Vehicle Description
With "rat rods" being all the rage today, taking something that
looks old and filling it with fresh mechanicals is an awesome way
to have your cake and eat it, too. The bodywork on this 1951 GMC
pickup looks like it was built decades ago, but the 383 cubic inch
V8 and comfortable interior all suggest that looks can be
deceiving.
The bodywork is definitely old school, which is to say, it hasn't
been treated to a shiny coat of modern paint. The combination of
the flat black paint and a chopped top gives it a look that
wouldn't be out of place in "American Graffiti." Looking closely,
you'll see that the flat black paint hides nothing, but the panel
gaps are quite good, meaning someone spent some time intentionally
making it look this way, and for the most part, it keeps all its
original trim, including the big GMC grille up front and emblems on
the sides of the hood. Instead of shiny perfection, you get a look
that will draw a crowd better than any restoration and a no worries
attitude that means this truck can go anywhere, any time without a
second thought. In true rat rod fashion, they just painted over
most of the trim, including the bumpers, but that's part of the dal
and when it's intentional, it looks sharp. There's also a real
pickup bed out back with a cool checkerboard floor that really
gives it a unique look that we like a lot. They definitely nailed
the period personality.
The tidy green interior is nicely done. No fake patina here, just a
combination of original components and a dash of style to make
driving this GMC a pleasure, not a chore. A bench seat wears fresh
green vinyl upholstery, with a pair of matching green door panels
to soften the passenger compartment a bit. Factory instruments are
in place and in good condition, and they're joined by a set of
aftermarket dials hanging under the dash. The original 3-speed
manual shifter was repurposed to manage the TH400 3-speed automatic
that now lives behind the engine, and the fat three-spoke steering
wheel has a proper GMC logo horn button so it looks just right.
More checkerboard vinyl on the floor ties it all together rather
neatly, making this a truck with a theme that really works.
The small block Chevy V8 was punched out to 383 cubic inches and
makes this pickup more than just interesting to look at. Fitted
with an Edelbrock carb and Weiand intake, HEI ignition, and a few
dress-up parts, it looks right under the hood; not too flashy, but
just enough to let you know someone was paying attention while they
were putting it together. A big radiator keeps it cool and they
kept it simple with no add-ons, so you don't have to worry about
stuff breaking. Ram's horn exhaust manifolds feed a dual exhaust
system with cherry-bomb mufflers for a traditional sound. The
suspension is stock, front and rear, with disc brakes added up
front and lowering blocks used all around to get that custom
stance. Factory S10 wheels look surpassingly right on the vintage
GMC and they carry staggered 205/65/15 front and 235/70/15 rear
blackwall radials.
A cool illusion or just a cool truck? How about both? If you want
to attract attention, forget bright red paint and loud mufflers,
this patina-covered rat rod is the hot ticket. Call today!
