Vehicle Description
1952 GMC Pickup
When comparing same size Chevy and GMC frames of the same year,
most people are unaware that the GMC frame is longer than the Chevy
frames. This is to accommodate the longer motor. Remember that GMC
engines were truck engines and not car engines adapted to trucks.
Full pressure oiling and inset bearings from 1939 make a GMC a
truck. The front cross member of a GMC is totally different from a
Chevy truck due to the above. GMC motors will not fit into a Chevy
truck without a short water pump added. GMC engines were either
avocado, dark green or GMC red depending upon year.
For consignment, a GMC amalgamation if you will on this frame off
restoration, taking liberties with various replaced parts of more
modern vehicles, a souped-up newer engine, and suspension. Add in a
custom interior, and beautiful restored wood lined oak bed pickup
aficionados you will be seeing red!
Exterior
Starting out as the standard GMC pickup from 1952, all parts were
taken off the frame, meticulously restored then put back on.
Bumpers and grille have been refreshed and headlights were frenched
into the fenders. The large iconic chromed GMC badge which was
attached into the top of the grille is making us very aware of the
original manufacturer and it is all truck. The rounded over hood,
upper cab and bed are now showing in the deep end of the pool, red
with nice black window trimmings. Beautifully rounded fenders meet
at a running board, and next to the bed this provides a step side
version if you will. Door handles were shaved, and the bed tub
behind these doors has a beautiful curve to it and a rounded edge
top, all in red. Mounted on the frame is now a beautifully crafted
oak bed with metal separators, and it looks nearly perfect. The
rear bumper has gone by the wayside, with a custom fabricated rear
roll pan sporting horizontal tail lighting complete with a pristine
gate above. Attention to every detail is what makes this truck
great. Right down to the classic logo GMC plate in the middle of
the bed. On all 4 corners are 15-inch Torque Thrust polished 5
spoke wheels from American Racing and all are wrapped in like new
black wall rubber.
Interior
As any artisan who takes on a project as such would do, we open the
doors and already we are over the top with molded custom door
panels neatly designed with rounded corners and some arrowheads
leading us into the inside. This molded piece is sprayed with a
felting material and presents in light tan. Above is a
corresponding smooth buckskin faux leather panel which has a slight
padding and is bordered above by a red painted sill. Slipping
inside we have a seat on a long single solid bench seat that is
covered in a soft burlap like tan broadcloth and bordered by some
darker tan piping. There is a bit of tuck and roll going on here as
well. Fronting this bench is a banjo style rally steering wheel
rimmed in tan leather and a perfect chrome center section in the
banjo form. The dash has been reconfigured just a bit retaining its
original metal form, but now bathed in body matching red. Dual
round blackface and white lettered gauges, speedo on the left, and
voltage, fuel, temp and oil pressure on the right. A few extra
lights are now inset. Also noted is Vintage air, power windows, a
Lokar shifter, a tilt column for the banjo wheel, and a 6 disc CD
changer behind the seat, (It needs a remote cord, the original wire
was pulled out). Floors are covered in nice clean tan carpeting and
floating above in the driver's side are billet style pedals. All
interior lining panels are custom molded then sprayed with the
felting as we note some ribbing on the headliner.
Drivetrain
A highly polished and massively blinged out in chrome 350ci V8
Chevrolet engine now graces the pristine and fully restored
perfectly painted red firewall, engine bay. Inside a few mods have
been added on like a 4-barrel carburetor, chromed valve covers, and
a new TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. A Ford 9-inch axle on
back awaits the power to be pushed rearwards to it. All wiring is
Ron Francis, and an HEI ignition is now bolted on. Rust free
headers are on and snaking downward to the undercarriage, and
braided stainless or ribbed stainless hoses carry all the engines
life's bloods to the various parts. Looking fab!
Undercarriage
A totally restored black painted rust-free frame is noted
underneath. Bolted to this is a Mustang II front clip, and
coil-overs, and on the back are leaf springs. Power discs upfront,
and power drums for the rear, and also a Flowmaster exhaust greet
the headers and winds its way to a final exit just past the rear
wheels. Wood is near perfect just as above on the bed, and there
are no runs, drips, or errors near the transmission and engine
underside.
Drive-Ability
This snappy pickup fired right up, and it was off to the test track
where it handled all tasks put before it just swimmingly. Great
acceleration, good handling for a truck, and plenty of stopping
power. Steering was very smooth, and the transmission shifted
effortlessly. All comfortable and all working on the interior
control fronts. A great cruiser with a nice exhaust tune, that has
you looking swell driving it.
A full body off restoration done with obvious passion, and usage of
that deep red color paint, some shaving going on with the rear
bumper, and lots of newly painted and chromed trimmings. A
scrumptious interior with the burlap like broadcloth seats and
perfect dash and carpet, and air, heat and defrost. Turn the key
and drive away to do some work, or just cruise around and turn some
heads! I'm taking a sick day off from work.
VIN DECODE
10122P28524
10-1/2 Ton
1-116" Wheelbase
22-228ci I6
P-Pontiac, MI Assy Plant
28524-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
