Introduction to the new member of the fleet...1969 GMC Sierra "Longhorn"

[72freak]

UPDATE: 6-28-10........See for sale section....its listed. Make offer.

I know....Its not called a Longhorn if its a GMC...but you get the idea. Well, after a few weeks of slight repairs and a few mods she is ready enough for her debut. Fairly original, 1969 GMC Sierra, 92,000 miles, 369, TB400, ps, pb, AC. 1 saddle tank. Looks to have 4 original T-3 headlights. After close inspection the truck is 98% rust free. The build sheet was in the original seat that was included in the sale. The original seat is in great shape other than a split panel (drivers side) and I have the correct upholstery coming to fix it so I can put the correct seat back in it. I plan on removing the stick on window tint, putting a rear slider in it and possible a tilt wheel...thats about it.

Built in the Fremont plant, 06-11-69 for a (?)itwell GMC Truck Sales, Scott at Hines Blvd, Wichita Falls, Texas

[72freak]

A few more.....

[tcb-1]

ohhhhh, purty!!!

[72freak]

We wanted to get the opinion of the "purists" of the bunch....do these tail pipes look correct? LOL

[72freak]

Throwback pictures to come when we put a vintage style original "Longhorn" camper shell I have on it.

[too much stuff]

Nice! Looks like it should be a good driver. I am digging the "custom" emblems above the door handles also...

[72freak]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

Nice! Looks like it should be a good driver. I am digging the "custom" emblems above the door handles also...

Those emblems are TOUGH!

[Palf70Step]

Switching one almost longhorn for another. Another great ride in your stable! Beautiful truck.

[72freak]

Build sheet

[ERASER5]

Do I spy a D60?

[special-K]

Lookin`good! I`ve never seen a Custom and a Sierra in one.Do the fender badges say Sierra?I`m curious because I have a 3500 set that say Custom Camper and wondered what they`d be off of.You have that`69-only red interior.Do the door panels say GMC top middle?Some did,some were blank.The pipes look right if they were cut straight and back more.Even Longhorn Man calls them Longhorns for simplicity sake.It sure get`s confusing since there were even Custom Camper/10s in Chevy and all the camper package on top of other trim and all on 8'trucks.Yours could be a Custom Camper/20 Sierra Custom Custom Camper if it had the camper package.Just on Thursday a guy asked if my`72 was a Custom Camper and I said it was.Then,he asked,"Didn`t they have longer wheelbases or something?"Then it was,"Well,let me explain..."I lost him about 1/2 way through.lol
I guess you finally got your gears?I hope they are the 3.54s.

[72freak]

I dont know about the Custom/Sierra thing. Board member "Uncle" said the same thing. He told me it should not have the Sierra emblems. The truck was missing all of its emblems when I got it but you could see the faded paint letters on both the doors and the bed and the holes were there. His thought was someone must have changed the bed or added the rear emblems years ago. If it is just a 2500 Custom is it supposed to have rear quarter emblems of any sort?

Any thoughts on how to figure out what its supposed to be?

[OrangeCrush1970]

From what I could find, Trim levels for 1967-70 were (base) 1500 /2500, (mid-level) Custom 1500 or 2500, (Top-line) Super Custom 1500 or 2500......

The GMC's did not start to call it 'Sierra" anything until 1971 in the (Top-line) Sierra 1500. I may be wrong! And probably am, but it's what I found on the internet and I believe everything I read on the internet.....

Reguardless, you now have a very tough 1969 GMC 2500 Sierra Custom which is "Custom" in itself and did I mention tough? Look at those SLOTS! BIG BLOCK!!!



I couldnt find anything about the long(er) beds for either GMC or Chevy Longhorns

[1956cameo]

Very nice find! I have a question 72freak. Where in the seat did you find the build sheet? Was it on the back part or the bottom part of the seat? Was it where you could see it when you flipped the seat upside down, or did you have to kind of "look around" for it? Thanks in advance! The reason why I ask is because I have a very original burb that I would love to find the build sheet for if it has one.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Very nice find! I have a question 72freak. Where in the seat did you find the build sheet? Was it on the back part or the bottom part of the seat? Was it where you could see it when you flipped the seat upside down, or did you have to kind of "look around" for it? Thanks in advance! The reason why I ask is because I have a very original burb that I would love to find the build sheet for if it has one.

I think they are normally in the bottom but I cant remember.....mine was in plain sight.

[leddzepp]

I found my build sheet tucked in on the back, also in plain sight.

[1956cameo]

Okay thanks! I have looked under my seats and can't see one in plain sight so I am assuming it doesn't have one. Just wanted to make sure they weren't in some unsuspecting location.

[72freak]

There was some question from all of us if it was actually a "Sierra" and a "Custom". According to most folks, a few board members and research we did, it could not be in 1969. We just figured the PO had put a different bed on it many years back or for some reason or put the "Sierra" emblems on the bed. Well, today during some down time board member
OrangeCrush1970 decided to actually look at the SPID and guess what he found! Code # Z16

[67/72junkie]

Nice truck.I have a green 69 2500 with 350 .It has 2500 v eight front fender emblems,custom camper on the doors,and serria grande on rear bedsides .has the head liner and cargo light and serria grande is listed on the spid also.Wish it was still as nice as yours.

[Longhorn Man]

First... on the sierra and grande questions...
I bought a large 3 ring binder full of GMC info off this board a few years ago. 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.
This binder 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.


On to other things in this thread.
The door panels. In early 69, they were embossed with either the chevy bow tie, or the letterrs GMC... in later 69, they were not stamped with any markings at all. These door panels (and probably the whole truck) were from the latter portion of the production year.
As far as the is that a D60 rear question... most 3/4 ton big block trucks got the dana with the 3.54 gear, that was the standard rear and gear for big block C/20s

This is a very sweet looking truck... pretty much a true survivor from these photos. Glad it went to someone who won't hack it up... like I woulda probably done.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

...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...

Heck,I would have sold them some of mine.They should have said something...sheesh.

I remember seeing this GMC info when it was shown before.I believe it.I still wonder what fender badges these trucks had.No Custom or Super Custom because the bedside emblems were coming?Then,why the door scripts?There is no Super Custom script.It`s just one cool authentic truck,that`s all I know.

[67_C-30]

Nice find David! I've got a '69 CST/10 that has that same dark red interior. It was a 396 truck too, and it has the bowties embossed on the door panels. Mine is also bucket seat truck. I didn't know that was a one year only interior until I read it above, but I know it was the only one I had ever seen.

[72freak]

The truck was built June 11, 1969. Oh yea....I got the stock seat finished. I will post a picture later. You would not have believed the PERFECT condition of the foam and springs. It looks like the seat was never used.

[special-K]

That came out really nice!!You won`t find another Custom cloth seat like that in that color.Now the seat is worth more than the truck!...JK!!!!
Is that the original vinyl or is that new material also?I know this was no easy seat job.But,in the end I hope you are pleased and feel it was worth the effort.I sure like it.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by special-K

That came out really nice!!You won`t find another Custom cloth seat like that in that color.Now the seat is worth more than the truck!...JK!!!!
Is that the original vinyl or is that new material also?I know this was no easy seat job.But,in the end I hope you are pleased and feel it was worth the effort.I sure like it.

We used the original vinyl...it was VERY slightly faded on the top back and has one small spot on the drivers side, (we will call it patina) but I really wanted to use it and it was still strong and in good shape. As mentioned above...you would not believe the condition of the foam and springs.

Now I need a fresh, RED, steering wheel......leads anyone?