'67 gmc c30

[RenoKeene]

Very cool truck. Congrats.

[grumptruck]

Good morning. So I'm looking to learn more about this old work truck and how it actually came to be built. According to the Vin it was originally a 9' pick up and not a cab and chassis. Had a guy at the local True Value ask me that very question.

The tool boxes were painted body color - even the inside of them. One can certainly see the difference in paint quality between boxes and cab/bedsides.

Was this usually a dealer installed item or was there some sort of a work truck program similar to the COPO platform., by this I mean the more common COPO program used for fleets / municipalities etc. (COPO was not just for musclecars)
It is certainly possible that the original owner simply took delivery of the truck as stepside and had a local body shop paint and install tool boxes - after cutting the original 9' bed side steps in half !!!

The interior, door jambs and firewall are painted the corporate silver (faun?) color

The grill is painted body color and not Ivory white like the bumper. There is still evidence of the black painted accents on perimeter and in the GMC lettering.

Thanks in advance for your knowledgeable replies.

[grumptruck]

Hey guys. Does anyone have any thoughts on the original paint scheme on my truck?
Any other GMC's with original paint body color grilles?

[68panelman]

Truck body fitters more than likely installed the bedside toolboxes, it's not a factory item, there's threads on the board here somewhere.
The previous page bigrigpardo posted a pick of it for sale, and the whole nose appears to be repainted at some point. Grills never came painted body color

[grumptruck]

Yeah thats what I thought. I must say though, theres really no other evidence of a repaint. The grille still shows some of what looks like original black trim and GMC letters. Ill get some close up pics to list.

[grumptruck]

So here are a few close ups of the grille area. Body color grille and what appears to be factory black surround trim and GMC lettering.

[grumptruck]

Doing some minor tweaks and fixes. Rebuilt the Stromberg, repacked front wheel bearings. I made an attempt at cleaning the spray paint covering the original lettering....

[Ken B]

Very nice job on the lettering!
I see your truck was originally a masons truck. I bought my 100 % original 70 Longhorn from the original owner who owned his own roofing company. He never drove the truck past October and it was garaged every night... That might also be how your truck survived in such nice shape as well. It goes to show you there are still some rust free trucks in our neck of the woods! ( I'm in CT) I love the original patina work trucks. How does the 305 V6 compare to a small V8?

[grumptruck]

Yes, my truck was owned by a mason. Also garage kept but, there is some rot in places, rockers, one cab corner and the bed / boxes have seen better days. My father was a roofer and bought his first truck from his boss at the time - a '68 C10 short bed step side. Thats what started it over 35 years ago.
The 305 V6... I'd compare it more to a tractor engine. Runs the same loaded or unloaded. Revs ike a tractor too, Party's over by 4k max!

[factorystock]

IMO, this truck may have been originally purchased new by a public utility fleet ( gas, water or gov. ). They typically had there trucks painted in special order colors and schemes according to their specs. The service body compartment fenders were also special ordered by the dealer for the customer, a simple deal, vendors are listed in their special equipment "silver books". IMO, Mr. Martino probably purchased this truck at an auction when it was approx. 12 years old.

[grumptruck]

Hi there. Thanks for your interest and theory, however, I have spoken with the original owners wife. ( He has sadly passed away ) She told me that they ordered the truck just the way he wanted it and that she picked the color. (he wanted red)

[grumptruck]

Good morning. I have been in contact with the daughter of the original owner of my GMC 1 ton. She actually sent me some pics of the truck when her dad first bought it new - prior to any lettering. Im proud to share these with you all.
Id also like to not that the grille was in fact always blue and not the more often seen ivory.
She's on the hunt for the original license plates. Let's hope they turn up.

[GR8-68]

That is so cool that you were actually able to find the original owners daughter and that she was nice enough to send you pictures of it new. Having the original plates would be awesome !!!

[special-K]

Man, you are so lucky with this truck experience. How cool is that to have these pictures and contact with someone who has known the truck since new. Mr Martino must of been quite proud of that GMC. The lettering revival is going well.

[bigrigpardo]

Me and steve are very good friends now. I almost died when he sent me those pics. I can't believe how this trucks story has come around. It started as me just trying to save another one from the scrap yard and ended up with an awesome story a good friend and another great truck on the road.

[midniteblues]

Wow don't know how I missed this thread till now.

This is truly awesome, great truck with documented history.
The pics from new are mind blowers and a testament of how you could get your truck dang near anyway you wanted it. A c3500 with oe buddies.

It's obvious Mr martinez took good care of it for it to be in that kind of shape in that area.

What really amazes me is the amount of people that turn their noses up at a truck like this.
When I sold my 71 9ft stepper 9 outa 10 people walked away only cause it wasn't a swb. None of them cared for the uniqueness of the 133 and the low production #'s they had I had a few guys tell me they wanted to cut it down to a sb and only came to see what was involved.
CRAZY PEOPLE I'LL TELL YA.

I glad you both have the apperceation for the uniqueness of this one and for what it actually is.

[grumptruck]

yeah I truly did not expect all of this when I found this truck from bigrigpardo
just some persistence and luck has helped track down some of this trucks history..
They even found a picture from an old job site
Im including a recent picture of it at one of my job sites too

[68panelman]

Too cool, love vintage photos, especially work related, good stuff

[grumptruck]

yes, me too. I can look at old "in action" pictures all night. Ill post two more but theyre really not all that old. Late 80's maybe?
A glimpse of Mr Martino himself

[mud.man.rj]

Your sure lucky to have so much history and original pic's of the truck back in the day. Love the old pic's and history
Mudman.

[special-K]

Looks like a brand new Case hoe in the one pic.

[grumptruck]

Yes it is a brand new Case. Mr Martinos daughter (shes pictured with truck when new - and is the baby in the bed of the truck) mentioned how that helping her dad move equipment around was one her favorite things to do.

The small Boston Whaler boat was usually pulled in and out with the GMC.
There's a story of the truck getting stuck at the boat launch and having to be pulled out with a tractor. There may even be a picture of that.

Also, notice the For Sale sign in the back window. I guess when he retired he thought of selling it but thought better of it.

I recently drove it to its first ever car show. You guys wont believe the reception this old truck gets.

[special-K]

I believe it.

[grumptruck]

Heres a few pictures of the truck at a somewhat local show.
I plan on attending a vintage truck and tractor show at our local fair grounds in August.

[Ken B]

What an awesome story and a very rare story with pics to boot! My 70 Longhorn shares a very similar story to yours. I got my truck from the original owner a few yrs ago who owned his own roofing company. He was the only one to ever drive the truck. It survived its entire life in salty CT but has ZERO rust because he never drove it past October. It seems both original owners of our trucks treated them like a member of the family. I love the original work trucks...