Vehicle Description
Cool classic trucks like this 1965 GMC Half-Ton stepside make for
ideal hobby vehicles. With a rugged 4x4 chassis underneath and
old-school looks on top, it does everything you want an old truck
to do but with a lot fewer hassles. The fact that it looks great
and runs better than the factory built it this way are merely icing
on the cake.
If you have a stepside GM truck from the '60s, you'll probably be
shocked to learn that it's such a neat fit on a 4x4 chassis, but
here's the proof. At a glance, it looks like the factory built it,
and that's purely intentional. They kept all the bodywork stock to
give it that 1965 look, complete with the period-perfect paint job
that's very close to Matador Red, with hints of orange shining
through under the bright sunlight. The dramatically styled GMC
"Fenderside" pickups were some of the most handsome on the road
back then and if you want attention, this truck will definitely
deliver. The bodywork is nicely done, but not so perfect as to
erase the fact that this is still a truck that's willing to work.
Gaps are about the way the factory would have done things and the
paint has a great shine that's quite appropriate. The stepside bed
gives it a muscular look and the cab has that small winglet up top;
I don't know what it is supposed to do, but it sure looks cool. Add
in some super-bright chrome bumpers, a factory grille punctuated
with those big 'GMC' block letters, and a sturdy diamond-plate bed
that's willing and ready to haul stuff (just watch out for the
expensive fuel cell back there), and you get a truck that does
everything well.
The interior is still pickup-truck basic, but upgrades are visible
throughout. The bench seat has pleated cloth upholstery to make it
more comfortable on long hauls and the awesome-looking woodrimmed
billet steering wheel atop the tilt steering column is obviously a
perk of using a late-model chassis. Just behind that wheel is a
blacked-out bezel filled with a full complement of gauges that
include a couple AutoMeter units, and they were in concert with the
dash-mounted tachometer that minds the revs. There's an upgraded
Kenwood AM/FM/Cassette radio is in the dash, but a cool cruiser
like this probably deserves an upgrade and the floor-mounted
shifter for the 2-speed transfer case looks like it was born there.
A column-mounted shifter and cold R134a A/C highlight the
amenities, and a set of later-model seatbelts add a little safety
inside the cab. Black carpets on the floor help control noise and
heat better than you'd expect in a vintage pickup, but we'll admit
that it's still pretty Spartan inside, like all of these trucks
were. But that's the real vintage look and it works really
well.
The chassis underneath is likely from a later-model '80s K10
pickup, as is the case for most of these 4x4 builds, and nothing
matches that lifted stance better than a great-running 350 cubic
inch V8. Not dramatically modified, it sports an Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetor on an aluminum intake manifold, but they were careful to
keep it closer to its production roots rather than choosing a lot
of modifications. Finned Holley valve covers and Chevy Orange paint
brighten things up in a good way, and you'll note there's a big
radiator up front to keep things nice and cool. The engine swap
also includes power steering and power front disc brakes, both
welcome safety upgrades that also really help out the driving
experience. For easy cruising, there's a TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission and long-tube headers feed a burbling dual exhaust
system that sounds suitably throaty. Newer shocks and mono-leaf
front springs tame the ride quality to make this truck a pleasure
to drive and the late-model 'Bullet Hole' alloy wheels and big
31x10.50-15 Falken white-letter off-road radials look exactly
right.
A cool vintage pickup with a bit of a modern flair makes for a very
usable package. Drive it, show it, take it to work, there's nothing
this truck doesn't do well. Call today!
