Story of an odd '71 C3500
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As requested in a previous post of mine (thanks everyone for the help on the plate bracket question), here's the story and everything I know of my rather odd 1971 GMC C3500 with the 9FT step side bed. It was originally ordered as a fleet truck of maybe 10 or 15 trucks by the Ottawa Kansas National sign co. In April 1971 and delivered by the local GM dealer by the name of "Ottawa farm and implement" this truck served the sign company for around 10 years or so before being purchased sometime in the early 80s by my grandfather who drove short haul for a trucking company. He bought it as a gift to himself and to use for various projects around his property until the early 2000s. The truck has lived quite a hard life and has been passed around other family members throughout the years, parked for many years behind sheds and barns and left outside but has survived overall quite well. I remember seeing this truck when I was little sitting on the side of their house but never got to be around it much as it was replaced in 2004 with a new GMC sierra 1500. I attempted to get it going in around 2013 when I was around 14 but had no knowledge of anything mechanical. It then sat for another 8 years until 2021 when I asked him about it and he offered to give it to me and see what I could do with it. The truck by then was in very rough shape. Missing trim in some places and only 3 of the 4 headlights giving it a very ratty look. The hvac box was missing as well as the fuel tank, mice had gotten into the hvac box inside and the engine barely ran but the bones of it were very solid. I brought it home and began the long process of restoring it which I am still in the middle of (covid and life got in the way) it now lives under a car port and gets as much time and parts as I can spare. Recently I've done the wiring harness front to back, window regulators and door seals, hvac box, new gauge cluster and turn signal switch. This week I am picking up a new engine to build and the new tires should be at my shop on Monday so I can get them mounted up. Overall, it's very different than what I'm used to working on as a BMW technician but this truck means a lot to me and seeing people wave while driving it is great. Everyone seems to love an honest old pickup especially around Kansas. This truck has really not traveled more than 30-40 miles from its original home over its life though it does have around 93k on it from its time commuting to Kansas City during the 80s and 90s. Below are some pics of when I first saw it again in 2013 and the day I took it home in 2021 to today. Thanks for reading! Sorry for the length. I am happy to answer any questions anyone may have
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Real nice rig.
I have a '71 GMC myself -- K/1500 Jimmy -- also a St Louis plant build. 350 is good. I didn't see a transmission listed on the SPID, so does it have a three-on-the-tree Saginaw? Longbed Stepsides are rare. ''Longhorn'' Stepsides even rarer. [Now the GMC purists will jump all over me, as 1] GMC didn't call them ''Stepsides.'' Fendersides or something like that is more correct. 2] GMC didn't call their 133'' chassis trucks ''Longhorns'' either. That's a Chevrolet marketing term. But if you told me you had a Longhorn Stepside GMC One Ton, I'd know exactly what you meant.] My K/1500 Jimmy is exactly like a Chevy K/5 Blazer, but to GMC it's a K/1500 not a K/750. Go figure. :gmc2: I also have '68 Chevy C/10 shortbed stepside. It was a fleet truck. Possibly Cal/Trans or Southern Pacific were the original users. [Bright Orange color is a clue.] I bought it in 1973, when I was 23. Still got it. |
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That’s a awesome truck don’t paint it :metal:
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There are a few things on this truck that just aren't listed on the spid for some odd reason. The transmission is the SM465 |
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Man, do I LOVE that truck! If you can keep it the way it is, paint wise, I'd let it show all its years of hard labor.
While mine doesn't have the family history of yours, it is a local truck to me. Purchased at the Chevrolet dealership in the town in which I currently live in September of 1967. Photo of when I got it and currently as it sits. |
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My truck doesn't show it other than the driver's cab corner but it needs the usual rust repairs as well. Inner/outer rockers, one cab corner, one door bottom, etc. If I could match the patina on the bed I'd probably go for that but it was mostly junk and got tossed. The steps and fenders are original.
Check out Mar K Truck Parts (www.mar-k.com), they show bed strips for long bed stepsides. If they don't have what you need I'd contact them. When I was at their OKC facility picking up my bed kit I ended up in the presidents office talking with him about new products they were working on. I was impressed their bed box kit and wood kit fit very well. Needed no massaging to get installed on the frame or the fenders to the sides. |
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When I saw the Jimmy in front of a Qwikie Mart in Catalina AZ in '95, with a FOR SALE on it, I was attracted. I was interested because it had 33x12.50x15 meats on it, like the ones on my '67 K/10 Suburban. Then I looked in the caband saw the floor shifter, and I was sold on it. I gave it to myself as a 45th birthday present. I liked the color, too. "Maui Blue" a medium metallic, non-stock color. |
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Had mine since '95 and thought I've had it forever. ...silly me. :o |
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I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I had a '67 and a '68 and they both had them, so I figured a '71 should too. Later I found out that ''oil can'' shelf was deleted with the 1969 Model Year. I've never had the top off, but agree they look very cool as convertables. As for Maui Blue, I've determined it was a GM color but don't know what make or vintage. I only know that because I bought some Duplicolor Touch Up spraycans of that hue on the discontinued rack at Checker Auto. I have four and a half classic Chevy or GM Trucks. The '68 Stepside I bought in Pasadena CA in 1973. I bought a '67 K/10 Suburban in Mesa AZ in 1993. My '71 GMC Jimmy was acquired in 1995 in Catalina AZ. I brought a trailer up to Lake Havasu AZ and got a '72 K/5 Blazer tub and rolling chassis for $200 in 2002. The trailer -- made from an 8' GM fleetside bed on a cut-down 3/4 ton frame, I got from a farmer in Chandler AZ in 2006. I just bought a 2003 C/1500 Tahoe this march for $2700. It runs OK, but the electronics in the door/window switches are sometimes screwy. |
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:gmc2: And thanks for the flip. Standing on its rear is hard on the stepbumper. |
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Love the truck, it has a great look.
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I was looking for a 3/4 ton or a SRW 1-ton, and ended up with a '72 C3500 SRW....so I have a soft spot for SRW 1-tons. Really love your truck and hope it shapes up to what you have in mind.
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Nice truck, and equally great story! I’d be willing to bet that the 465 was standard equipment in the 1 ton and thus not listed on the spid. I’ve been wrong before though. A lot can happen in 50+ years.
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She's a beauty!
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Congratulations That is one cool Looking truck !
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Turned out great. Something special about a factory 9ft bed Truck. Love it man.
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Re: Story of an odd '71 C3500
The SM465 was standard equipment on C/30's.
The NP435 close ratio and TH-automatics were optional transmissions. SM465 was the only transmission available for 11,000lb rear axle trucks. |
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