Thoughts on this eBay truck?

[davepl]

I've been considering this unit because its a close match for a truck my family used to own (though its much nicer and more highly optioned). But as always, before I buy, I turn to the experts (that's you!):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=190373932943

The VIN listed doesn't decode correctly for me (TCE242S501323), even if you drop the T up front. He's going to send me a photo of the glovebox door option list, and says its equipped as it was built.

Please let me know what you think. I have a couple of questions as well:

- Was the Sierra Grande ever made as a shotbox or 4x4?
- Could a Sierra Grande 2500 ever have a wood bed?

Thanks!
Dave

[VA72C10]

I've been following that to see what it sells for. Very nice and highly decked out truck. Keep in mind that you can still buy SPID's and re-create them to look original so just because you see a picture of a SPID doesn't mean it truly came on the truck.

[mr48chev]

Well, I think it would be hard to duplicate that truck for the asking price in this world. That said, it looks like a 100% show truck to me and sure doesn't look like one a guy would drive on a regular basis or use as a truck.

If you can afford and warrant a show only truck sitting in your garage under it's woven truck cover except when you take it out to a show or for a cruise head on. If you might expect to have to use it as a real truck, no I'd pass.

That's a great looking truck and it has just about everything on it a guy could want. The only distracting things are that it is a 3/4 ton and I am not sure about the differences in paint color between under the hood and in the interior and the exterior. Is that Normal? I'm also like VA72C10 in that for that money I want to see more documentation then just the spid. Build sheet, original invoice or ?

[too much stuff]

The guy that had it built and the present owner are both members here. Maybe one of them can chime in.

Sierra grande could be had in a shortbox, 4x4, or with a wood bed. It is just an appearance option that could be had from 70-72 on the gmcs...

[davepl]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

The guy that had it built and the present owner are both members here. Maybe one of them can chime in.

That'd be great! Too late to eliminate the middleman, though :-) Still, more history is better!

[too much stuff]

I think daves72gmc is the guy that had it built and i believe it was his parents truck new. Maybe try sending him a pm. I think pickupman is the member who owns it now. Definately a nice truck...

[FRENCHBLUE72]

That is a beautiful truck for sure....

[VA72C10]

I'd ask for a discount because there is some dust on the leaf springs.





Really is an amazing restoration!!!

[davepl]

I think what I really want is a Sierra Grande 4x4 shortbox, fleetside. Even though I like this truck a lot, I'll probably wait.

While I'm waiting, could someone tell me: do all 4x4s have leaf springs? And if so, is the ride much different from coils?

My Dad had a 68 GMC with coils (and an HD suspension option, whatever that was), and it sure didn't ride "well", by any stretch of the imagination.

[VA72C10]

Well, a LWB is going to ride better than a SWB due to the extra wheelbase......not sure on leafs vs coils as far as ride in the trucks. I know trailing arms w/coils are better for handling/putting power to the ground.

[too much stuff]

Yes, all 4x4s had leafs. A shortbox will be a little rougher and i think a leaf spring truck will be a little rougher.

[Already Gone]

Check out this thread which I posted a week or so ago when i saw this truck on Ebay. The board member who built the truck chimes in within the last 2 or 3 posts.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...72#post3809572

[67chevemall]

Bump just cause that truck is a dream machine

[50MOTORHEAD]

Beautiful truck but I think that restoration of that truck was not as expensive as some may think. He said it was a 67000 mile,no-hit,Cali. truck. How many parts would have to be replaced? Tear it down,repaint and re-assemble.The add states $60,000 rebuild. I don't think so. I'd love to have a customer hand me a truck that started out that nice and tell me"I'll give you $60,000,total,to build it". Sure buddy. Bring 10 friends with the same deal in mind and I will be living in a lot nicer house a few years from now.-KB

[bruceman1968]

Hey Dave, I could not get that vin number to make sense either. I read this thread and the other thread (on #12 post) and thought that truck was 100 percent legit so it must be me. So I did some more searching on here and google and discovered that the GMC General changed things up in 72. The 72 GMC vin is different enough in 72 to require a different "decoder ring". Check out this link from LMC right side of the page halfway down http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=10 The vin will make perfect sense.

[davepl]

Thanks Bruceman, it does indeed make a lot more sense decoded with that info!

My sig is wrong, need to fix that: should be 540hp, not 540h, and 427, not 327!