SWB BBC Sierra Grandes?

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by Iron Hauler

I thought it would have the origianl puck style roof lights, looks like some aftermarket version some one stuck on there. Where did you get the paint code from?

The paint code on the SPID is 1000FC, this didn't show up in any of the published production data so I asked the man that ordered it, he told me he had to assign a number to it so he picked 1000FC (For Charlie) , true story. Charlie Hughes was the orig owner.

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by special-K

IMO,this is a case where if it was a correct restoration the truck would be worth the price...or more. You can build a personalized or custom truck appealing enough to ask top money,but a truck like this is a case where keeping it factory correct/original "does" matter. No,it's not a Camaro. It's a GMC Sierra Grande SWB BBC,which is rarer,more valuable,and collectable than most Camaros.

Tim, do you think ours would be more valueable restored completely original as opposed to adding say disks up front, mild static drop, tilt, tach, wood bed, etc. We are still on the fence about this and I value your opinion. Should cost around the same $ either way, give or take a couple grand.

[special-K]

I don't know what to tell you. In my mind,and to any true collector with the traditional respect to "as built" being the hallmark of value based on rarity,I'd say don't change a thing. But,these days the market is flooded with a new mindset of people with no regard for such things and are looking at it more as comparing buying a new truck to one and/or just an opportunity to hop in and turn the key in a 40 year old truck that's built to their satisfaction,whether it left the factory as rare or was created by mix matching parts. The simplified version of that was always referred to as more money than sense. Meaning,there was a time the only way someone would dish out big bucks for "any" older vehicle was if it was a documented original with some redeeming feature such as being a rare optioned example. Nowadays you have people plunking down $65,000(?) for a constructed creation just because they can. They are obviously not concerned with getting their money back out of it. It's a case of what seems to be the buzz these days with so many,"I want it all and I want it now",with no concern for the actual value. "Hey,one sold for $65,000 and this ones only $39,000. Man,that's cheap!" . Many blame Barrett-Jackson,but I say Barrett-Jackson wouldn't be what it is without the people of this mindset with more money than sense. I guess it really doesn't matter when you have so much money that it just doesn't matter. But,I don't think we can set our standards based on what the fortunate few do. That's my opinion. Personally,I build trucks for myself and what pleases me,not what it's value is to someone else,unless it's a rare example,then it's hard to change anything. With most trucks it's not an investment to me. It's what I like and I know I can always get a good bit back out of it if and when I decide to get rid of it. But,if I was buying someone else's work,a freshly restored truck,it would be based of factory originality (unless it was cheap )

[superchevy]

I would think the rarity in this case might warrant an all original restoration...swapped in big block shortbeds are fairly common, but an especially rare, documented, high-optioned truck like yours doesn't pop up everyday...it took me nearly 15 years to find my documented '68 CST 396 shortbed, and I'm torn between the "original" or "restomod" choice myself....maybe just an upgrade of disc front brakes and a level rear drop, with the rest restored to original? Just my 2 cents

[1972BackInBlackC10]

if this was me id say keep it original but make it safe since you will likely be driving this truck, nothing wrong with a good set of disc brakes, sway bar and a bit of a drop to make it handle and stop well easy to swap out coils to go back to orginal in my opinion im also young and maybe a bit nieve lol

[black_sheep454]

I'm only 27 and my mindset on it is do it back original, or thats how I would anyway. Nothing wrong with drum brakes for a weekend cruiser. Like stated before there are plenty out there to customize and build how you want but IMO this one is best kept original.
Posted via Mobile Device

[gregbr]

Thanks for starting the thread Tim, I finally got here to add mine. The only thing I changed on the resto (paint & body wise) was I painted the glove box door to match the rest of the truck, the original was black. Even had all those stickers remade by a board member (sorry, but I forget who it was), exactly like the originals. And yes, I added the power steering & brakes using original equipment. I also have the original build sheet that agrees with the SPID label. Greg

[gregbr]

Oh, the old thread I found was:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=221889

Looks like it was all Sierra Grande trucks.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by gregbr

I finally got here to add mine.

GASP!! That's just drop dead gorgeous. I never get tired of looking at it. I wish you didn't feel the same,cuz I'd be giving you my number to call if and when you should ever decide...well,you know. Aw heck,here it is anyway: (410) 549 6xxx. heh heh

[thowry]

I am currently in the middle of a restoration of a 72 Sierra Grande factory big block short bed. Just wanted to let you know there is another one out there. I will post pictures later.
Posted via Mobile Device

[towbar]

A neighbor of mine purchased a 69-72 SWB SG BB new.... don't recall the exact year tho, I personally knew the truck my entire life and know it was real. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago in his 80's and his elderly wife sold it to a car dealer / collector in east TN along with a 57 Pontiac Star Chief. Rumored purchase price for the truck was $30kish.....yeah that's a lot of $$ but this wasn't your average truck, was probably worth more!! The last time I looked at the truck in the early 90's there was only 19k miles on it....it was an absolute time capsule. Always garage kept, never even touched rain. Was Black on Black, bucket seats, console, tilt, tach, wood grain everywhere, wood floor bed, had the only set of matching rear bumper guards I have ever seen...you know the small chrome ones (no rubber inserts).....and the really odd thing was that it was a floor shift straight drive....rare truck indeed and absolutely beautiful. Truck had the DS front fender and grill banged in an accident in the 90's, but the old guy was so picky about the truck it took about 6 months for the body shop to find NOS replacement parts before he would let them fix it. The body shop painted the fender 4 or 5 times before he was satisfie with the paint match and texture.

[VA72C10]

In a 1 of 1 case like you have RenoKeene...I'd restore that particular truck 100% the way it was off the showroom floor......especially since you have all the documentation to back up the originality.

I LOVE to see them all restored 100%...but normally (exception noted above) if your goal is to sell it....adding "missing" options like power steering, power disc brakes, tilt/tach and air conditioning will only enhance the value....

...guys able to afford 30-60K trucks are going to want either
100% correct restos using NOS parts OR they are going to want a 100% decked out truck with every option available...CSM has proven this over and over again on his restos....

So...if planning to build to sell...your best option will be a decked out truck. I was working on a swb bb truck I was going to restore with all NOS or super nice original parts and EASILY would have had 30K into PARTS for the resto....add in labor and you won't make any money...

If you're building for yourself....build it how you want it

[VA72C10]

In a 1 of 1 case like you have RenoKeene...I'd restore that particular truck 100% the way it was off the showroom floor......especially since you have all the documentation to back up the originality.

I LOVE to see them all restored 100%...but normally (exception noted above) if your goal is to sell it....adding "missing" options like power steering, power disc brakes, tilt/tach and air conditioning will only enhance the value....

...guys able to afford 30-60K trucks are going to want either
100% correct restos using NOS parts OR they are going to want a 100% decked out truck with every option available...CSM has proven this over and over again on his restos....

So...if planning to build to sell...your best option will be a decked out truck. I was working on a swb bb truck I was going to restore with all NOS or super nice original parts and EASILY would have had 30K into PARTS for the resto....add in labor and you won't make any money...

If you're building for yourself....build it how you want it

[70cst]

Great thread ...

[RenoKeene]

gregbr, your truck is fantastic! That sets the bar pretty high right there.

In our case I believe a stock resto with the addition of a tilt and tach is how we are going to proceed (since we have those pieces already), still haven't decided wheather to go with disks or not. I doubt this truck will be put up for sale so its really up to my brother now. Thanks for all the input everyone, this forum makes doing this much, much easier.

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by thowry

I am currently in the middle of a restoration of a 72 Sierra Grande factory big block short bed. Just wanted to let you know there is another one out there. I will post pictures later.
Posted via Mobile Device

Congrats, pictures would be great. I'm suprised you are not a subscribing member so you could buy and sell parts on here, best $25 I have spent on my trucks.

[El Campo]

I agree with those who have said go all original. I am 28 and I am one of those "in one ditch or the other" kinds of guys. Few things irritate me more than people who get a perfectly all original truck and change just a few things on it. So you have two problems :it is no longer original [and they are only original once] but yet it is not way overblown and "perfect" in the other direction. If you are keeping original keep it ALL original or go all out. That is just my opinion and do not mean to step on anyones toes.

[CC69Rat]

Yeah, I think I'd do as original as possible on that one. What a neat old truck.

[Zoomin]

Let me preface this by saying I'm not casting any stones on anyone's truck. And, in the interest of full disclosure I will say that my one previous owner, pro-tecto plate Cheyenne Super has been restored by me to close-but-not-quite-stock condition. I added power windows and did the seats in a not available from the factory red houndstooth.

Anyway, rare does not always translate to "desirable" or worth a ton of money. One of the easiest ways to tell if something is really sought after, there will be lots of "tribute" builds, clones or whatever. When it comes to Camaro's for example, there's all kinds of COPO or Yenko clones out there. Vendors will have catalogs full of parts to change an ordinary Camaro into anything you want. It seems like there are more Z28's on the road today than back in 1969.

A BB Sierra Grande is going to appeal to a pretty narrow niche of people - people like members of this board. Another example is the thread started recently by JQ-72 and his barely optioned Super. Very rare, but I wonder how many people besides the junkies like us appreciate such a creature? Any authentic SWB is going to fetch pretty good money - even if it has been modified. I agree with Jonathan. People like CSM can put lipstick on a pig and get great money for it because quality is always appreciated and rewarded, and I think probably more so than rarity when it comes to trucks.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Anyway, rare does not always translate to "desirable" or worth a ton of money. One of the easiest ways to tell if something is really sought after, there will be lots of "tribute" builds, clones or whatever. When it comes to Camaro's for example, there's all kinds of COPO or Yenko clones out there. Vendors will have catalogs full of parts to change an ordinary Camaro into anything you want. It seems like there are more Z28's on the road today than back in 1969.

A BB Sierra Grande is going to appeal to a pretty narrow niche of people - people like members of this board.

I'll have to disagree on all this. First of all,let's remember there are now people in the market with more money than sense. So yeah,there are fools who pay too much for cloned Camaros. I'll never judge things by those who don't know any better. Just because they are almost a majority doesn't make them right. There was a collector vehicle hobby back when these fools were still working their way up the ladder driving Japanese econoboxes.

These trucks are rare AND desirable AND worth top money...more than any creation. Anyone who can't see that now,will sooner or later. There have been Cheyenne Super and Sierra Grande BBC clones built for decades. It seems there are more BBC SWB Cheyenne Suoers and Sierra Grandes on the road today than back when they were new.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'll have to disagree on all this. First of all,let's remember there are now people in the market with more money than sense. So yeah,there are fools who pay too much for cloned Camaros. I'll never judge things by those who don't know any better. Just because they are almost a majority doesn't make them right. There was a collector vehicle hobby back when these fools were still working their way up the ladder driving Japanese econoboxes.

These trucks are rare AND desirable AND worth top money...more than any creation. Anyone who can't see that now,will sooner or later. There have been Cheyenne Super and Sierra Grande BBC clones built for decades. It seems there are more BBC SWB Cheyenne Suoers and Sierra Grandes on the road today than back when they were new.

C'mon. If there are fools that buy Camaro's, there are fools that will buy trucks. Point being, there are the real deal Camaros and Corvettes that will easily get six figures. You aren't going to see that kind of coin on any original 67-72. I've seen super low mile trucks fetch 50 to 60K, but that's tops. If you have seen some that do double that, post em up - I'd love to see them.

[special-K]

Uh...I consider 50-60 thousand dollars a lot of money,don't you?

[RenoKeene]

So we have how many now, 3?
Interesting how these rare units bring out the passion in us all.

Restored original big block shortbed Sierra Grande, $35-40K

Restored Resto-mod big block shortbed Sierra Grande, $40-45K

Getting to talk to the man that ordered this truck new for his friend 42 years ago, Priceless!

[CC69Rat]

Just my opinion, coming from someone that has restored a couple Camaros too soo .. for what it's worth.

Building Camaros and building trucks is like Blonde, Brunette, Readhead to me. They're all good BUT some cost more money to keep happy than others. For example, door weatherstripping. 67-72 C10 - $50. 69 Camaro - $175

My point is, the sum of all the parts to build a Camaro puts you in a different price bracket than the trucks. While yes, a restored X33 MN DZ302 4 speed will bring 6 figures absolutely .. it's also going to cost you more to build it. $6000 for the rusty shell, and $20k in parts not counting labor, paint, etc.

While the trucks don't bring the money the Camaros do, what I'm saying is it just costs more to build them too. The end result is a higher profit margin but not what it appears to be on the surface. You gotta look at build costs too. To play with the big boys you gotta have money. The days of finding an unmolested RS/SS sitting behind a barn are becoming almost non-existent. You can still find these trucks around but even in the short 2yrs or so I have been into them I have even noticed the value and popularity increase. Just give it time guys.. The SWB BB Super / SG will come on strong. I say build them now, while the parts are still semi-affordable.

How much have you made in your 401k in the last year? I'd say your truck has increased in value more than that .. People are starting to realize we had it made back then. To go to the lot and buy a truck that's going to last for 40yrs? Imagine if they re-tooled these trucks. Every nut and bolt, and sat them on the lot for $35k. Do you think they'd sell?

.. just my .02

[El Campo]

Id buy one tomorrow!!!! (If they retooled them) Heck, I would actually probably buy one today!