Why are our trucks so popular?

[northcountry67]

I'm 42, so I remember when these trucks were new. I remember in High School how much I liked this body style and how during these years, there were comfort and safety changes beyond belief, but why is it that the next two generations are loving these trucks as much, if not more than my own generation? 1967 brought about drastic body style changes for Ford and GM, but the earlier trucks also look good. My personal opinion is this. Since 1972, there has not been a GM truck that looks as sleek and areodynamic as the 67-72. They seem to have become bigger and more square over the years. When I was a child in OK, we drove trucks because we were always needing to haul stuff and trucks were cheaper to purchase. I have owned over 200 vehicles in my time and about 80 percent of them have been trucks. I would like to hear the opinions of all ages.

[jc]

heres what i suspect in many cases but defenatly not all
and i here it at the shows and meets all the time

MY DADDY HAD ONE WHEN I WAS KID

maybe this might even be what pushed me in this direction

when ever i drive my 67 3 on the tree i rember when i was a little kid
my dog would run and hide under the bed when my old man was 5 blocks away on his way home.
this usualy ment the dog did something bad earlyier in the day and he knew pops was gonna give em a beaten when he got there.

we couldnt here the truck untill about tree blocks away

that specific whine of the 3 speed tranny gave us all the warning that the old man was comming

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

I remember when I was a kid I loved riding in the truck because my Dad was always borrowing it from Grandpaw to haul stuff because he didn't have a truck. Whenever he needed it he'd say "lets go borrow Grandpaw's truck". I remember every time we used it, the gas tank was almost empty and we'd go put maybe 2 or 3 gallons in it when we were done. I basically grew up around this truck so I had to have it after it had been retired to the field. GM knew what they were doing when they built the 69's and 70's!

[JAKES 68GMC]

They were real trucks. They looked good and you could beat the living hell out of them without hurting them much. (true for 4x4s anyway)

IMO the reason they looked so good is because GM was doing good making and selling sedans, musclecars, coupes, etc. They had a good set of designers/engineers who designed the looks for all those cars, so when it came time to build a pick-up truck, they knew what to do and how to make it look good. Just the way I view it, but I didn't grow up in the era of these truck either.

[HeavyD]

I think they are so popular because of their appearance. To me, they look better than any other style, and I am not brand loyal at all. Everything just seems to flow right, have the right curves, and the best color/trim combos. I have seen many perfectly restored Fords and an occasional old Dodge, and they just don't look as good to me as a 67 swb fleet or a 2 tone 72 swb with upper and lower trim.

[71SWBChevy]

Well the first truck my dad had that I remember was a 1986 Ram 50, don't really care to restore one of those although the 82 scottsdale he had I wouldn't mind getting one like on day. I don't know what it is about these trucks but I have ALWAYS loved the 71-72 trucks but after getting mine i am starting to like the 67 and 68 as well still don't like the 69-70 as much as the other two but i wanted to get a camaro for a project car found my truck listed in the camaro catagory on E-bay put in a a lowball bid and 7 days later had to go pick the thing up. thought about just putting it back on in the right catagory but the left front brake locked up went to fix that and a week later had the damn thing down to bare frame. now i am hooked!

[70rs/ss]

I am a mix of two, one being my dad owned many of them when I was a kid. I remember going to N or S Carolina to buy these when they were older (I was born in 71), so we are talking 76 or a little later, because they were cheap and not as rusty as the ones from PA. The second and most important reason is that my older brother gave me (helped me build) my first vehicle and it was a 67 short step with an I6/3-speed converted to the floor. I loved and beat on that thing in the late 80's into 90 when I graduated and sold it to get something "better", since then I have owned nearly 20 of the trucks (long and short, but still love the shorties!) and Blazers as well as Suburbans. I love the way they look and drive (plus the attention you get!) My brother passed away over the summer from a car accident, so I found another 67 to replace the one he gave me 15 years ago, and my old man loves the picts of my fleet, past/current/and some of the future ones as well.

[Boog]

My take on this is GM was in the beginning of building less of a plain old work truck and a more refined comfortable all around truck. With a wide variety of power trains available they were still tough trucks but with the nicer trim and interiors the trucks were welcome in other than work situations. One of the most beautiful trucks of the 67-72 era is the 72 Chevy, ALL black with ALL the trim. It's just hard to beat that one for looks.

[booth]

Hey I'm 26 My grandpa bought a '67 brand new for his business, now I'm in the process of restoring it and using it for mine (more for a estimate truck than a work truck). I really like the look of these trucks, and lets face it where are millions out there and parts are pretty east to come by. Unless your from MN looking for a desent cab...
Thanks,
Paul

[BowTieMan]

Well I am 17 and I bought my truck because I love classic pick ups, and the best looking classic in my eyes is a 67-72 truck. Something about the body, interior, and no emissions crap really makes these truck classic.

[franks72]

Im 41 , when I was 15 my best friend got his dads 70 .That was a great time fixing it up and driving to school .. Im on my 6th 67-72 truck . I think they are the best looking truck out there.......

[409biscayne]

I'm from the era , we drove to high school in a 68 cst when it was pretty much new . Red c10 cst 327 / t400 , what a beautiful truck , it was my best friends dads , he'd let us take it to school if he needed something picked up in town . The minute we were outta sight we'd pull over and flip the air cleaner lid over , made it like an open element air cleaner , man thet quadrajet sounded great . I've owned at least 25 of these trucks over the years , i just like the memories. I've waited along time to find the 68 bb cst i have now , i'll keep it forever

[Skruffy]

Originally Posted by Boog

My take on this is GM was in the beginning of building less of a plain old work truck and a more refined comfortable all around truck. With a wide variety of power trains available they were still tough trucks but with the nicer trim and interiors the trucks were welcome in other than work situations. One of the most beautiful trucks of the 67-72 era is the 72 Chevy, ALL black with ALL the trim. It's just hard to beat that one for looks.

I agree. I think a lot of the appeal is that they are not only great looking, you can jump in them and cruise comfortably cross-country at 80 MPH. The technology (IFS, disc brakes, AC, etc) reached a point that they aren't a PITA to actually use for transportation.

[roughedup72]

I'm 35 and about 12 years ago I started liking these old trucks because a coworker had one that he had bought brand new when he was younger.(he was in his mid 40's) anyway he had restored it and it looked great and ran like a scalded dog, his was a longbed also,my oldest brother bought one around then wihch ended up being the one that I bought and that caught on fire recently.(its on the road again, My other older brother owns it now) Funny, that truck was owned by me and three of my brothers and is still running and looking good despite having caught fire.Anyway I just like the looks of them and they ride pretty good considering there age.

[mikesgmc68]

I am 38 and have a couple olds cutlasses, one for me and one for my wife. I had to get a truck just cause they are cool. No story, nothing. They just look awesome and to me is what a truck is all about, 70 gmc 3/4 ton.

[al's71gmc]

I've been wanting one of these trucks since I was about 20(in 1980). It's a combination of things, but looks is at the top of the list. I need a truck, I need 4wd, I can actually work on these things, they are tough as he!!, parts are plentiful and inexpensive, and it's the best looking body style ever, IMO. It's got everything I want and need.
Al

[teeitup]

My first truck in 1979 was a 69 GMC 6 cyl 3 speed, then I had a 70 chevy 327 3 speed in 1980. My dad was a Chevy dealer, so I had access to most years up till 1984, I liked these years the best then and still do today.

[MACO]

I'm not a Chevy guy at all, infact I have worked as a mechanic for Lexus for 16 years and think they are the best built cars in the world and my last truck was a Toyota. That said, I really like these old trucks and after driving expensive luxury cars all day I can't wait to drive home in my 71. I think I am quietly revolting against the modern over complicated cars and trucks. It also helps that the body lines are great and you can't beat the sound of a V8. Headers and dual exhaust in 2 weeks, I can't wait.

[68C15]

Originally Posted by MACO

I think I am quietly revolting against the modern over complicated cars and trucks. It also helps that the body lines are great and you can't beat the sound of a V8.

[67ChevyRedneck]

First off, I'd have to say GM took a lot of cues from a 67 for the 99-02 Silverado and they are a beautiful and sleek looking truck and if gas is still around in 20-30 years they will be the "new old truck" to restore.

I'm not a "My daddy had one when I was a kid" person, I'm a "My grandaddy had one when I was a kid" person. He had a 1 ton dually yellow and white 72 Custom with a flatbed stake rack. Spent MANY years loading winter firewood onto the bed of that truck. We beat the piss out of it, and it never complained. It was retired in the late '90's due to severe rust issues (NY truck) and I pirated most of the interior out of it.

Also, you can buy ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PART for these trucks IN STEEL. I think some of the exceptions are a cab, cowl, 67/68 grill, and longbed bedsides. If you want to restore an old truck would you rather do a 67-72 where you can order every part you need from a catalog or would you rather restore and old dodge.... good luck finding parts on that one.

[67chevemall]

I had never heard about such a awsome style truck until, oneday looking
through a auto trader I saw a pic of my truck in primer with no windows and
I said to my self I gotta have that wonderful thing of a truck.
So I sold everything I could came up with $3000 and begged mom for $1000
and away I went to get it........12 years later and $10000 it is almost done....
I look it over everday and can't get enough of it.......

[gn4u2c]

Because my first ride was a 70 c-10 350/3 on the tree, Orange and rusty but that f-er ran strong (headers 2 1/2 duals, 650 holley offenhouser intake,365 hp vette cam). Cant tell you how many RR tires were on that truck.,
eveyone at my high school called it "fast orange" made Irocs and 5.0s look silly. It would clean you out. after 3 years of daily beatings (nothing every broke!! just the once evry 6 month linkage bind on the 3 speed) I gave in and bought a Monte SS.

[HOTFUN]

My Dad wanted one of these just after he got his new 66 Chevy custom cab and as a 8 year old I can remember when the 67's came out how he pointed out all the nice car like features that came on the 67's. A whole older now generation launched this body style since they were more car like with air conditioning and automatics and the big move for campers and by early 70's the 5th wheel camper. Then the thing that kept these in the premium spot light was when the boxy 73's and 74's came out, new problems of peeling paint and almost immediately the early rusted above the wheel arch boxsides and fenders dogged that body style. The clean, rocker rust only problem of the earlier 67 - 72 bodystyles lt made these trucks a premium long lasting value. That tough lasting body part never faded and later the 73-87's took their hit again with the firery outside the frame gas tank problem. Even the gas tank in the cab 67-72 never got much critism. So they always were a favorite from a much improved pickup in 67 to why the standard was so high that the 73 up styles couldn't compete with.

[Lemield]

My opinion is that one of the reasons these trucks are so popular is because of the way that they drive....its not something that I can really put into words though. Kind of like the Harley sticker: If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

I have had 4 1970 trucks and they have all driven great! They just make you feel good when you are driving them....until you have to pay the gas prices that is....

[ChevLoRay]

Harry Bentley Bradley is the designer of record, for the '67's. He drove a pickup truck, and was one of the few in his era, who did. The "coke bottle" shape that GM had introduced for the automotive effort, was an influence, but so, too, was the changing concept of using a truck as a second vehicle. To have offered the integrated A/C, as it was, was a bit of a novelty. Not that A/C was new....which it wasn't. But, for trucks, most A/C units were add-on under-dash units, or bolted to the top of the cab for commercial units.

So, we have a more car-like truck, right? That had been equated to a "less masculine" appearance by GM and led to the new front cap design for '69, which saw another modification in '71. It's all history.

I am a believer in what happens in our hobby. In the same way, the '53-56 Ford F-100's became popular because they were perceived as less truck-like, in comparison to the other offerings from GM, Dodge, International, etc. History has proven this fact with the body style now being reproduced in its' entirety. While we don't yet have steel repro bodies for the F-100's, we do have them in fiberglass. The '67-72 GM cabs are probably head for the same honor. It's inevitable. As long as there is a customer base to support the demand, they will continue to manufacture the stuff we want. When rust-free cabs are needed, I feel sure we'll have them, but probably in 'glass.

I, for one, was not particularly impressed with the new body in late '66. I was still hooked up on the want list for a GTO, or a 442, or a GS. The Fairlane GT's were cool, but the Comet version was (my opinion) ugly. Mopar's were too square-looking, although the Hemi's were definately stout, albeit very rare in my circle of friends.....i.e., non-existant. The 350HP/327 Nova's were very desirable, and I would still like to have one. Nobody I ran with could afford a Vette, or a Shelby in any body style. Still, it seems that dealers were discounting 427 Cobra's because of those that lingered on the lots, not that there were a lot of them.

I was in Taiwan, then VietNam, when the '69's were made, which is why I have one.....sorta. I bought a '69 for my youngest son, when he turned 16. I liked it so much, that I got one for myself. That, my friends, is why I have mine. It isn't as roomy as my Tundra, but it's a lot more fun to drive. Having restified a few other vehicles, I am enjoying my time that I spend with it. It's what we all want to do.