Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I can tell the bed woods bed woods been restored (factory was black) and looks like stainless strips down, but that's easily fixable. Can't beat the price for what you get though.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Guess I'll throw my hat into the ring because survivors are my favorite. This is my unrestored 1966 Custom Camper with 34,xxx miles. Original factory Dark Blue/White paint and 16" lock ring wheels. The engine is a 327 with the TH400 auto trans. Fairly well-equipped for '66 yet no P/S or P/B and an under-dash A/C.

I seldom see dark blue trucks with original paint that's any good. Not sure if it was a less-popular color or if it just didn't hold up as well as some other colors. Incidentally, this truck spent its life in Denver before I found it.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Very nice! I like the dark blue.

Is that an old hydraulically-actuated trailer brake controller next to the hazard flasher knob?

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Really cleaned up nice Sodly . Really nice. Like these pictures to . Shows off all your hard work cleaning this Beauty back to its true glory !! Edit .. Had to add this. This is a great example of just plain preservation of originality and a great example of what they looked like new, this look will never die .

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Great looking truly original truck. Definitely a great addition to this thread! :metal:

:agree:

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Nice truck. The color looks awesome and I really like the rim/cap combo!!

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Yes! Your truck looks awesome! I too think those factory wheels and caps, with those tall beefy tires look reeeaally good! Have you found tire replacements yet? I hope you are enjoying driving it a bunch. I'll take any excuse to drive my CC, even for short errands, as it never fails to bring a smile.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Yup, sure is. As I understand it the original owner used the truck to haul his 1917 Buick to car shows back in the day. I even found some old car show window signs in the truck, probably from the 60s or 70s.

Thanks for the kind words. Coming from you that means a lot!

Me, too. These lock ring wheels have an old look you just never see anymore (except maybe on UPS trucks). It really stands out, to my eye. All of the silver paint on the truck is original, too. Many times (on the rare occasion that I do see these original two piece wheels still on a truck) they've been painted a different, incorrect silver or some other color which really looks weird to me. That said, I have a 1966 Custom Camper promotional film from GM and the truck in the film has red wheels and red lock rings so I guess some of them must've come painted body color, too.

And, like I mentioned, I rarely ever see Dark Blue on these trucks for some reason.... at least not on unrestored trucks.

Thanks, oem! Your opinion carries a lot of weight, too! I'm gonna run these old skins for awhile until I have a reason not to. Bias ply is where it's at (he says as he swerves down the road)! They just look so right.

Seems the more I study these trucks the more I'm realizing that "dolled up" C20s were pretty few and far between. In particular, chrome hub caps on a C20 are quite a rarity. I always pay attention to background shots on old tv shows (Adam-12, Emergency! anyone?), old magazines and vintage photographs and you almost never saw chromed-up 3/4 tons back in the day... except in GM ads, of course.

Thanks for the nice words, everyone.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

What I think is really rare and unusual about Sodly's blue truck is the Turbo 400 trans, and the 3 speed automatic shift column. Never seen that, even on this site. Also noticed it had the small hump in the cab floor. The 67-72s had a high hump in the floor if the truck came with the turbo 400. That thing would be great for a camper and/or pulling any kind of trailer or boat.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I've only seen one other 66 with the same combo and it was a custom camper option also.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

OEM4ME, could you take a photo of the other side of your engine? I'm interested in what holes and hoses there are in the valve cover.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

X2, I agree 100%. Thanks for going the "preservation" route Sodly. I am glad it went to the right person. I have always mention the wheels are critical to the "factory look" and character of 3/4 tons, and once again your truck proves this fact. Yeah, its more expensive to deal with this type of wheel, but the finished look is priceless. About the color of the rings, 16" lock ring wheels always had the silver ring, the 15" and 17" lock ring wheels did not have the silver rings, the rings and wheels were all one color. I have noticed some promotional photos in literature were doctored for various reasons.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

thats really clean. great find

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I was hoping you'd see this, factorystock. You and I are of a like mind when it comes to wheels, brother! Like you, I used to think the 16" rings only came in silver. But, as I mentioned, I have a promo film from GM called "El Camino" (narrated by Paul Harvey, no less) that features a red/white '66 Custom Camper with all-red 16" lock ring wheels (which were part of the Custom Camper package, I'm pretty sure). I've also seen one other dark blue/white Custom Camper, same color as mine, that had all-blue rings and wheels. Can't confirm that one was factory paint but it sure looked plausible. Frankly, I think these wheels in monotone look just awful. The silver ring is really important to the look on this particular wheel, IMHO.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Beautiful trucks...

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Watch out for any advertising or promotional stuff Sodly, in some cases, it has been doctored. There are numerous GM ads were emblems were drawn in, side moulding was added or deleted, and wheel color altered. Look for real non-GM period photos for the way it was really done. Maybe we should start a thread on "doctored" GM ads, and see how many we can come up with. Here is the real deal on a 1966 16" lock ring wheels.( Rim is black in this case because this truck is solid body color)

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I hear ya, factorystock. But I saw this on motion picture film. It would've been pretty tough to doctor an entire film... and for what reason? I'll try to get a screen cap of it and send it your way one of these days and see what you think. Anyway, I'm with you... the silver rings looks pretty cool. Very rare to see on the road today.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Here's one for rustbucket66.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

RPO M49; only available in '66 C20's AFAIK. I think that oem4me also has a really nice '66 C20 with a TH400.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

i might be wrong but was the 400 transmission only aval. on big block cars in the 1966 Chevrolet line . if you had a small block you were set to get a 2 speed pg auto. if so this was the only turbo 400 matched to a small block and 6 cyl. for 1966 Chevrolets

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

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.
Attachment 1301029

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Started my Porterbuilt crossmember install. I have a buddy taking the rest home.But is there nuts, bolts steering links, manual box, or column before I cut, clamps needed? Rust free and greasy. Pork chops, bars and bolts spoken for but rear torsion crossmember is not. I'll toss everything in a box just in case.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Just for reference, torsion bar crossmember bolts. Sleeved bolts and cup washers. Do the pork chops press off or are they just fighting me? Bars to a arms are not easily coming out as well. Not rusty. Is there a certain position to get them out? Everything is loose.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

IMHO... Pull it all out... toss it in the scrap bin and get a 63-72 front suspension for it.
:-D

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

IMHO... Pull it all out... toss it in the scrap bin and get a 63-72 front suspension for it.
:-D[/QUOTE]
Way, way past that.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

1962 GMC 3/4 ton with period extras http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/...0/1678522.html

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

That seems really pie in the sky priced

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I parted out a 327 turbo 400 3/4 ton that wasn't a custom camper, there out there.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I may be dense, but I don't get how Porterbuilt crossmembers fit into this thread. Now, don't take that wrong .. from what I understand, Nathan Porter provides a high quality product which contributes a ton to popular truck culture, but this particular thread is specifically about trucks that have had NO modifications. Hmmm.:uhmk:

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

That is one heck of a survivor package, factorystock!
If the vintage truck/camper market ever wakes up and smells the coffee, that price will seem CHEAP! There is simply no substitute for original materials and finishes that remain fresh after fifty plus years.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

WOW that thing must have been in a bunker what a time piece

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Agreed. I always like it when one of the threads about "original, survivor, or restored to original" threads gets new info. I was disappointed to see that the update didn't have anything to do with the OP's subject.


On the other hand, that GMC camper.... WOW! Cool.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I was just trying to share my original parts before they exchange hands. So if you needed a clamp or bolt with 50 year old wear, and correct markings I got them in a box. Most the original motor parts helped a 62 Corvette restoration.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I forgot to ask, what was the stock ride height for the 1962s? I have seen a brochure but can't seem to locate. I know these were some of the lowest trucks per Chevy.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I agree. The quality built into these vehicles is hard to match, if not impossible. Most trucks of this vintage were not given a pampered life, it is a treat to see one of these unrestored survivors pretty much the same way it looked like back in '62. These time capsules that have been preserved are in a special unique class. There is a lot of original trucks still out there, but not a lot of "excellent condition" original trucks. After seeing the Lambrecht prices, I'll take a indoor 50 year old 21,000 mile over an outdoor 50 year old 4.5 mile anyday.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

I've been trying to buy this for about the last month. Justin (jwalk) told me about it making it to town. Guy didn't want to sell but finally came around.... Anyways, rust free and pretty straight 1963 shortwide. Pretty well all original I-6 and 3ott. Shows 62k on odometer. Appears correct looking at the pedals. Drove it home today and washed it. Still lots of cleaning to do. Here's a few pics.
Dustin

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

...

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Great Score Very Nice Pinta

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Congrats! Looks like a great find. Definitely share more pics when you can.

Re: most original 60-66 truck in existence?
 

Looks great! My favorite color too. Post some pics as you get into it, (maybe start a thread) as most of us love this kind of find. Congrats!
EDIT: I see your thread now and will be watching.