most original 60-66 truck in existence?

[markeb01]

Once again I learned something new today. I've never seen one of these trucks in real life with a fawn colored firewall. It makes sense though considering how this might have streamlined production.

[Captainfab]

I remember reading about the fawn colored firewall in another thread here not long ago. I believe it was just one of the assembly plants that was doing this. I don't remember which one it was though.

[juanz1947]

[collins10672]

yes it was in an earlier thread about the fawn colored firewalls.most(not all)east coast built trucks had the fawn firewall's.in my personal experience of the trucks i have owned and others i have looked at is the firewall is fawn on all east coast built trucks except the 1966 trucks which were a solid color and they had the firewall painted to match the exterior of the truck.the 1966 tutone trucks also had the fawn firewall built in the east.

[jocko]

interesting discussion about the fawn firewalls. other than jonzcustomshop's post which certainly looks original - the ONLY trucks I've ever seen with fawn firewalls were the high-dollar no-stone-left-unturned restorations. Here's a few more, one in green and one in red (red one is different than the restored one above, this one has an orange engine). Final pic is of an unrestored white 62, it had a black firewall (not original engine). I can't keep track! Which brings up anOTHER quesiton - I thought the 66 327's (i.e. comparing this red truck with the one posted earlier) were normally painted gray or blue!! Maybe they were - just not on this one though. Learn somethin new every day.

[GMC4wheels71]

I'm like you. I like the all original look more than the slammed and jacked up modifications. I think of these like they're a piece of history. I wouldn't slam or jack up the constitution

OEM4TW!
(OEM FTW)

[Dinos63]

Omg what a great thread!!!

[sodly]

Big thanks to FactoryStock and OEM4ME for keeping the drum beat of originality alive around here! I've never really understood why historic pickups owners (largely) ignore or don't seem to value originality in the same way that almost any other classic vehicle owners do. Just look at the polar opposite attitudes toward "restorations" that you find between '60s era Corvette lovers and 60s era Chevy pickup lovers! Can you say NCRS?!? For vehicles of the same vintage coming from the same company their perspectives toward originality could not be more different!

[ralf]

[yote1234]

my 65 is not the "most" original in existance but i would consider it as one of the originals! in existance! short of one repaint its a 58,000 mile original truck. pretty muck a basic model. 6 cyl,3 speed,373 open. does have power steering. ans short wide bed. i have the protecto plate,sales slip,ect. nice virgin shorty! drives like new!

[aerotruk63]

Would it not be nice to combine these unrestored trucks along with GM books and other GM literature, to go through all the numbers to see how things changed over the years. What was painted which colors or left bare. Why the part numbers change and what was the change. Although mine is slightly altered, although in no way original, I like to try and preserve the original content at the same time. The original black floors in the bed was something I came across as of late. How exactly are they painted is my present search. I was told they came with a protective wax paper that protected the finish during shipping and that the paper was caught between the wood and bed strips on the box sides.
Black was the factory color on the mirror heads in 63 yet all the NOS mirror heads I've come across are Cameo White.
Interesting tid bits like this help to evaluate the unmolested claim.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by yote1234

my 65 is not the "most" original in existance but i would consider it as one of the originals! in existance! short of one repaint its a 58,000 mile original truck. pretty muck a basic model. 6 cyl,3 speed,373 open. does have power steering. ans short wide bed. i have the protecto plate,sales slip,ect. nice virgin shorty! drives like new!

Sitting behind that steering wheel must make you feel like it’s 1965 all over again. That instrument panel looks like brand new.

[yote1234]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Sitting behind that steering wheel must make you feel like it’s 1965 all over again. That instrument panel looks like brand new.

hey mark! hows it going.. yea,.driving this truck makes me feel like a kid again. last owner told me this truck was all original. with one repaint. all numbers match. ect. it is a basic truck... infact i think i'll nick name it "jane" for plane jane. only options were power steering,short wide bed,beltline trim and comfort interior.
cant wait till it cools down so i can use it as a daily driver...
ps. great book!

[Corts60]

Well, the Suburban I just picked up earlier this year I think qualifies for this thread (in an unrestored sense), even though it was a farm truck for all of it's life and went on a lot of hunting trips (all the scars to prove it), it only has 113,000 miles and I bought from the original owners son. It has been sitting since 1992.

[Corts60]

It also still has the same plates it left the dealer with (I was able to scrape the later stickers off and get to the first one!)

[Old Ford guy]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Well, the Suburban I just picked up earlier this year I think qualifies for this thread (in an unrestored sense), even though it was a farm truck for all of it's life and went on a lot of hunting trips (all the scars to prove it), it only has 113,000 miles and I bought from the original owners son. It has been sitting since 1992.

That seat is a deluxe trim package pattern. Still available. Here is the seat from my 61 after it was redone by the previous owner.

[aerotruk63]

Red primer all over compared to the black fenders and hoods of later years. Body color under the hood?

[Corts60]

The firewall is white and the hood has been re-painted at some point. That is why it is red primer instead of black, forgot to mention that.

[pdxhall]

Cort, our trucks have a little something in common. Mine was an original unmolested 133,000 mile truck and I bought it from the original owners son. I chose to not leave it as is and it's going through a complete frame off rebuild. Stock looking on the outside but with some modern comfort and driveability.
This is how it looked the day I bought it.

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

Cort, our trucks have a little something in common. Mine was an original unmolested 133,000 mile truck and I bought it from the original owners son. I chose to not leave it as is and it's going through a complete frame off rebuild. Stock looking on the outside but with some modern comfort and driveability.
This is how it looked the day I bought it.

That's great man. That truck looks super straight!

[Goldie80]

oem4me, I really like the fleetside that you posted. I have the exact same rear bumper. Yours is actually the first one, besides my own, I have ever seen. Mines not looking as good as yours though. Has quite a bit of rust damage. Any idea where I could find a replacement?

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by Goldie80

oem4me, I really like the fleetside that you posted. I have the exact same rear bumper. Yours is actually the first one, besides my own, I have ever seen. Mines not looking as good as yours though. Has quite a bit of rust damage. Any idea where I could find a replacement?

I have seen a few others over the years. No idea where to find a matching replacement at this point in time, other than the standard online searches.
I must add that though this style of wrap-around bumper may be great for body protection, it's a full three to four person job to install one without scratching up the sides of the fenders. If you look closely at the pictures below, you can see evidence of that. That paint damage was done by either the PO or the original installer. Aaarrgh!
Also, do you still have the rubber pieces that go between the body and the bumper? They are not available anywhere, as far as I know.

[sdh1929]

Originally Posted by oem4me

I have seen a few others over the years. No idea where to find a matching replacement at this point in time, other than the standard online searches.
I must add that though this style of wrap-around bumper may be great for body protection, it's a full three to four person job to install one without scratching up the sides of the fenders. If you look closely at the pictures below, you can see evidence of that. That paint damage was done by either the PO or the original installer. Aaarrgh!
Also, do you still have the rubber pieces that go between the body and the bumper? They are not available anywhere, as far as I know.

Just ran across this discussion thread and the pictures you posted of the wrap around rear bumper, I still have the 1966 C20 my Dad bought new on Jan 28th, 1966. Thought you would appreciate a picture taken of me standing next to my Dad's truck in 1968, and the wrap around bumper that was on it.

[ljackson]

sdh1929, that's cool. What does your truck look like today? Post some Pics.

[plainred65]

Originally Posted by sdh1929

Thought you would appreciate a picture taken of me standing next to my Dad's truck in 1968, and the wrap around bumper that was on it.

Love the pic, sure brings back memories of how things were, how we dressed, etc. Great that you still have the truck.

BTW, I have those same tie downs that show on the side of the bed. Are they an aftermarket or factory add on?