Cheyenne Super identification

[FL71C10]

How do I tell if a truck is a real Cheyenne Super?

Thanks!

[FL71C10]

any tips on option #'s to look for on the SPID?

[CC69Rat]

I want to say it's Z84 on the Spid.. but I'm not 100% sure.

VA72C10 or Special-K here on the forum could tell you for sure.

[SS Tim]

That is the easy part, RPO YE9 will be on the SPID. Bottom line is documentation. Cheyenne Super is an added option. So it can be added post factory. The only hard part change is the inner roof panel on both the Cheyenne and the Cheyenne Super will have the oval trim holes punched into it. Of course this is covered by the trim! PM me if you want to talk.

[Zoomin]

Apart from the SPID, there's a few other clues. Most obviously, it should have a Super badge on the front fenders just below the Cheyenne badge. It should have simulated wood on the door panels, glove box door, and dash, as well as on the lower exterior trim and tailgate band. It should have a chrome tailgate handle if it's a 71 or a stainless handle for 72's. It should have a houndstooth cloth insert if it's a bench seat truck.

Tough items to fake are the headliner and a light on the back of the cab.

It also seems like all half tons had a special GVWR of 5400 too.

[CC69Rat]

SS Tim -- Does that apply to GMC too? I have a 70 (what I think might be a Sierra Grande Super Custom) Not sure .. Tim (Special-K) Said he tought it might be.

It has the headliner, etc. (not to hijack, just learing too) .. I can post a SPID pic.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

...Tough items to fake are the headliner and a light on the back of the cab...

I agree with the content stated and that the headliner holes are really tough to fake, also hard to verify. As to the cargo lamp it was a stand alone option RPO UF2 so it being there is not an absolute other than the truck was probably ordered with it by itself or as part of a package.

A note on the SPID, sometimes you will see both the Z84 and YE9 listed. The option was slated for an early April '71 production release. So an early '71 build would also be a tell of an upgraded Cheyenne.

[jocko]

A couple comments based on my stumblings over the years....

- Cheyenne and Super badges should always be LEFT-ALIGNED. For some reason, even some of the high dollar restos out there sometimes line up the right edges of the badges - and most often on just one side of the truck. Odd. Sometimes you'll even see the Super centered under the Cheyenne. Both centered and right justified are not the original placement.

- Note that the interior woodgrain trim (door only) and exterior woodgrain trim was also standard on a Cheyenne (non-Super)

- some folks will use a chrome glovebox door to emulate the basis of a Super glovebox door. The Super glovebox door should be color matched with an aluminum trim insert between the woodgrain and the painted metal.

- Be on the lookout (if you're hardover on an original Super) for the vinyl laminate sim woodgrain on the dash/glovebox. These tend to peel easily - but some folks do a great job with this material and it lasts. I only mention it because some may go this route to fake a Super (which is what you're asking about) - but it can be done as a means to restore a super and it's perfectly acceptable if you're ok with it it vice the original woodgrain. Some members here sell very, very nice restored woodgrain panels (I just bought some from VA72C10) and some folks make some very, very nice vinyl laminate woodgrain panel conversions - both look real nice. You have to be the judge on that - bottom line, dash is an easy swap, you need to confirm Super status elsewhere.

- I believe the external cab light was also available on models below a Super (EDIT: Oops - I didn't catch it, Tim already pointed this out, sorry)

- one thing to be aware of is that the houndstooth bench seats only came in 3 colors: Blue, olive, and parchment. There's no such thing as an original Black and hugger orange (or even black and white) houndstooth seat.

- As Tim pointed out - the most important ID items are:
a) YE9 on the SPID
b) YE9 on the build sheet

Build sheet may not have survived and that's ok. If it has, it's a bonus.
I look for "originality" in a SPID also - i.e. look at paint under the clear border of the SPID overlay (on a 72) for example. Does the SPID itself "look" old and original - if it is, it won't be prisitine.

Which brings up reproduction SPIDs. Some folks reproduce them to look exactly original - and that's ok (in my humble opinion) if, and only if, the supporting documentaiton is available to back up the authenticity of a repro SPID. (i.e. a build sheet, or the original VIN-matching SPID, or whole glovebox door with the original SPID, etc). If it's just a reproduction SPID on a rotisserie resto Cheyenne Super with no additional documentaiton to back it up then I assume it's just a Custom 10. Don't get me wrong, if someone wants to build a "Super" from a Custom 10, that's fine - as long as they don't subsequently sell it as an "original Cheyenne Super".... My 2 cents only.

As they say on the X-files.... "Trust No 1"....
Especially when it comes trucks!!

[FL71C10]

Cheyennes arent the only trucks to have headliners and cargo lights. right? My 71 half ton has headliner holes, a cargo light, trim on the rear window, and the rubber splash shield on the inner fender. That doesn't make it a Cheyenne or a Cheyenne Super though. I bought the truck with no spid, just a cab and chassis, so I don't know much about it.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Cheyennes arent the only trucks to have headliners and cargo lights. right? My 71 half ton has headliner holes, a cargo light, trim on the rear window, and the rubber splash shield on the inner fender. That doesn't make it a Cheyenne or a Cheyenne Super though. I bought the truck with no spid, just a cab and chassis, so I don't know much about it.

Sounds like it would be a cheyenne or CST truck.

[jocko]

concur, if it has headliner holes - that should indicate it is a Cheyenne or above. Cargo light means nothing as far as ID. Window trim could be anything except basic Custom 10, or could have been added.

[FL71C10]

I guess it doesn't matter. It's a frankenstein truck anyway!

[FL71C10]

so the cheyenne super package was available on c20's as well?

[jocko]

yes, 10/20/30.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

so the cheyenne super package was available on c20's as well?

And C-30s.

[FL71C10]

im going to look at this one tomorrow. we'll see

[SS Tim]

Fleetsides, Stepsides and Chassis Cabs. In 4x2 or 4x4. Funny thing is both the Chassis Cabs and the Stepsides didn't have the trim really plain but nice interiors.
Here is what the sales promo flyer looked like. Since everyone is looking, I have a question. Has anyone seen a documented original Cheyenne Super fender emblem with these legs connecting at H and N? Probably just a prototype thing that never made production. Afterall it would create a lot of near duplicate parts vs just adding the Super badge.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

im going to look at this one tomorrow. we'll see

If you want to buy the RT ticket I could be there tomorrow.

[jocko]

Wow, I've never seen those legs, and I even consider myself a leg man... Very interesting!

[FL71C10]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

If you want to buy the RT ticket I could be there tomorrow.

Probably cost as much as the truck!

[sanford66]

I'm curious about the headliner also. My 72 is a Custom Deluxe Highlander truck and it has a headliner in it, could that be right? The headliner holes in the cab look factory to me. Sorry, not trying to hijack or anything. Joseph

[SS Tim]

Interesting variation. The only Custom Deluxe specifed to have headliners were Suburbans. The fact that yours has one could be explained any number of ways. Does your truck also have a cargo lamp? Is the headliner mentioned on the SPID? Maybe an A or X code. Would it be possible to see your SPID and build date?
Personally I'm thinking a body misbuild where the incorrect inner panel was installed during cab assembly. Likely it was signed off and a headliner was popped in off line. If it has the cargo lamp as well I'd say it was an incorrect build schedule. But the fact is headliners were not part of the Custom Deluxe or Highlander pickup trim options.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by jocko

concur, if it has headliner holes - that should indicate it is a Cheyenne or above. Cargo light means nothing as far as ID. Window trim could be anything except basic Custom 10, or could have been added.

The cargo light does mean something. While it was available as an option on other models, it was standard on a Super. If it doesn't have one, it's not a Super.
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[screaminchevypickup]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

The cargo light does mean something. While it was available as an option on other models, it was standard on a Super. If it doesn't have one, it's not a Super.
Posted via Mobile Device

Posted via Mobile Device