Flashback 1981 - how it all started

[Casper42]

Back in 1981, I purchased this non-poly dark green 1969 GMC heavy 1/2 ton Sierra Grande from a neighbor down the street. Aside from the trim level it had the Camper package, 350 engine 400 transmission, 3.73 posi rear and wood floorboard.

Prior to this, I'd see this truck pass by each morning as I waited for the school bus. Usually around the same time, going the opposite direction was a black 1972 GMC SWB heading up to the Naval base. As you can expect, living in a rather remote country farm an hour'ish north of Seattle, seeing two of these trucks each morning on a rural road was empowering to my early teen development.

I knew the house where the green truck lived, about a mile down the street. Memory serves me, one day I road my bicycle down and talked with the owner about the truck and my interest in it. That developed into me purchasing it for $1000. Still not having a license to drive for another year plus, this gave me time to sink money into it by the time I got my license. Looking back and seeing that engine compartment, it's hard to believe the truck had just 107K miles...looks more like 500K. Though far from pretty, it drove like a champ...a rough riding champ though, as it was comparable IMO to a one-ton truck.

Work began on the body, by doing 90% of the bodywork myself before having it resprayed in a lighter shade of dark green, and adding chrome wagon wheels. I don't recall where we came up with that specific shade of green.

By the time I got my driver's license at 16 years old, the truck looked very nice, but I wanted more. At the same time, I started detailing cars at the local Chevrolet Dealership. With more work hours, a higher salary and an employee discount you can only know what happened next.

I spent a lot of spare time while on break or before work, going to the parts department and ordering all new OEM parts that was needed. Despite my truck having a 71/72 grille when I purchased it, I remained with the same as I liked the black accenting over the '69 grille. Every conceivable piece of new OEM chrome was ordered and stored until I could save up for a 2nd paint job, of a different color. By 1983 when I was in my Junior year in high school, I finally had the final paint job done inside/out. I selected the color, coming from the Cadillac line of cars, but I don't recall what year the color was offered.

The only interior work that I did was new carpet, adding an OEM tach and a nice stereo. The truck was also professionally lowered to give it a stance and ride that I liked.

I drove the '69 daily, but parked in a carport. Nearing the end of my high school education in 1985 and knowing my path was military, I traded the truck for a 1983 Ford Mustang GT. Though I have never seen the truck since, it's still in my old home town. It was given a transplant of a period correct 4x4 undercarriage and apparently looks amazing.

And for that little '72 SWB that drove by the other direction...well, it came in trade at the Chevy dealer when I was working there. I could only dream. Memory serves me the asking price was about $5000, but I got to drive it and detail it for resale. It had every factory option - Sierra Grande, 400 BB, wood bed, rear slider, tachometer, tilt, A/C, and parchment bucket seats.

Epilogue: in 1987, I stubbled upon and purchased a dark Olive '72 Sierra Grande SWB 4x4 with all options minus tilt, but only kept it until 1990 due to yet another life changing event. 32 years later I was finally back in the game with my '72 Cheyenne SWB...in fact the very first Chevrolet that I have ever owned!!!

Link to the story of my current '72 can be >found here<