Stumbled across a new "special edition"? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bigblock73 · 06-08-2004, 06:50 PM

I found information on what is called the California Sundancer in an old 1987 Truckin magazine. Anyone heard of it before or have any information on it? This is all it had for info...kind of neat, in a 1987 kind of way.

Kiilew, Joe, Chris...?

87 STEPPER · 06-08-2004, 07:47 PM

Iv'e never heard of one before look's like they produced a but load of 'em if all the truck's in that pic are a Cali sundancer.

Call me cRazY but iv'e never heard of anyone installing a roll bar on a "Sport truck" and calling it a Sport truck

Roll bars are for 4x4's!

Izzy · 06-08-2004, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

Iv'e never heard of one before look's like they produced a but load of 'em if all the truck's in that pic are a Cali sundancer.

Call me cRazY but iv'e never heard of anyone installing a roll bar on a "Sport truck" and calling it a Sport truck

Roll bars are for 4x4's!

Couldn't agree more.

Stingray42 · 06-08-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

Iv'e never heard of one before look's like they produced a but load of 'em if all the truck's in that pic are a Cali sundancer.

Call me cRazY but iv'e never heard of anyone installing a roll bar on a "Sport truck" and calling it a Sport truck

Roll bars are for 4x4's!

This waaaas 1987....

**N2TRUX** · 06-08-2004, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87 STEPPER

....Call me cRazY but iv'e never heard of anyone installing a roll bar on a "Sport truck" and calling it a Sport truck.....

Like Stingray42 said it was the 80's. Single and double tube roll bars were popular in 2wd's as well as 4wd's. They looked "totally radical" with A/T tires and white spoke wheels....

87 STEPPER · 06-09-2004, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Like Stingray42 said it was the 80's. Single and double tube roll bars were popular in 2wd's as well as 4wd's. They looked "totally radical" with A/T tires and white spoke wheels....

Sorry Stingray42 & Ken,
Im not buying that i owned an '85 new in '85 and my '87 new in '87 and i never had the urge to install a roll bar on either one.

But your right about there popularity back then and the guy's that did install them on a 2wd truck also had them lifted like a 4wd so i don't consider them a sport truck.

ElGracho · 06-08-2004, 09:40 PM

Nope, never heard of that one. I know there are several regional special edition trucks. There was one for texas for sure and I think there was some sort of midwest one too. It's pretty hard to nail down who did the conversions, where exactly they were sold and how many for each of them.

Cool new info though!

1985K10 · 06-08-2004, 09:54 PM

It had an optional sunroof!!! I thought my GMC Royal Sierra was special!

79BIG10 · 06-09-2004, 12:03 AM

Wonder if it was like the Bonanza? Too many of the trucks and came out with something "new" to bring in the buyers.

KIILew · 06-09-2004, 02:44 AM

Jeff,

That is a very interesting article to me, and the first actual written commentary I think I have seen on these "California Sundancers"...

Sometime in 1987, I was visiting relatives in Pasadena, California. I remember driving by Thorson Buick Pontiac GMC on Colorado Boulevard when I spotted a number of these "Sundancers" all proudly placed in the front row of their GMC new-truck lineup. My interest piqued, I pulled into the dealership for a closer look. There, I visited with a salesman who didn't know much about the trucks, and later I regretted that I had walked away without requesting any pertinent factory literature he might have had available on this special edition.

The truth is, the "Sundancer" moniker escaped my memory sometime during the next 17 years, but I remember the wheels, roll bar and tubular bumpers as mentioned in your Truckin’ article. I also recall the bright yellow primary color and blue pin striping, and gunmetal gray lower treatment. Although I had forgotten the "Sundancer" body side scripting that seems evident in your article's picture, I seem to remember a reference to "California Special Edition" on the window sticker, and possibly on the tailgate or rear bedsides (in hindsight, my mind probably transposed “Sundancer” into “Special Edition” over time, thus the discrepency). Actually, my memory suggests that there were several of these special trucks in Thorson's inventory, and they were all based on C1500 Sierra Classic Widesides. Interestingly, the presumed-Sundancers I saw that day on Thorson's lot were long wheel-base models, which contrast with the short beds pictured in your Truckin’ piece. Perhaps GMC allowed some variability in the package application. Then again, I may be wrong; my memory, here, is very sketchy.

Frustrated with my own failure to score a brochure or a picture of those "California special edition/Sundancer GMC's" that day in '87, I never thought I would see evidence of them again. Thanks for alleviating some of my pain!

Ken Lewis

**Captkaos** · 06-09-2004, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

I found information on what is called the California Sundancer in an old 1987 Truckin magazine. Anyone heard of it before or have any information on it? This is all it had for info...kind of neat, in a 1987 kind of way.

Kiilew, Joe, Chris...?

Yes, I have heard of it, but have no written documentation of it. From what I know, they were only availible in California area. They are kinda like the SnoChaser ones, which I think were only offered in the Northern states.

bigblock73 · 06-09-2004, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkaos

They are kinda like the SnoChaser ones, which I think were only offered in the Northern states.

Keep goin...tell me more...

**Captkaos** · 06-09-2004, 01:13 PM

They were build only in the Twin Cities and all of them have JEFF RULES down the side...

Seriously the ones I have seen have a cab spoiler (think Lund) mounted on the bed behind the cab, and decals on the rear bedsides saying "Sno Chaser". I thought I had a picture of one, but can't find it here, nor on the Net.

bigblock73 · 06-09-2004, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkaos

They were build only in the Twin Cities and all of them have JEFF RULES down the side...

Oh, so it must be like the special edition I heard about called the "hillbilly hauler". These were produced by GM and distributed to Alabama and the surrounding southern states. They came factory equipped with a gun rack in the rear window, a built in "spitoon" for the tobacco users, a confederate flag front plate, and a roll of duct tape in the glovebox in case something breaks.

Seriously, if you find anything Chris, let me know.

**Captkaos** · 06-09-2004, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblock73

......a confederate flag front plate, and a roll of duct tape in the glovebox in case something breaks.

Seriously, if you find anything Chris, let me know.

Actually the flag was painted on the hood, and you forgot about the bailing wire.

If I can find it, I will send it to you. Wonder if KIILew has anything?

73Super8 · 02-09-2015, 11:22 PM

Sorry to revive an old thread but the Sno Chaser has been found.

kevinr1970 · 02-10-2015, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73Super8

Sorry to revive an old thread but the Sno Chaser has been found.

This is exactly the reason to bring a thread back from the dead.

Is this for sale someplace?

**rs74** · 02-10-2015, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73Super8

Sorry to revive an old thread but the Sno Chaser has been found.

Where is this setting at? Not that I want it. Good truck to collect info on.

ElGracho · 02-10-2015, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

This is exactly the reason to bring a thread back from the dead.

Is this for sale someplace?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs74

Where is this setting at? Not that I want it. Good truck to collect info on.

Looks like it's sold.

http://www.grautogallery.com/vehicle...let-Scottsdale

**rs74** · 02-10-2015, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElGracho

Looks like it's sold.

http://www.grautogallery.com/vehicle...let-Scottsdale

Yeah I did a google search and came across that same site. Thanks

**special-K** · 02-10-2015, 12:11 AM

I bet that cab extender really helps it chase snow better

Pretty cool to see an all intact photo

J Knight · 02-10-2015, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I bet that cab extender really helps it chase snow better

Pretty cool to see an all intact photo

So, is sno the same as snow? inquiring minds want to kno....w

KIILew · 02-10-2015, 03:37 AM

Very interesting follow-ups in this thread...just checking out the pictures of the sno-chaser for the first time! Great!
Ken Lewis

Keith Seymore · 02-10-2015, 07:32 AM

Also interesting in that a California Sundancer turned up yesterday, too.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=659655

Squarebody special edition trifecta in play....

K

kevinr1970 · 02-10-2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIILew

Very interesting follow-ups in this thread...just checking out the pictures of the sno-chaser for the first time! Great!
Ken Lewis

Long time no see, glad to see you are still around!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Also interesting in that a California Sundancer turned up yesterday, too.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=659655

Squarebody special edition trifecta in play....

K

What was the third one?

BTW, while I like the concept of the overhead lights integrated into the cab fairing/wing thingy, that thing looks hideous!

06-08-2004, 06:50 PM	#1
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Stumbled across a new "special edition"? I found information on what is called the California Sundancer in an old 1987 Truckin magazine. Anyone heard of it before or have any information on it? This is all it had for info...kind of neat, in a 1987 kind of way. Kiilew, Joe, Chris...? __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

06-08-2004, 07:47 PM	#2
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Iv'e never heard of one before look's like they produced a but load of 'em if all the truck's in that pic are a Cali sundancer. Call me cRazY but iv'e never heard of anyone installing a roll bar on a "Sport truck" and calling it a Sport truck Roll bars are for 4x4's! __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

06-08-2004, 09:40 PM	#7
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,550	Nope, never heard of that one. I know there are several regional special edition trucks. There was one for texas for sure and I think there was some sort of midwest one too. It's pretty hard to nail down who did the conversions, where exactly they were sold and how many for each of them. Cool new info though! __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

06-08-2004, 09:54 PM	#8
1985K10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CT Posts: 315	It had an optional sunroof!!! I thought my GMC Royal Sierra was special! __________________ Anthony 07 Tahoe LT 70 Chevelle 450HP 383-TH400 77 GMC Royal Sierra~Resto in progress~

06-09-2004, 12:03 AM	#9
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,775	Wonder if it was like the Bonanza? Too many of the trucks and came out with something "new" to bring in the buyers. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

06-09-2004, 02:44 AM	#10
KIILew Active Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Prosser, WA 99350 Posts: 147	Jeff, That is a very interesting article to me, and the first actual written commentary I think I have seen on these "California Sundancers"... Sometime in 1987, I was visiting relatives in Pasadena, California. I remember driving by Thorson Buick Pontiac GMC on Colorado Boulevard when I spotted a number of these "Sundancers" all proudly placed in the front row of their GMC new-truck lineup. My interest piqued, I pulled into the dealership for a closer look. There, I visited with a salesman who didn't know much about the trucks, and later I regretted that I had walked away without requesting any pertinent factory literature he might have had available on this special edition. The truth is, the "Sundancer" moniker escaped my memory sometime during the next 17 years, but I remember the wheels, roll bar and tubular bumpers as mentioned in your Truckin’ article. I also recall the bright yellow primary color and blue pin striping, and gunmetal gray lower treatment. Although I had forgotten the "Sundancer" body side scripting that seems evident in your article's picture, I seem to remember a reference to "California Special Edition" on the window sticker, and possibly on the tailgate or rear bedsides (in hindsight, my mind probably transposed “Sundancer” into “Special Edition” over time, thus the discrepency). Actually, my memory suggests that there were several of these special trucks in Thorson's inventory, and they were all based on C1500 Sierra Classic Widesides. Interestingly, the presumed-Sundancers I saw that day on Thorson's lot were long wheel-base models, which contrast with the short beds pictured in your Truckin’ piece. Perhaps GMC allowed some variability in the package application. Then again, I may be wrong; my memory, here, is very sketchy. Frustrated with my own failure to score a brochure or a picture of those "California special edition/Sundancer GMC's" that day in '87, I never thought I would see evidence of them again. Thanks for alleviating some of my pain! Ken Lewis Last edited by KIILew; 06-09-2004 at 02:53 AM.

06-09-2004, 01:13 PM	#13
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	They were build only in the Twin Cities and all of them have JEFF RULES down the side... Seriously the ones I have seen have a cab spoiler (think Lund) mounted on the bed behind the cab, and decals on the rear bedsides saying "Sno Chaser". I thought I had a picture of one, but can't find it here, nor on the Net. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-09-2015, 11:22 PM	#16
73Super8 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: South Charleston,WV Posts: 138	Re: Stumbled across a new "special edition"? Sorry to revive an old thread but the Sno Chaser has been found. __________________ 1973 K10 Super 8 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645525 Sold 1988 S10 http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f135/p...-papaw-470214/ 2010 Nissan Frontier 4wd DD 2008 Ford Escape Limited Awd Momma's Ride 1978 C20 Farm truck Sold

02-10-2015, 12:11 AM	#21
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Stumbled across a new "special edition"? I bet that cab extender really helps it chase snow better Pretty cool to see an all intact photo __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

02-10-2015, 03:37 AM	#23
KIILew Active Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Prosser, WA 99350 Posts: 147	Re: Stumbled across a new "special edition"? Very interesting follow-ups in this thread...just checking out the pictures of the sno-chaser for the first time! Great! Ken Lewis

02-10-2015, 07:32 AM	#24
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,179	Re: Stumbled across a new "special edition"? Also interesting in that a California Sundancer turned up yesterday, too. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=659655 Squarebody special edition trifecta in play.... K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/



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