, you had a good business, and it was part of doing business to simply get another.
A high school friend drove a ‘65 4wd GMC that was a retired forestry truck. Dark green in color, we named it the “Green Latrine”. Lol
Those are really tough trucks with the 4X4. The 305 was all about torque and I can attest engine parts are getting hard to find. Fortunately they are so overbuilt they will run forever if maintained . It’s a solid lifter engine so don’t forget to check valve adjustment from time to time. The largest engine which could be had in this series was the 351e and the V6 was standard issue to 68 in the next generation. These engines were no lightweights either tipping the scales at over 800 pounds. Oh, and as mentioned before this is 1/2 of the famed GMC twin 6.
Popularity of 4×4 trucks increased steadily through the 60s. After a debacle with a ’56 International, and finding out who really was responsible for the problems we had with that, Dad decided to take the 4×4 plunge again. This time it was a ’64 Chevy which, thanks to a different and more careful operator, held up its end very well. Between ’61 and ’66 quite a few GM 4x4s showed up in the Chinook Belt. There are a couple of 3/4 tons still going. I wouldn’t be afraid of taking something like this and putting it right back to work. The V-6 is fine with me; I would light it and ride it. Maybe a full driver-quality restoration down the road…
I had a 64 Chevy K10 short box that has been featured here on BF a couple of times. Without a doubt, the worst riding & driving vehicle I have ever owned. I think my 8N Ford tractor road & drove better. But I guarantee that the K10 could outwork that tractor & goes places the tractor would never dream of. These trucks were built to work, not run the kids to dance lessons or soccer games or bring home a load of groceries. In my opinion, the asking price is not out of line considering the rarity of these beast in this condition. I know in 64, there were only 564 Chevy 4 wheel drive short fleet side trucks built. Probably close to the same amount of GMC’s. The 4×4 trucks didn’t really start getting popular till about 68 or 69 when the Blazer hit the market.
Not just the engine, but a lot of the drivetrain parts are hard to find, especially the divorced transfer case. And I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure a metal bed wasn’t offered till 67. At least I’ve never seen a factory steel bed in anything pre 67. The wooden bed was offered as an option all the way till at least 76, but IIRC, only on the long bed trucks after 72.
Just noticed this is a long bed, so probably double the amount built as were short beds. And will ride just a little better, not much, but not near as rough as those short beds.
What an awesome looking truck, love it!
Nice looking truck right there. Easily $10K worth of enjoyment to be had and all the heavy lifting has been done. Nothing left to do but tinker and enjoy.