What's the Pinnacle of our trucks?

[davepl]

Mine's a 2500 Longhorn, so I don't really have a horse in the race, and I know there's no universal choice, but what in general would be the most sought after truck you could conceive of?

Heavily optioned for sure, but the truck itself perhaps:

402 Big Block Automatic
AC
Short Bed Fleet Side
Cheyenne Super (or Sierra Grande)
Highlander Interior option

Or would a small-block 4x4 in the same garb bring more?

Not trying to start any wars, just playing the "what if" game. If you could go order one and put it in a time machine...

[Coley]

'The pinnacle of our trucks ?.....'easy....the community around them....lol.
Seriously tho', I think it would have to be a GMC Sierra Grande over the Cheyenne Super (lower production numbers, more truck cache' perhaps)...with an absolutely full spid, everything from buckets to 400 to toolbox, posi, am-fm, tilt, a/c, auto, 3:73, tach....and it could be in either a swb or lwb in my opinion.
I think the pinnacle topper would be a low mileage survivor tho'...
All good
Coley

[special-K]

For the most votes it's a big block Cheyenne Super shortbed with all the options. I'll take one, too, and have had some. But, my Holy Grail has always been a highly optioned Cheyenne Super K20/Sierra Grande K2500 Custom Camper. I went from the top of the line to seeking lower trim levels with more options than many top of the line trucks. I like the "odd combos", they remind me of myself.

The 20/2500s and 30/3500s could kick it up a notch by adding Custom Camper

This has always been a dilemma. There is no single pinnacle. There is at least one at the top of each model. But many in between. I love a base truck with select "man knew what he wanted and didn't want" options. How about a Dark Olive '71 Cheyenne Super SWB Fleetside, Saddle bucket seat, shoulder belt, tilt, tach, cruise, posi, a/c, AM/FM, 3.73, TH400, 292!
Or, a Dark Green '71 Custom/20 Stepside, Green interior, tach/gauges, sliding rear window, manual throttle, leaf rear suspension, HD fr susp, 10.00 - 16.5 floatation, 4.10, No-Spin, 4spd, 402. Or a...............

[In The Ten Ring]

I think the 1969 or before since the engines had more power.

For me, a 1 ton stepside with the 9 foot bed. Spare tire on side. manual shift 4wd.

but it's just a matter of opinion.

[Grumpy old man]

That's easy the first of the body style in 1967 and the last of the body style in 1972 all the rest are just personal opinions . Not everyone is a fan of " how many options can I slam on this truck" club nor the bare bones option club so the only way you can look at it is the first stock one and the last stock one . Everything in between is just a variation of the original first produced .

[benbloom]

did the engines really have more power pre 1970? if so, why? never heard that before

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by benbloom

did the engines really have more power pre 1970? if so, why? never heard that before

MPG. My heads came off a 396. From what I was told, though I know little about engines, the original 402 allowed for 8.5/1 compression while the 396 was 10/1. Larger ports I believe. That said, I've also been told the heads have nothing to do with compression, so what do I know.

[frenchy51]

My vote is for a 72 HighLander with Cheyenne a very close second.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

MPG. My heads came off a 396. From what I was told, though I know little about engines, the original 402 allowed for 8.5/1 compression while the 396 was 10/1. Larger ports I believe. That said, I've also been told the heads have nothing to do with compression, so what do I know.

You were told wrong on heads having nothing to do with compression. That's actually quite silly of whoever to even think that. Ask them if they know what a combustion chamber is and what part it plays in the function of an engine. Ask them what difference shape and cc # make. Then ask them where compression is made in an engine. You may just know more than that person. Aside from the heads, a 402 block is just a bored-out 396. Cubes were bumped up to compensate for lower compression. The bigger engines made less power. So, not always true about no replacement for displacement.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by special-K

There is no single pinnacle.

X2! There are literally thousands of configurations out there, each one special and unique. This C 30 makes me think outside the box.

[tristan]

My vote is for a 1971-72 SWB BB Cheyenne or Super fleetside with auto, air and other goodies on the SPID but I am prejudiced since I have one. :-) BBs were only 5% of total production and I'll bet that the great majority were put in Camper Specials or work trucks rather than SWB fun trucks.

In the course of scouring the Internet and this forum before and after I bought my truck I did notice one variant that I haven't seen yet: a 1971 or 72 SWB K-10 with auto and air at any trim level. As rare and elusive as the Yeti perhaps?

[rharp]

Originally Posted by tristan

BBs were only 5% of total production and I'll bet that the great majority were put in Camper Specials or work trucks rather than SWB fun trucks.

This is the 2nd reason why my Dad and I bought the truck I did when I was 15. "69 LWB, original BB, A/C, and bucket seats. If I could find the guy that took out the seats, I'd love to have a few words with him. The first reason was that the body was in very good condition.

[Alex V.]

While I prefer the 67-8 trucks, I'd say the true pinnacle is a loaded 71-2 big block, probably longhorn.

[Already Gone]

If we are talking only trucks then mine would be a 1972 Cheyenne Super LWB C10 Fleetside with an Orange and White two tone ( white roof, orange centre and white bottom ) with a BB, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets Console factory cruise control and AM-FM Radio and P01 wheel covers.


My ultimate 67-72 would be a 1972 Custom/Deluxe C10 ( no Cheyenne or Cheyenne Super Burbs were produced ) 4 x 2 Burb optioned as above with the added feature of dual front and rear A/C and the second seat and rear barn doors. The 2 rear seats were stand alone options on Burbs.

[ho70]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

If we are talking only trucks then mine would be a 1972 Cheyenne Super LWB C10 Fleetside with an Orange and White two tone ( white roof, orange centre and white bottom ) with a BB, A/C, Tilt, Tach, Buckets Console factory cruise control and AM-FM Radio and P01 wheel covers.


My ultimate 67-72 would be a 1972 Custom/Deluxe C10 ( no Cheyenne or Cheyenne Super Burbs were produced ) 4 x 2 Burb optioned as above with the added feature of dual front and rear A/C and the second seat and rear barn doors. The 2 rear seats were stand alone options on Burbs.

have to agree with an orange and white big block with AC-72 as well , but since that is mine-I would love a 68 with small window short box, wood bed, buckets and 396 4 speed

[truckster]

I have to go with the Blazer or Jimmy. Since it's the last year for the first generation, I think the 72 is the ultimate. It's 4WD, has the beautiful lines of all the 67-72 trucks, the power of a small block, and you can run around topless!

I've owned half a dozen 67-72 Chevy trucks, plus a 64 Chevy and a 66 GMC. The Blazer is my favorite of all.

[Sicklajoie]

This. It's a friend of mine in southern Connecticut.
But first I'd slap a coat of Hugger Orange on it.

[Dave K.]

If have to say a well patina'd marginally optioned 1968 K10 Custom SWB 50th --only because that's what I have! I agree though a heavily optioned SWB 400 is kinda the high point....

[Ekliptix]

It's a personal thing, but i'd vote SWB, Super. BB, AC, 2 tone, wood bed, buckets.
I'm 'faking' it, putting a 402 in my Super SWB now.

My Dad's is approaching this, except it's not a super, and has a bench. BB, SWB with AC.

[davepl]

That's kind of nice to hear that there's no "one" best truck, really. I know I like mine and wouldn't trade it for a short box (proof of that pudding is the decision not to shorten this one when I had the chance), but I still like them a lot.

This one isn't "right" in a number of ways, but it comes close for me. I don't know whose it is, just ran across it when I was searching.

[engineer_gregh]

For me, it was this truck when I bought it last year. Factory black short bed built in Atlanta complete nut and bolt restoration with the 454. I've been chasing my holy grail for years and this is as close as I could come. I found a sb bb bucket seat am/fm factory black Atlanta truck back in the 80's but couldn't afford to buy it at the time. It was in Hiram GA, don't know what ever happened to it. If I ever find it again I'll buy even if I have to live in it:-)

[westong]

I have two holy grails I can think of.
One is a 72 BB Swb and the other is sitting in my driveway waiting to get restored. It is a 72 factory black gmc Sierra K10 Swb. Here is a pic of how it looks now and as you can see the 1980's was a blast for the old girl. She has been used and abused but has a ton of options. I wish it had a am/fm listed on the spid but it did come withe the dealer installed 8track player that I sold for more than I payed for the truck to make the wife happy. Here is a pic of the SPID.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by westong

I have two holy grails I can think of.
One is a 72 BB Swb and the other is sitting in my driveway waiting to get restored. It is a 72 factory black gmc Sierra K10 Swb. Here is a pic of how it looks now and as you can see the 1980's was a blast for the old girl. She has been used and abused but has a ton of options. I wish it had a am/fm listed on the spid but it did come withe the dealer installed 8track player that I sold for more than I payed for the truck to make the wife happy. Here is a pic of the SPID.

Nice! What's the "Floor Board" option, does that give you a wood bed in a SWB or something?

If I were eager to start another full-bore restoration, I'm somehow try to talk you out of that GMC. That is very nicely equipped indeed!

[westong]

Originally Posted by davepl

Nice! What's the "Floor Board" option, does that give you a wood bed in a SWB or something?

If I were eager to start another full-bore restoration, I'm somehow try to talk you out of that GMC. That is very nicely equipped indeed!

The bed is a wood floor so I'm thinking you are correct.......steel floor was the standard

[tristan]

That is an extraordinary truck per my post. I have yet to see another 71-72 SWB 4x4 with auto and air and yours has a SPIDful of other goodies too. You are very fortunate.

Originally Posted by westong

I have two holy grails I can think of.
One is a 72 BB Swb and the other is sitting in my driveway waiting to get restored. It is a 72 factory black gmc Sierra K10 Swb. Here is a pic of how it looks now and as you can see the 1980's was a blast for the old girl. She has been used and abused but has a ton of options. I wish it had a am/fm listed on the spid but it did come withe the dealer installed 8track player that I sold for more than I payed for the truck to make the wife happy. Here is a pic of the SPID.