Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Hi. I'm a relative newbie here although I do drop in from time to time to lurk. I'm a big fan of 60-66 Chev trucks and would one day like to find a nice one to own. But the big difference with me (apparently, I've learned after lurking here) is that I really dig all-stock trucks. Nothing against hot rodded and slammed trucks but it's just not my thing. They're neat to look at and I appreciate the work but they're really just cars at that point. I guess I appreciate stock originality over mechanical creativity. As you can imagine, I like survivors. To make matters worse for me, I really dig long beds over short beds (blasphemy, I know) and... call me weird but... 3/4 tons over 1/2 tons. I know, I feel like a square peg in a round hole world. I really like the look of old farm trucks and I think they are the ultimate form of these 60-66 pickups. Give me a nice, stock, patina'd custom C20 with a straight 6, tall, skinny tires, dog dish hubcaps, a big ol' rear bumper and a ball hitch out back any day of the week. Even stock racks are cool, IMHO. Problem is, most of the 3/4 ton trucks were used up and spit out long ago. Probably my only hope now is to find a nice, pampered Custom Camper that lived a life of relative ease.

I've spent some time on this site looking but haven't had much luck finding inspirational pics of the kind of trucks I like, besides mostly a few old factory photos. Seems that not many people are interested enough to collect/restore them... or maybe they just don't like them. So, can anybody post or point me to pics of nice, stock 3/4 ton trucks from this era? I know there must be a few other nutty people like me out there that go for the original trucks. But are there any other 3/4 ton/long box kooks like me out there? Surely I'm not the only one. Thanks!

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I have a great 3/4 ton truck I love it! Parts are hard to find but fun to work on

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

showing some 3/4 ton love. here's mine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...S/IMAG0353.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...S/IMAG0281.jpg
sometimes i miss how it looked before the paint:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...IMAG0010-1.jpg

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Just getting started bring mine back... to stock looking...

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

You might find some inspiration in this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=419645

My 1960 GMC is a hot rod, but a few years ago I bought a cherry original 68 Ford Camper Special for my wife. Preferring one style doesn't preclude liking a bunch of others.

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2376/1968ford.jpg

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

stuff from the net.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Here is a 3/4 ton I found on craigslist a while back for $500. Not a speck of rust anywhere, and that is why I bought it. He wanted $600 but when I was looking at it he mention the tail gate was missing so he knocked off $100. That is when I said ok..

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Good thread, Markeb01. Musta missed it. I'm really kinda shocked there aren't more folks that are into originality. Seems there are just a very rare few of us. All-original trucks seem to about be one in a million, too, from what I can tell. Too bad. Is it that guys just don't like the factory stock look or are correct parts just too hard to find... or what? No offense to the modified crowd but I'm curious. With almost any other make of antique vehicle I've been around the owners are generally all about bringing them back to stock configuration as much as possible. That sure doesn't seem to be the case with post-1960 pickups, though. They are almost universally heavily modified. Very odd.

I also dig your Ford Camper Special. I have a '66 F100 Camper special very much like yours with 47k miles and completely original. My only wish is that it was a Chevy c20 but I'm happy to have anything that's so original and in nice condition.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Add another vote for the stock look. I will do mechanical mods to get a truck which drives better in today's traffic, but it stays stock looking. Definitely no lowering or wide tires.

Ray

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Speaking from my own perspective, I think the reason so few of the 60-66 series have been restored to pure stock is because of what they represent. They aren’t small, cute and primitive like those from the 30’s to the mid 50’s, which is the age group I would focus on if I wanted to do a restoration. They also don’t have the creature comforts and safety features of modern trucks. The lack of power steering, brakes, and automatic transmissions make them more suitable (for many people) to perform yard duty than daily commuting. And because they are big and roomy, and have large load capacity (especially the wide long beds) they remain very practical for dump runs.

Conversely, many restored cars were treasured when new, and enjoyed legions of fans over the years preserving excellent examples. Families grew up in them with lifetime stories to preserve. When our trucks were new, they were primarily appliances and were routinely given the love and respect of a taxi cab or police car.

As these trucks aged (beginning with the 67-72 series) the popularity of trucks as daily transportation rapidly expanded. By 1973 fully optioned trucks became common, and as these came on the used market, the 60-66 series became much less desirable to everyone except enthusiasts. Most ended up in the secondary market where they continued to be beaten, abused and neglected.

The 60-66 series seems to be enjoying more popularity now than ever before, which I’m hopeful will preserve an ever increasing number of these models regardless of build direction. You should always build what you are most passionate about, and if that’s stock – great. I enjoy eyeballing the details of a pure stock truck. I’m just not enthusiastic to own one myself.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Aaahh, but you do... only it's a Ford. Interesting comments.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Yikes! You guys aren't gonna like my 3/4 ton then :lol:

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

a real nice restored one:

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

What a cherry looking truck. The big wheels look important, and even a Unity spotlight!

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I agree 100% with you sodly, authentic period correct 3/4 ton trucks are very under represented. These trucks have a lower survival rate due to the fact most were used commercially for work. The exception to the rule is the 3/4 tons that were bought as recreation vehicles during the camping boom starting in the mid 60's. This factory photo shows how cool a heavy duty stock truck can look. Sure it does not drive like a car, but it can haul a load without scraping the rear bumper.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

My personal take on 3/4 ton 60-66 trucks is the more the merrier.
I love my truck and the 3/4 ton suspension is going to make it do exactly what I need it to do... work... Later on down the road I may do something else with it.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Here is mine.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Very cool truck there in post #13. Are there any more here like it?

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I thought I would only like the 1/2 ton's, but this 3/4 ton is my dad's and it is slick, yea I know, a little biased I know.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Well mine is not stock. It is 3/4 ton though.
Attachment 657418

Attachment 657419

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

A few more from my stash.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

....you mean like this?

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I like this one too...

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

There we go!

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

This is what mine looked like when I got it.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

This is what it looks like now.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

oem4me... you're my HERO! Now you just have to find some correct hubcaps and you'll be good to go. Or are those correct? I'm not an expert just yet. In any case, that is one sweet truck. Care to post any more photos of your way cool truck (of feel free to drop me some off-list, if you prefer)? I'd like to see more details. Is the drive train and everything else all-original? Very nice. Love the custom trim on your truck and the great patina.

I'm getting the impression that correct hubcaps are either really hard to find or not many people like them. You hardly ever see them. Is there a warehouse full of dog dish hubcaps somewhere? Where'd they all go?

Funny thing... I have a nearly identical truck but in the Ford flavor. Mine's a '66 F-100 Camper Special, all original w/ 47k miles. Looks like between you, me and jonzcustomshop we've pretty much got the market cornered on beige, eh? I only wish mine was a Chevy, too, but beggars can't be choosers. Wanna trade?

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Agreed. I have that pic saved, too. I like the overall look of that truck even though it's not at stock ride height. I dig the fatigued paint and the grey, bare steel wheels. Even though it's low it still looks like a truck that could actually haul something. Very cool.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

There was dark green 63 3/4 ton with aftermarket wheels sitting outside of a body shop on my way home from work for a couple of months I used to drool on every day. It sat stock height and was stock othre than the wheels. I'd love to get my hands on that truck!

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

When I got the truck in the late 90's it still wore the factory split wheels and original caps which were pretty much hash. Since I was using the truck regularly, and almost nobody would service tires on those stupid wheels, I tossed 'em out. I picked up some later 16's and the earliest caps that would fit. I also like the look better. Those original 3/4 ton 1962 caps just scream DORK.
The truck is all-orig with the exception of the trans and rear gears. The orig trans was wiped-out and the 4.56 rear end was useless, so I put an O.D. trans and a 4.10 gear in it. Now, I can actually talk to my passengers without yelling at them.

I'll dig up some more pics soon.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Those hubcaps are 67 up correct? Im looking for caps for my 66 4x4 and those look good.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

No, the hubcaps on the beige '62 are 1973 thru 1975 style( gold bowtie). These 70's style hubcaps do not match the classic '60's design. Its strange and sometimes funny how everyone likes the styling of the 60's Chevy trucks, but they don't like the styling of the factory hubcaps/stock wheels. The wheel covers are an integral part of the styling of the truck that was engineered, just like the fenders, hood and grills.When the original 3/4 ton rims are tossed, they soon discover ther original hubcaps will not attach to newer rims.And they also find out the character of the vehicle is altered with an incorrect hubcap and wheel combination. It's true some 3/4 tons came with split rims which are a pain to deal with, but 3/4 tons also came with one piece rims such as 17.5" or 19.5".Unfortunately,not many feel its worth the extra expense to find tires for these rims. They just find a set of very common 70's-80's wheels and end up with an incorrect look. I feel its also part of GM's fault for not offering a 16" one piece 8 lug wheel during the '60 thru '66 period, where both Ford and Dodge had these wheels available. IMO, the photos Sodly posted of the correct authentic 3/4 tons are priceless.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

My 65 that I'm still looking for was a 1/2ton shortbed stepside.
I was building it to be the low - mean - trick truck that most like to do with that type of truck.
I bought me a 66 3/4 ton to satisfy my hunger for these trucks.
This one is staying a work truck - no, not a cruiser - but a truck for pulling and hauling.

I own a TRUCK :D
http://i56.tinypic.com/52m1y1.jpg

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...yerR1Chevy.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ys/Camper1.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...ys/Camper2.jpg

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Found some more pics of the tan truck. The thing I really dig about this truck, besides the perfectly authentic patina, or original color scheme with blackwall tires, tinted windows, and side trim, is that this is one of the straightest trucks I have ever seen. Despite the obvious lack of pampering, there is hardly a ding in it. And not even a hint of what I call the "broken back" syndrome, which is so common in these old trucks. It's got the feeling sort of like an old man that could still kick your ass.

- Question: what's better for you guys that are interested, posting a million pics on this forum and hogging space, or providing a link to an independent photo hosting site? Thanks

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Actually,
if you have the img on another site, all you have to do is;
-> [img] link to pic goes here [img]
for the trailing [img] put; /img in between the brackets.
This way the pic is hosted off site, but we don't have to go off site to view it.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

Quote this post, and you'll see what I mean.

My image is hosted at Tinypic.com

http://i56.tinypic.com/52m1y1.jpg
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I'm with ya on keeping it original. I've got 3 out of the 4 stock split rim wheels. I'm also looking for hub caps for a 4x4 so I'm kinda looking for a needle in a hay stack and thats why I guess I'll take what I can get. I have some mid 80's steel 16" 8 lug wheels and trying to keep it a stock theme.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

I have a 66 3/4 with 95 thou miles on it. Just got over the summer. I think it still has its original tires, not sure. But they have the pie crust edges. Split rims still. They are 1 small rock from oblivion. They are very dry rotted. No major cracks, but they hold air good so far. They have tubes in em still! lol I dont drive on rainy days so... I am still trying to find some tires like them with the pie crust edges. Im not finding any. May have to go to a newer rim and get some Coker tires.

Re: Where's the 3/4 ton love?
 

So you have a saginaw 3 spd with overdrive now and 4.10 gears? Did you swap out the rear end or just the drop out in the Eaton. I like the 60 through 62's because they had the torsion bar front ends, the ball joints on those front ends are beefy. The broken back syndrome you refer to, was that caused by the 3/4 ton rear cab mounts? I know the 3/4 tons had a different mount that was not as durable as the 1/2 ton rear cab mounts.

Rideblue00, my Mom lives over in Temperance, nice truck, you did not find that in Michigan did you?