A 1973 Survivor: GMC Sierra Grande

[MusicMan70]

I have/had been dwelling on this truck since i first found it on Craigs. I really dug the Lock-ring wheel look, color scheme and originality! Here is the original thread I started, to put it out there for anyone:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=534770

The Ad as listed without the contact info:

1973 GMC Sierra Grande 3/4 Ton
Date: 2012-06-26, 7:43AM
This truck is a classic; great for a collector/restorer or as a work truck!! Purchased May of 2003 with about 68,000 miles on it. It now has 73,030 original miles and runs great! Features: 454 V-8, two tone color: Light Beige and White, good tires, bumper tow ball, wood pick up bed, factory AC but does need a charge. Not a flaw in the cab; great bench seat and no cracks in the dash!!

NADA Guide Low Retail is about $3,700; Average Retail is about $8,000. Truck value is closer to Average Retail rather than Low Retail because of low miles and overall condition!! Asking $2,500 OBO..
• Location: Lincoln, WA
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests




Here are the pics from that ad. I'm in SoCal and the truck was in Washington State about 1200 miles away. Too far for me. So I tried to fuggedaboudit.

Well...I said to myself... I can at least get more info by email and pass it on to someone closer. I emailed and got more pics and the SPID. The owner was very forthcoming. Even had his phone/address and all in the ad. Not too concerned with scammers I guess.

He sent me his last set of pics and said that was it. He left it open for me to call him with any questions. I was getting a good feeling about this truck and the story behind it. Here is that story from his email...

As I had mentioned to you earlier, the history as I know it is: The original owner, a Mr. Zirkle, bought the truck new. He was a farmer/orchardist in the Tieton area which is about 10 miles west of Yakima (where I live). I found out about the truck from my father-in-law who was a close friend of of Mr. Zirkle's nephew. I purchased the truck in May of 2003 from an estate sale following the death of Mr. Zirkle. I paid about $2,800 for it. It had just over 68,000 miles then. I drove it as my vehicle to and from work for 2-3 years and then brought it to our lake place to use primarily as a launch truck for our boat and to drive on errands to town. That's it! Sorry, no photos.
Zirkle Family is are Fruit Growers in Washington State; Ya’ like them Apples?

Updates to his ad were now down to $2000. Hmnnn, why no sale?

Turns out Special K was right; location, location, location! His final post of my original thread nailed it; Guy had a river front property about an hour from Spokane, so not much interest in people going out that far I guess.

Enough jabberwockie, I got more pictures!

[MusicMan70]

More photos

[MusicMan70]

Date coded bed wood, and slide out bumper with license plate light hidden behind and never used. Lock ring spare tire as well.

[MusicMan70]

No camper mirrors, just this set-up and the original small mirrors. Instrument needles have good color and not faded. He kept it under a RV carport.

[MusicMan70]

and more stuff and period compass?

[MusicMan70]

Package tray behind seat. Only lapbelts and wear on driver bottom area of seat

[71swb4x4]

So you bought it? Nice truck.

[Liddy71]

wow nice survivor

[Billy81]

nice score.

[special-K]

That's such a fine example. I'm glad you got it. Barrett-Jackson (and the like) would not be what it is if not for the investor mindset. That destroys a hobby/pastime/way of life for the enthusiast. I wish those clowns would leave my stuff alone!!
Heck,now Kelly Blue Book is an expert old car value assessor. Huh,they used to not give a hoot about anything over five years old. Now that they smell like money the vultures appear.

[motornut]

awesome score

[71swb4x4]

Gorgeous truck!

[Firebirdjones]

Spokane? That's interesting. Not sure why people wouldn't go out that far,,,I bought my 79 1 ton 454 survivor in Battle Ground, Washington,,,and I came out from Ohio to get it at that time

Seems alot of clean trucks out that way. I bought mine out there 15+ years ago with 70K miles and paid just under $2,000 back then,,,,and drove it all the way back to Ohio First day back a friend of mine with a body shop offered $5k on the spot.

I've kept the truck ever since for towing and hauling when I need it,,,otherwise it leads a cushy life in the garage.

You'll have fun with that. Survivors of any type of car are the best kind to have in my opinion, I've had an addiction to survivor muscle cars and collecting them for the last 30+ years,,,much better than something restored.

[str8axle55]

Great looking survivor you have there, must be a joy to drive.

[MusicMan70]

str8axle55 Re:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great looking survivor you have there, must be a joy to drive.

Thanks! Yes it's quite interesting the difference in feel from my 1970 Sierra Grande(small block); New generation and all. The 70 feels more "Truck-like" in it's ride quality VS the 73 which feels more supple and almost car-like.

Now I did rebuild the 70 front end and added KYB shocks all around, whereas the 73's shocks have not been changed out for a while it looks like. Maybe that's the difference.

[kikkegek]

wow, that is one sweet truck....good catch

[legendman]

Wow!!! Nice truck. Very rare to see one pretty much original over almost 40 years

[WIDESIDE72]

Cool truck! I parted out a 73 Cheyenne C30 454 a while back that was almost a twin to yours, but not as many options. It was a ranch truck and RUSTY.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=503635&page=2

It did have an almost perfect grille, front bumper, headlight rings and black dash that I was able to save, along with the rebuilt orginal 454. it has the same carb # as yours. I bought a kit for it and rebuilt it tonight for the 350 in my 72 swb step.

[meatwagon83]

its official!! i hate you!

[Aladaag]

Nice truck I am looking 1973 GMC truck 2500 please call me #661 - 827- 2998 nick

[willett]

What's the deal with the slide out bumper? Never seen that before

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by willett

What's the deal with the slide out bumper? Never seen that before

Home-made, but a great idea!

I assume this truck had a camper installed at one time. Usually the camper forces the rear bumper to be extended rearward. Around here you'd see guys with the camper removed but the rear bumper still sticking out 3 feet past the end of the truck. The set up this guy had would eliminate that awkwardness.

K

[gmachinz]

Wow....beautiful truck!

[a Good Man]

It's the most beautiful truck I've seen in my life. Thanks Henry ..

[truckfan]

Nice rig. hopefully progress will continue to be posted as you "Spruce it up"