how did you get hooked?

[Clancy68]

I was wondering how some of us got into the 67-72 chevy trucks. personally i was looking for a nova,chevelle, el camino or camaro for my 406, then my friend told me his dad had a 68 truck at his impound yard, i saw it, thought it was perfect, bought it and have not turned back.
so in a nutshell whats your story?
--Scoot

[2low72]

My parents bought me one in high school. My first truck. It was a 68 longbed with the original 307 and 3 speed auto. They stole it for a whopping $800.00.
I drove it everday to school for 3 years till the motor finally died. So i built a new motor, painted her up just in time for someone to T-bone me and total it.
So I used the insurance money and bought a 72 pro street from a friend.2 years later i joined the Air Force and stupid me, I sold it. So 4 years drag by and the wife finaly lets me buy the one i own now. I've been hooked for quite sometime ever since the 68. hope this didn't bore ya to much.

2low72

[69 Short Fleet]

My best buddy (highschool) and I used to go grouse hunting in his dad's 68 GMC longbox "babyblue" we were like 15 / 16 years old, great times!

[krue]

My first vehicle was a 69 chevy swb stepside with the 250 and 3 on the tree. I beat the he!! out of that truck and it kept coming back for more. I wish I still had it.

[Lippyp]

I'd always wanted a pick-up truck after years of British and European classics and a few moderns, all of the trucks sold in the UK at my price range are either dirty concrete encrusted ex construction wagons (mostly Nissans and Mazdas) or a cute british classics like Mini's, Morris Minors with about 30 bhp and handling to match so I started looking at Americans. In the UK if it is pre 1973 then you don't pay the annual road tax of about £140 and you can get classic insurance, did some research ended up with my 67!

[sider68]

Originally Posted by Lippyp

I'd always wanted a pick-up truck after years of British and European classics and a few moderns, all of the trucks sold in the UK at my price range are either dirty concrete encrusted ex construction wagons (mostly Nissans and Mazdas) or a cute british classics like Mini's, Morris Minors with about 30 bhp and handling to match so I started looking at Americans. In the UK if it is pre 1973 then you don't pay the annual road tax of about £140 and you can get classic insurance, did some research ended up with my 67!

But how is it to drive when you are are on the wrong side of the road?

[StingRay]

My Dad bought a GMC 920 Longhorn Custom Camper new in 69. It was light blue with a strong high compression 350 and a 4.10 rear end with a locker. When I turned 16 it became my daily driver. I bought a 71 Chevelle a couple years later and my uncle took the truck to use in his construction business. I never really appreciated it at 16 for the classic truck it would become but in my early 20's I longed for another truck. At 30 I found my 72 GMC with 62,000 miles on it. It has been a daily driver ever since(It sure looks it now too). I am really hoping to have a new body done by the end of the summer as I don't think the existing one will make it another year.

[silvertonguedevil]

I had said for years that I wanted a '71 or '72 Cheyenne Super 1/2 ton short wide box. When it came time for my wife and I to buy a "back and forth vehicle for work" I went looking in the paper. I went and looked at several torn-up Hondas and Toyotas and just when I was about to give up for the day...low and behold...there's a '71 C-10 1/2 ton longbox in the paper. I went and looked at it. Runs good, looks decent, price is good, and on top of that, it's a bullet-proof Chevrolet!! Since I bought that, I got hooked and I am now putting together a '72 Cheyenne Super 1/2 ton short wide box and driving my '71 everyday.

[tomsC10R]

My Grandma and Grandpa had a 67. Probably first truck I ever road in. I still remember slamming my thumb in the door jamb. When I was about 14, we bought a 69 Camaro. Then a couple other Camaros and a Chevelle. Well, I was trying to think of a new project, and I thought of Grandpa's truck. One problem... My uncle still uses it as a daily driver (yes in WI - year round ) Needless to say, it's in rough shape. So I went looking for a 67-72 and found one in Iowa. I do plan on getting my Grandpa's one day, when it'll stop running I don't know

[Big J]

My uncle has a long bed with a 402BB. He took me cruisin alot when I was younger, that got me kinda hooked. It was when he pulled in my driveway in his K5 blazer about a year and a half ago that I got totally hooked and had to have one. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET! I'll get mine done eventually. Right now its down to the frame. Got everything to do it, just gotta find the time.

[dtlilly]

I've always bought classic cars to restore, if I kept all of them I'd need a dealers lot to store them all. I always have been a truck man. Then one day I decided why not a classic truck (get the utility of a truck, with the benifits of a classic). I liked 4X4 off roading/mudding. Then one day I was paging through a truck trader magazine and found a 71 GMC short bed 4X4. Without knowing the first thing about these trucks, I bought it, and have been hooked there after.

[Quagmire]

my dad had a '69 when i was about five years old that i always liked.

when i was ~ ten one of my cousins got a '68 that was pretty trick, but had to sell it due to maint. costs and joining the military.

when i was ~14 another cousin bought a pretty sweet '67 with tilt front end, high-rise, etc. he use to take me out cruising the local drag all the time. he by far had the most *****in truck around and about that time is when i decided that model of truck is what i wanted.

shortly after my cousin that had the '68 moved back home and started looking for another. he picked up a '67 swb and started working on it. the truck was in many pieces and he sold it due to lack of time/money. this time i was the buyer. i spent two years and every one of my paychecks putting it together. after i got the truck done, my cousin was jealous and wanted me to sell it back to him yeah right!

he now has a 72 blazer project he is working on

[GMC69]

Well I already had my 4x4 Ranger ( piece of crap) and was not looking at buying another vehicle. But Renée's brother was looking at getting a beater to drive around and he seen this one and I knew he would be the last person to take care of a vehicle. So Renée and I decided to go take a look at it and it was in the autotrader. Went for a 5 minute ride and within a week I had it at home. Then spent what I had to, to get it on the road and approx 2,500$ later I had the truck with all repairs done to it and it was on the road driving. But since it did not have PS I did not drive it much. I did use it for hauling stuff once and a while since my Ranger was so small and it was higher.

Then moved out of town for a couple years so it sat. Now that I want to drive it again I would have to get it re-certified. It needs all 4 cab supports, rockers and cab corners along with the front floor sections and the lower kick panels. So I really don't know how much more needs to get fixed so till I can get another cab or truck it will sit for longer. It already has the box off it since it pissed me off that I could not get the drivers side apart to cut the coil to level out the ride ( 4" drop coils in the rear). I was planning in working on it anyhow but I was not letting the truck win this battle, LOL. That way it looks like I am doing something with it.



See what I mean, LOL. Not bad LWB box with 2 people and one engine hoist, LOL and limited room as you can see.

[1971 Cheyenne]

I really wanted a 47-55 1st, but wasn't realistic with the outdated drivetrain etc. At the same time, I was looking in the auto trader and saw a 72 ochre/white lwb k10, with about 2 inch lift and 35's or so. I LOVED IT. It was 2500 bucks. I didn't get it though, cause I wanted a 2wd. That was the truck that go tme hooked on 67-72's though. I knew I had to have one, I would still like to get a 47-55, maybe next

[Cat Fuzz]

I'm a big time do-it-yourselfer, so when we bought a house I knew I would need a truck for hauling stuff. I looked at everything from newer trucks to old junkers that would be good for dump runs only. I decided it had to be a Chevy that way I could swap the motor from my Monte Carlo if I had to. Also, had to be a long bed for hauling sheetrock and 2X4's with the gate closed. Was driving around one day in my Monte and there it was, my 69 C20 sitting on a used car lot. There was no question about it, I had to have this truck. So, I called the wife and asked her if I could have it and she said she didn't care, it was up to me as long as it was under $3000. I got it for $2500 which was probably a bit more than what I should have paid, but you can't put a price on love. Ok, don't .

Sure enough I DID have to swap the Monte Carlo motor into it after a 3000 mile trip to California killed the 350 4bolt that it came with. Now, the Monte is gone to car heaven. I stripped it and gave it away to a tow truck driver. It's probably recycled into a Hyundai now. Now my 69 is my daily driver and I wouldn't trade it for any newer truck. I'll just keep repairing and rebuilding stuff as it breaks.

[Dean]

My dad had a 71 C10 longbed 307 auto when I was a little kid. It couldn't haul much and he moved up to 3/4 & 1 ton 4x4s, but I still liked the look of the 71......

I had my first 71 K20 in high school and never looked back....Here is pic of my first 67-72... I still know where this truck is. It is just a chassis sitting in a barn now. I did a body swap on it when I had it so it is ready for its third body...lol Gotta love the rust belt... Reason mine hibernate in the winter.

[JIMs70GMC]

When I was about 11-12 my dad had a red 67 w/ side pipes. It was the loudest and baddest truck around. Since then I've always liked the body style. Fast forward 20 years, neighbor has the 70 GMC sitting in his driveway for 2 years, every now and then I'd ask if he'd sell it. One day (my birthday(31)) he tells me to take it for a spin and see if I want it or not. I told him it's not a matter "if" but how much he wants. Worked a deal and now I got 2!

[buckola]

I went to a GM dealer to purchase a new 1/2 ton. The dealer mentioned he was a collector and showed me a couple of his trucks. I asked if the GMC was for sale and he said 'everythings for sale" So... $40,000 cookie cutter or $5,000 head turner. The choice was easy

[Woody]

In '67 my Dad bought a new '67 LWB Fleetside, 6 cyc/ 3 on the tree. That was the first truck I remember him having. He died in it in '71. We moved to KY, & uncle Ron had a '69 SWB Fleetside 6 Cyc 3 on the tree that I learned to drive in. In '75 or so he put a 327 in it. I still remember the problems they had trying to get it in there. This BB would have really helped! Once they got the 327 in there it ran like a scalded dog!

Then in '84 I moved to Concord NC, There was a 69 SWB Fleetside (looked like Uncle Ron's old truck) that was a 350/400t a/c ps pb (21 options) truck on a lot. it had a set of 235/60/15's on 8" fake Cragers and was shining! Man it looked good. I had a POS Ford Fairlane (leaked oil from everywhere) that I had just about had it with. So I traded the Fairlane in on the 69. I've had it ever since. Best decision I've ever made.

[fine69]

Ah. Memories. In 1976 my family moved back to Ohio from Texas. My father was in the Navy. We moved alot so i never really got to meet my Grandparents until 1976. I was 9 years old. When we moved i ended up spending lots of time with my grandfather. Grandpa was 72 or 73 years old when i was born. So this dude was old now. But he knew everything. There were pictures on his living room walls of him and his buddies standing near large Steam traction engines,Thrashing machines. He built them from scratch. Well i started going with him and my grandma to Steam shows. What truck did we take? A 1968 Chevy 3/4 ton. Camper in the back. I learned to drive using this truck. And i still have it today. Grandpa is long gone. Dang that dude was cool. The rest aint hard to figure out. Once you get A Chevy. You will continue to own more.

[Dean]

My dad bought a 71 C10 new. I've been hooked since then. My first was a 71 K20 in high school. I still see my dad's old C10 running around town.

[Bowtie67]

When I was a kid my dad owned a 21 acre junkyard, he primarily drove trucks back and forth, old panels, flatbeds, wreckers and lots of other neat stuff. One day a 59 GMC came in that need very little work to get it running and that thing hauled A$$. It had a 400 Pontiac with an auto. Since then I have always been into trucks. I have had several Chevy trucks from old to brand new. when I found the 67 I really wanted a 56 because I had preffered that supension over the new 60's styles. My 2 boys that are home 11 & 14 are into Covettes, Camaros, of coarse my Pontiac GTP and especially the truck. My 14 year old although he doesn't have his license yet is already bugging me about using the truck.

[BobbyK]

I was actually looking for an early Bronco or IH at first...then I saw a 1st gen Blazer with it's top off and that was it for me.

[srhart71]

I inherited Grampa's 68 3/4ton with a 327 and 4speed. Learned to drive in it, first ticket, first auto accident, first date, etc... 15 years of muscle cars and motorcycles and realized needed a truck. New were too expensive and right deal fell into lap. Rest is history.

[MACKL]

My dad had a 72. When I got my first truck at the age of 16, we bought a 67 work truck with a 283. About a month later, the t-stat stuck and I melted the engine to the ground. (Stupid kid!) We rebuilt the engine, painted it and then drove the wheels off of it. At age 18, I traded it even steven for a 1964 Impala SS convertable. I have wanted another truck ever since. 25 years later, when my son's are approaching 16, 17, any guess what I bought? 1970 SWB fleetside. I hope they have the same great memories with their that I had with mine.