Is this thing a 50th Anniversary pickup??

[Captain Underdog]

That makes me feel better; as long as it's a historical conversation piece and not some rarity that needs preserved at all costs, I'm fine with that. Besides who can I trust better than someone who loves those four footed,flea bitten, fur bearing, snot blowers like I do.

To address that post above about "factory facts"; usually the factory doesn't keep records beyond a few years on stuff like this. I learned many years ago while playing with a 69 Camaro that the people who actually have the wrenches in their hands, and belong to a board like this one, know what's real. What the factory collects can be considered "general rules" while what came out the doors is something very different. This is especially true over on the Checker Car Club boards. Factory documentation states that all engines after 1964 were GM engines, except for 6 and 8 door Aerobuses. There is always that "except for" in there to confuse things. Then there were the Checkers that came out in the mid to late 70s that had Perkins diesel engines. That doesn't fit the factory documentation, but there it sits in your driveway.

Anyway, my point being the 'facts' found on this, and other boards like it, are going to be the best information available, whether you're a serious collector or an enthusiast.

Thanks again for all the information. This is going to be a fun ride.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Captain Underdog

Anyway, my point being the 'facts' found on this, and other boards like it, are going to be the best information available, whether you're a serious collector or an enthusiast.

Thanks again for all the information. This is going to be a fun ride.

100%

[68shortstep]

There's an old cantankerous carpenter - homebuilder guy here who drives an all-"anniversary gold" color '68 longbed. No exterior white on it, just in the interior.

He's had it for the 30 years I've known him --- no doubt ever since it was new --- & it's been used & abused like a work horse. Beat all to crap now, so probably not restorable without needing too much $$$ spent on it. Not for sale, anyhow, as long as he's still alive, I'm sure.

Never seen another one painted all-gold like it is.

For my education: Would that also be a 50th anniversary model color scheme, or does it have to have white, too?

[Longhorn Man]

a fleet side pick up needs the white on the bottom.
Just as important as the gold and white, is the color of the seat and visors and dash.
Stepsides and burbs/panels were solid gold.
Vans were gold and white
I have yet to see an El Camino, so I can't say how they were painted.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by 70cst

I guess if one doesn't accept the info from this thread as factual...then there is always the option of during personal research and purchasing books which will support the info that had been given. If the SPID match the VIN # then it is most likely an original matching truck. Those who are knowledgeable about these trucks will know the info stated in this thread is factual. There are guys on this board who know more about these trucks than I will ever know. If they say it is so then it is so! JMHO

No serious collector would ever go by what a person says. If you try to sell your vehicle as a 50th, you really need to provide proof of factory literature which verifies what you say.Without facts, your case just won't hold up,and your kidding yourself. This group came up with factory literature on the Highlander, this is what needed for the 50th also. Gold-White was a popular color in 1968.

[Longhorn Man]

I can't remember whom, but someone on here has factory documentation. They were going to make me copies, but it never happened.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by factorystock

No serious collector would ever go by what a person says. If you try to sell your vehicle as a 50th, you really need to provide proof of factory literature which verifies what you say.Without facts, your case just won't hold up,and your kidding yourself. This group came up with factory literature on the Highlander, this is what needed for the 50th also. Gold-White was a popular color in 1968.

Gold & white or Fawn (saddle) & white? Once the paint has faded, they look VERY similar on the outside. I have one of each and the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at the color code on the SPID. Plus, the gold/white one has white on the bottom below the trim.

First pic, gold/white (color code 551)
Third pic, Fawn (saddle)/white (color code 555)

[Ole Blue 68]

Thanks for posting those pics Rob, i've been looking for pictures of Saddle/Off White trucks since that was my truck's original color.

[68 ReNay]

Originally Posted by Ole Blue 68

Thanks for posting those pics Rob, i've been looking for pictures of Saddle/Off White trucks since that was my truck's original color.

ME TOO!!! glad i stumbled onto this thread.

[67_C-30]

Here's some brochures I've seen. Tell 'em you have a Job Tamer!!

[factorystock]

If anyone believes the 50th is a rare truck, they are kidding themselves. Thousands and thousands of '68 pickups were painted the one year only 551 gold-ivory color. Sure, there are fewer and fewer each year, but that is true for every vintage vehicle. So it boils down to just slightly more unique '68 than the typical '68. A little footnote in Chevy truck history. Special equipment boils down to some unique color coordinated interior trim and comfort items. No engine, transmission, posi, air cond., power steering or brakes package to speak of.

[Longhorn Man]

true, but the coveted SS package on some of the car models is nothing but badges and trim.
Heck, back to the the truck game, the cheyenne super... nothing but trim and a few pieces. Inline 250 with an inline and a peg leg 3.73 gear, manual steering/brakes and a heater in a long wheelbase 3/4 ton.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by factorystock

If anyone believes the 50th is a rare truck, they are kidding themselves. Thousands and thousands of '68 pickups were painted the one year only 551 gold-ivory color. Sure, there are fewer and fewer each year, but that is true for every vintage vehicle. So it boils down to just slightly more unique '68 than the typical '68. A little footnote in Chevy truck history. Special equipment boils down to some unique color coordinated interior trim and comfort items. No engine, transmission, posi, air cond., power steering or brakes package to speak of.

Just courious about the "rare" factor...how may 50th Stepsides have we seen.

[bruceman1968]

Price and fact book 1968. (from Burb71, not me)

In this pic (below) you can see the interior option of gold and parchment. Notice you can only get that interior with 551 paint. Most guys look for the 551 paint code for the 50th ID. But what to look for is really the 625, 626, or 627 interior code.
625 is gold and parchment interior for the Z62 Custom, bench seat with cloth insert
626 is gold and parchment interior for the Z84 CST, bench seat with vinyl inserts
627 is the gold and parchment interior for A50 bucket seats, (the inserts are vinyl)

In this pic (below) you can see the guidelines for a 50th.

I took this sentence to a retired english teacher and she told me that:
the Z62 is a qualifer for the star
the Z84 is a qualifer for the star
the Z84 with A50 is a qualifer for the star.....or......

the A50 alone is a qualifer for the star. If, If, If that's true then a BASE model with A50 bucket seats, 551 paint and 627 interior (but not a custom or CST) is a 50th. I have not been able (yet) to comfirm this. Does anyone know?
If it's a fleetside then it must have the B98 body side moulding.

[botmfedr1]

i just stumbled upon this thread!!! i have a 50th Anniversary i am currently restoring! all this time i have been trying to find the right cloth color to my bench seat as mine needs to be replaced, but i wasn't sure if i even had the right seat.

i purchased the truck ( minus engine/transmission) for a friend who was on TDY with me in Tacoma (Ft Lewis). i paid $250 for it, and it was straight as an arrow. it was complete, and unmolested. it still had the factory radio, steering wheel, dash, seat...you name it. Well my friend decided it was too much work to put a motor/tranny in it. So i kept the truck and started on it. I went and saw Frank in Olympia for the transmission!. i still remember the look on my (then) girlfriends face when she called Frank and asked if he had a tranny...he says, "hi,, put your husband on the line" haaa haaa!!!..

anyhow, i got the truck running and drove it all the way back to Fort Knox, Kentucky, then to South Padre Island. My brother Jaime started the restoration, but sadly he passed away last month. The auto restoration world will miss a master fabricator and ICAR Gold bodyman....and so will I.
its up to my brother Martin to finish it. Damn it , why did i join the Army !!! lol

[ChevLoRay]

Friend of mine has a SWB that is anniversary gold and white, with a 6-cyl and 3 on the tree. The SPID is dingy, and I didn't have a flashlight, but will think to take one and get a pic of it. It had very few listings on that SPID.

[Grip]

Originally Posted by bruceman1968

Price and fact book 1968. (from Burb71, not me)
Attachment 759907
In this pic (below) you can see the interior option of gold and parchment. Notice you can only get that interior with 551 paint. Most guys look for the 551 paint code for the 50th ID. But what to look for is really the 625, 626, or 627 interior code.
625 is gold and parchment interior for the Z62 Custom, bench seat with cloth insert
626 is gold and parchment interior for the Z84 CST, bench seat with vinyl inserts
627 is the gold and parchment interior for A50 bucket seats, (the inserts are vinyl)
Attachment 759908
In this pic (below) you can see the guidelines for a 50th.
Attachment 759909


I took this sentence to a retired english teacher and she told me that:
the Z62 is a qualifer for the star
the Z84 is a qualifer for the star
the Z84 with A50 is a qualifer for the star.....or......

the A50 alone is a qualifer for the star. If, If, If that's true then a BASE model with A50 bucket seats, 551 paint and 627 interior (but not a custom or CST) is a 50th. I have not been able (yet) to comfirm this. Does anyone know?
If it's a fleetside then it must have the B98 body side moulding.

So, my truck is a 551 paint code with Custom Sport Truck package but has a Black vinyl seat 633 code.

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by Grip

So, my truck is a 551 paint code with Custom Sport Truck package but has a Black vinyl seat 633 code.

As far as I know, that is possible. I came close to buying a 68 50th Anniversary truck from Rusbuilt a few months ago and it came factory with black interior, but I was gonna change it to gold and white.

[mattross]

Does anyone know how many 50th Anniversary 1968 C10s were made?
I just bought one.
mattross@wavecable.com

[Hutch]

mattross
It was a promotial item so the numbers are vague
I am usure but there are quite a few variables lwb swb etc.
I would start a new thread and Post a picture of your build sheet from the glove box.

[68Gold/white]

Making a post here. Some good 68 Golden info here.
I know that a lot of Golden 68's were made, however I've seen very few!!!
My seat is a bench. It does not have the Gold inserts. It's white vinyl. The material is not smooth, it's got some sort of imprinted design in it. The print runs from one side of the seat to the other. I know it's original (what's left of it) It was in it when I bought it in 1980.
The coolest thing about mine IS the options...396/TH400/PB/PS/AC. It has the 3.07 gear non posi.
I wish I had NOT thrown away the original hubcaps, years ago!!!

[tim_mc]

My brother has a gold '68 he found along the side of the road. They seem common around here too. It doesn't seem very unique based on the SPID, so my vote is make it a daily driver and use it as it was intended.

[CG]

Just a heads up to new posters on this thread. OP has not commented on this thread since 2009 when he started it. He has not logged in to the board since 2011

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Captain Underdog

This is how I found it. Well, not exactly, I have the front hubs in the shop getting relubed. The story on it; was grampa's pickup since new, grampa died in '95 and son gets it out of garage and puts it in open storage. It didn't have a dent in it when he put it in storage, the fat guy next to him backed his camp trailer into the side repeatedly on returning from his yearly excursions to the KOA.

Anyway, he tired of storage payments so he sold it to the wrecking yard. I bought it from them.

The curious thing about this pickup is the front and rear side lights; there is no lights in there, no wiring to them at all, they have the holes to mount the bulb, but no bulb.

Is this a 50th anniversary edition pickup or not??

Side Reflector Markers only is OEM 1968. No wiring, buckets not pierced or milled for fixtures. They didn't get fancy with lighted markers til later. By MY 1971 all markers lit up, and the fronts [only] blinked alternately with the front-and-back turn signals.
The '68 ''50th Anniversary'' Gold/Ivory paint scheme, is usually listed on the SPID.

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by CG

Just a heads up to new posters on this thread. OP has not commented on this thread since 2009 when he started it. He has not logged in to the board since 2011

I noticed that too!!!
Sometimes I post on "Golden" threads, mostly because I have one...