Camper special

[montellano]

Heys guys, or gals whatever you may be, I am new to this website and just looking for some advice and maybe some information. I just saw a 1972 longbed camper special for sale and it looks like a very well taken care of truck. I was just wonering if anyone knew anything about these trucks. It has factory air and it is automatic. I am kinda wondering how much I should offer the guy.

[PETEM1957]

Welcome to the board!!!

Value of these trucks is hard to determine. Need more info and if you can get & post some pics that would sure help and the guys here will definitely jump in and help!

I paid $1,400.00 for a '70' C20 with a blown motor, excellent body, no rust, pretty decent interior, Camper Special, CST with double chrome, bumper guards & factory A/C.

I also paid $1,700.00 for a K20 Camper Special, A/C, CST, single lower chrome, 10,000 # PTO driven winch, decent cab needed rockers, but the rest of the body was questionable. Not a straight piece of sheet metal on it except the cowl and one fender is driver quality but the engine runs like a top & it's a beast in the dirt. I wanted a 3/4 ton 4x4 so I went ahead and got it.

[montellano]

Hey thanks for replying. I don't have no clue what I'm doing on this, I'm still trying to figure it out. The truck is a long bed 3/4 ton with A/C, 350 motor, 350 trans. and it looks like its been well kept over the years. I called the gut but he did not answer. I will probably try to get a better look at the truck tomorrow.

[El Jay]

Welcome to the board.

I have no idea what to tell you.

I, literally stole a '72 GMC Sierra Grande, with factory camper wiring, & a very straight body, sun trashed paint & interior; 402 BB, & all with under 30K ORIGINAL miles for $3.5K

Does/did it have it's problems.
Oh, hell yeah. It looks like crap (never garaged/canopied) but we're talking one solid truck here.
I'm not afraid to jump in it & drive it anywhere.

[dan42]

Is it a longbed or a longhorn? Options? Shape of body? Best thing would be to give us pictures, that would help quite a bit.

[montellano]

It is a long bed. It looks to be in really good shape. It actually looks like it the owner used it everyday. It looks like its been kept up with. It is a 3/4 ton with factory a/c 350/350.

[dan42]

Longbed 3/4 ton is probably the least desirable for most people, but if it has lots of options and little to no body work required, and the original motor and paint, 2500-3000 is reasonable.

[montellano]

Hey thanks, This truck would probably more of an everyday work truck/take camping truck for me. I have a couple other trucks that I am restoring, really slowly but restoring. I am just wondering what is a fair price for the truck. It definitely is a really clean truck. Looks like it has never been wrecked with no bondo. It is the origianal mustard color.

[Longhorn Man]

camper special?
Isn't that a ford?


A custom camper is only a couple options thrown on top of a regular truck, the only one of value and possibly the only one still instaled would be the anti sway bar.

if you can get us photos, we may be able to help you, otherwise, it is worth 500 - 10,000

[hilandr452]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

camper special?
Isn't that a ford?


A custom camper is only a couple options thrown on top of a regular truck, the only one of value and possibly the only one still instaled would be the anti sway bar.

if you can get us photos, we may be able to help you, otherwise, it is worth 500 - 10,000

FYI
Here's the emblem on my 1973 CHEVY Camper Special.





Dan

[Longhorn Man]

in GMC talk, they had the custom camper optin package, the same as chevy's package (outlined above) and then they had the custom camper model, that has an 8 foot 6 inch bed, commonly called the longhorn (that's what chevy called there truck with the 8 1/2 foot bed)

[PETEM1957]

OOP'S, We said Camper Special. That's a bad word around here!!!! LOL.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by PETEM1957

OOP'S, We said Camper Special. That's a bad word around here!!!! LOL.

Out of respect, Ford came out with there Camper Special package 1 year before Chevrolet and 2 years before GMC.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by PETEM1957

OOP'S, We said Camper Special. That's a bad word around here!!!! LOL.

One of my pet peeves,along with people calling their truck Super Cheyennes. It's Cheyenne Super!

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

yeah, chevy wanted to be like ford in the 73 - 87 years, so they called it a camper special, and made the trucks with built in rust.

Originally Posted by factorystock

Out of respect, Ford came out with there Camper Special package 1 year before Chevrolet and 2 years before GMC.

GM changed to Camper Special in '73 because they started offering the Trailering Special. Since the body changed,they redesigned the emblems for the b-pillar and to list the GVW.

GMC made it confusing by using Custom Camper as the name for their 133" Wideside pickups. Both GMC and Chevy offered the Custom Camper equipment package on the 127"-157" trucks since before '68 when the 133" Fleetside/Widesides came out. So,you could have a Chevy Custom Camper Longhorn (133" Fleetside) as well as 127"(longbed) or 133"/157" (cab & chassis) Custom Camper of any trim level. With GMCs you could have a Custom Camper Custom Camper (133" Wideside) as well as 127"(longbed) or 133'/157" (cab & chassis) Custom Camper in any trim level. You could either have the trim level fender badge with a Custom Camper door script or order a Custom Camper fender badge with no markings for trim level. In other words,trucks that had a Custom Camper fender badge told nothing of the trim level. You had to look further.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by special-K

In other words,trucks that had a Custom Camper fender badge told nothing of the trim level. You had to look further.

This is true for the 67 thru 72 era. It was basically a heavy duty suspension package with no creature comforts and no powertrain requirements. Interestingly, the first Chevy Custom Campers (mid '65 and '66) you automatically received the Custom Apperance option, the Custom Comfort option, the Custom Chrome option, tinted windshield and west coat mirrors. GMC first attempt was in '66 with the Camper Cruiser, but it was not a package, only a list of recommended options and did not get an emblem until '67. Fords "Camper Special" package came out in mid '64.

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

in GMC talk, they had the custom camper optin package, the same as chevy's package (outlined above) and then they had the custom camper model, that has an 8 foot 6 inch bed, commonly called the longhorn (that's what chevy called there truck with the 8 1/2 foot bed)

So am I reading this correctly? My '69 GMC 3500 with an 8 1/2" bed is not a Longhorn? Only the Chevy's were Longhorns in '69? 'Splain this to me please! I'm interested!

[OregonC20]

"that's what chevy called there truck with the 8 1/2 foot bed"
69GMCLonghorn: I think that Longhorn Man meant to say GM called...

[WorkinLonghorn]

Well, I always put quotes around "Longhorn" because the GMCs didn't have the badges. That was a Chevy thing. Maybe I should change my handle to "WorkinGMCw/8.5feet".

[Longhorn Man]

Lol!!!

[factorystock]

Custom campers are 3/4 or 1 tons with heavy duty suspensions to handle the weight of a camper. The big plus about them is original owners bought them for recreational vehicles and not for work trucks, so many are found in above average condition and fewer miles. The negative is that they ride harder and are geared slower than 1/2 tons.

[Longhorn Man]

chevy called them longhorns, and GMC called theres custom camper.

[Longhorn Man]

yeah, chevy wanted to be like ford in the 73 - 87 years, so they called it a camper special, and made the trucks with built in rust.

[JPCY72]

Hey buddie I just got my 72 4x4 3/4 ton camper special only 1600!!
it has 4.10 with the rear detroit locker and its an eaton axle????? weird i guess but its straight and has some small rust spots but the prev owner gave me all the new panels. just buy it man its a great truck and you wont regret it.

[prostreetC-10]

I had a custom camper that was a factory BBC and TH400. Cool truck and it was a tank. Also had the factory tach dash. Just remind the guy that we are in an economic downturn and "cheap" is in!!!

[ironroad9c1]

To bring a thread back from the dead, I also just picked up a 73 Camper special, 350, sm465,np205 , dana 60 front and 14 bolt rear with 4.11 gears. These truck also got the larger 1 1/4 front sway bar and extra wiring for the use with the big slide in bed campers.


I love driving this thing, Its a beast, It damn sure a mans truck, Not like these fully loaded sissy mobiles they make today.