How rare is the GMC Sierra Grande?

[70cst]

Longhorn Man ...
I would side with your knowledge than what I found and copied. As mentioned I found this while surfing last night (I think I had to much coffee)...I think it was an Edmonds site. It goes to show that one can't believe everything one reads. That’s why we should post questions that we have on this site. I did not read this article closely but I think the following is incorrect:
1)Custom Sport model debuted, featuring bucket seats with a center console---this was a Chevy option plus buckets were an option beyond the CST option. (CST 69-70 only)

2) 350s with either 300 or 350 horsepower---was a 350 hp 350 available?

3) the first time, the shiftless masses could operate the four-wheel-drive models thanks to the newly available three-speed automatic transmission.
---wasn't an automatic available with a 4x4 before 1970?

4) A new egg-crate grill graced the front of the 1971 pickups. New trim level names debuted, including the base Custom, the mid-level Custom Deluxe (formerly the Custom) and the Cheyenne (formerly the Custom Sport Truck).---this describes a Chevy

5) Anything else??

WOW!!! I think next time I'll read closer before I post an article. This article must have been written originally by a Ford guy and I was & to believe this article. I think if I reply to an article I will stick to Chevy as these trucks I have some knowledge while the GMC "I know enough to be dangerous."
Longhorn Man I stand corrected.
Long live this site

[special-K]

Z84 means Sierra/Cheyenne,ignore the inaccurate type.YE9 means SierraGrande/CheyenneSuper.OzarkTim had shed a bit of light on this in his post.There are all kinds of typos on VIN-spec sheets.

[Shock_Me]

AlreadyGone,

I'd say that upper molding is factory, with the black paint rubbed off over the years. If you look closely at the front edge of the door, you can see where the molding tapers in to allow for opening the door. My dad's 69 molding tapers in the exact same place.

Pete

[special-K]

I addressed Ryan70`s truck in post#60.It`s "put together" in one way or another.So the dash woodgrain is transplanted.

[Joesjunk]

Originally Posted by special-K

I addressed Ryan70`s truck in post#60.It`s "put together" in one way or another.There were no SierraGrandes in`70.So the dash woodgrain is transplanted.

I parted a 1970 GMC Serria Grande. I thought it was strange, but the option sheet proved it. The truck now belongs to board member "Bucket". I did a cab and clip swap on the 1 ton he has. See if he has a pic of the glove box sticker. I know I have it somewhere too.

[Sport/Truck]

There’s got to be a reason for so many SG without the wood grain.
Tim, do you have wood grain on the inside door panels?
Dean

[No3Fan4Ever]

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

There’s got to be a reason for so many SG without the wood grain.
Tim, do you have wood grain on the inside door panels?
Dean

Dean,
There is a narrow strip of wood grain at the top of the removable door panel;
also wood grain body mouldings
Tim

[special-K]

Yes,but I took it out.I like it all blue & white in there.

[Sport/Truck]

Yup, just like mine.

[special-K]

Joe,You just taught me something new.We seem to turn up the exceptions on this site,like some kinda "think-tank".I must say,Ryan`s truck looks authentic,it`s got all the right stuff.But,we`ve all seen clones.
How rare is a`70 SierraGrande?Damn rare,as far as I`ve seen.

[greenhorn male]

I Think I'll jump in also. I have a 72 2500 Sierra Grande a project I haven't had time to even start. It had an engine rattle after warm up (PO called it a knock) so I bought a low mile rebuilt motor (5k miles, so he says) for the truck a few months ago but never started anything or even opened the new engine hoist boxes I bought to do the engine swap. I drove this truck onto a trailer and drove it off and into my yard, and it has since sat, so I non-opted it so I don't have to pay insurance.

It has woodgrain dash, door panels, glovebox, body moulding and tailgate band. It has a headliner, cargo light, aux tank sport mirrors. It had carpet and a houndstooth seat that I got rid of. Has chrome around windows. No rare options (maybe the aux fuel tank)

[gregbr]

I'll add my info on my 70 GMC C1500 Sierra Grande. It is original with 66k miles, and was owned by an elderly man, don't think he changed anything...I'm in the middleof a frame off and everything I have checked is correct numbers matching....

It is a 70 Shortbed Fleetside built 12/69, leaf spring rear, has 402/Turbo 400, Black bench seat & door panel with scroll pattern, gauge bezel & glovebox are black, has a headliner, has Sierra Grande emblems on the bed, has upper and lower trim (lower has woodgrain), complete gauge package including tach. no a/c.

Glove box SPID label and Build sheet have Sierra Grande & Custom Sport Truck. So, Are these some Super Rare Truck or what.

See my other thread for a few pics of the Resto......

[special-K]

Man Gregbr,that is awesome.Yeah,it`s rare.It also shows how this all varies.I believe,now,that they wanted to introduce the SierraGrande in`70 and may not have landed on what to include or added things as the year went by to end up with what the 71/72 had.I believe you truck is original,too.But,it only has the badges and the option is listed.The 71/72 SierraGrandes had herringbone inserts...all of them.

[Longhorn Man]

Ok guys...I have found some more info... and after looking over this thread, I have figured out something that has been brought up a few times.
First, the wood grain on the glove box door, and on the Inst panel was never avalible untill 71. The only wood grain found on any 70 was the tail gate band, the lower trim, and on the top of the vinal covered door panels. The door panels was a 70 and 71 item, then the 72 had the funky plastic door panels with the wood inserts too.
The cargo lamp, and headliner were introduced in 69, and MY OBSERVATIONS (never seen documented) indicate that the very early 69 CST trucks didn't have them. I did a poll on here years ago, and there was an alarming amount that did not have them on there CST trucks, however, I never thought to get the last numbers of the VIN, the build date if avalible, nor the build plant.

Now, for the info i have found.
First, I'll say where I found it.
About a year ago or so, I bought a large 3 ring binder full of GMC info off this board. It has stuff from the mid 60's up untill the mid 70's. inside there are many pages from GMC Headquarters, papers that were distributed to the dealerships around the country. They are all called Dealers' General Letters.
A few ppl saw this at the big meet in norwood last month... for those who saw it, you'll remember an old ratty looking black 3 ring binder with yellow pages in it... this is my source.
In there, I have a page dated 13 September 1968.
This is what it says, word for word;
"Sierra" and "Sierra Grande" options for 1500 - 3500 Wide Side pickups, announced at the 1969 GMC national Sales Convention, will be packages of existing comfort and apearance options with bright name plates on the pickup body side near rear. The name plates will enhance vehicle appearance and the packaging of the items under one RPO number will simplify ordering and pricing.

It should be noted that Sierra and sierra Grande plates will not be avalible until late in the year. Avalibility date will be covered by Availability Notice. A suggested method of furnishing these options prior to production availability will be to specify the option content by individual RPO and, when plates become available, obtain from service parts stock. For the protection of those owners of Sierra and Sierra Grande equipped vehicles, availability of service parts name plates will be restricted to those vehicles which contain all specifications of the Sierra and Sierra Grande options.

Equipment needed to provide components to be included in the Sierra and Sierra Grande package options are the name plate plus the following:

Sierra
Custom Comfort Z62
Chrome Front Bumper V46
Lower Side Mouldings BX2
Chrome Hub Caps P03
Inside R/V Mirror D36

Sierra Grande
Super Custom Z84
Chrome Hub Caps P03
Inside R/V Mirror D36
Dooredge Guards B93



B.M. Wilton
Product-Market Reserach Department





I don't know if this creates more questions than it answers.... but that's the scoop straight from GMC.

[Ozona]

My 72 Sierra Grande

Leaf Rear
350/350/AC/No Tilt/AM Radio/PS/PB (well..originally) The 350/350 is now sitting on the side and have 509/700r4 in it.
2 WD, 12 bolt. (Now Dana 60)
GMC Chrome hubcaps
wood grain lower moulding, painted black by PO
Full Gauge setup, dash cluster body color (blue) rather than wood grain
No wood grain on the glovebox
Woodgrain door panels
Front side markers say "Sierra Grande" and are at least old, if not original
Rear side markers say "Sierra"
Orginally had a tow bumper on it, PO put a sport bumper on it - original license plate light was up under there still...and clearly original.
Has deluxe side markers (chrome trim)..that were original for sure as well.

[special-K]

Quote from Longhorn Man:"Blah blah blah"(just a summary ).That all makes sense and jives with what I can gather from what we`ve found in this thread.And,I`d take info from that book as somewhat accurate(yes,an understatement).

[Longhorn Man]

LOL... yeah, i agree, it is as close to a GMC bible as I've ever seen.

[FleetsidePaul]

My Sierra Grande doesn't have any of the options you guys have, heres a pic

[Longhorn Man]

LOL!
What you doin home at 3 in the afternoon???

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

LOL!
What you doin home at 3 in the afternoon???

Lemme see...um I cant remember it's been 2 years prolly snuck out early (like I did today)

[gregbr]

NIce truck Paul, Where did you get it? Any AMT numbers on it? I would love to find a GMC Shortbed model. Anybody every seen one? Greg

[KEL]

just wanted to beat a dead horse.
did anyone ever truly decide what the
deal was with the Sierra Grande ?

[Longhorn Man]

did you look at post #87?

[KEL]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

did you look at post #87?

hello
yes, I did read that. What I don't understand is this.
Is it only a Sierra Grande if it says Sierra Grande on the
SPID, or can it be one somehow stated otherwise ? Mine
has all the tagging, but doesn't state it on the SPID. States
Cheyenne Super Sport and things like that on a TCE142S VIN,
but doesn't say Sierra Grande. I am curious.

[PHAT TONY]

This thread interests me as tomorrow I think I'm gonna buy this; 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 3/4 ton