Info on my 72 GMC 3/4 TON

[Frijolito1988]

Hey guys I purchased this truck about 2 months ago, Its a 72 GMC Sierra Grande , Custom Camper ? I think this is a top of the line model has Big Block, AC, TILT , wood grain stickers ect.

But I have a few questions, can anybody tell me what color interior it had originally ? Was it all saddle ? As it still does have some saddle parts on there but the weird part is the steering wheel is black? Isint that supposed to be saddle color as well ?


Also from the SPID looks to be a long horn ( has a flat bed so cant really tell ) , 133'' means Long Horn right ?

I would like to make this as stock looking as possible, replacing those generic side mirrors with originals and original interior and int he future new paint.

So looking at this spid, is this a rare truck ?

72 GMC Big block / AC , Sierra Grande, Custom Camper / Long Horn ?

[leddzepp]

Tilt columns came with black steering wheels. Did you buy this truck out of Brea by chance?

[LockDoc]

-
Flippity- flip...

LockDoc

[Longhorn 70]

Hmmmm the SPID does say it's a Longhorn. It doesn't look that long.


Watching

[special-K]

It's a Sierra,not a Sierra Grande. The interior was saddle (scrolled vinyl seat) and,as mentioned,Comfortilts were all black. The model# shows it was originally a Fleetside,so it's a Longhorn (but GMC didn't call them that) and not a cab & chassis. It's funny,though,the part of the model# for the 133" WB should be 10,but yours shows 60 which is the cab to axle dimension of the 133" WB trucks.

[bruceman1968]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's funny,though,the part of the model# for the 133" WB should be 10,but yours shows 60 which is the cab to axle dimension of the 133" WB trucks.

Hi Tim, GMC used 55, 57, 59, and 60 on the model number, for the axel to cab/wheelbase, instead of 05, 07, 09, and 10, like the chevy's

[special-K]

Oh,ok. I know you know all that type of stuff,so thanks for setting me straight. I guess I never paid attention to that. The only GMCs I've had I've been certain were original and never paid attention to the model number.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Frijolito1988

So looking at this spid, is this a rare truck ?

Thousands and thousands of pickups were built this way during the recreation boom years. If yours was a '62 instead of '72, 1/4 of those options would probably make it a rare truck. A rare '72 truck today in the age of the internet, would be one with super low mileage, excellent original upholstery, excellent original paint, super straight body and of course, zero rust.

[71swb4x4]

It has a 1967 GMC grille on it, that's the only year that had the GMC embossed on it. It looks like the 67 top rail is there too. If you remove that top rail from the grille the hood will shut.

[terry b]

That old girl is going to suck up some cash to make it right. Unless it means something to you i would keep looking.

[Frijolito1988]

Thanks for the info guys, the hood actually does shut right i just didn ot have it fully closed. The engine runs like a top now that it has a new edelbrock carb.

I got it for $850 and it runs great, so I am really happy with it. asside from the 67 grill I think that is the only thing that is off , oh and the color also i know that is not stock. I was originally Ochre / White .

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Tilt columns came with black steering wheels. Did you buy this truck out of Brea by chance?

Thats the one!

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Thousands and thousands of pickups were built this way during the recreation boom years. If yours was a '62 instead of '72, 1/4 of those options would probably make it a rare truck. A rare '72 truck today in the age of the internet, would be one with super low mileage, excellent original upholstery, excellent original paint, super straight body and of course, zero rust.

Thanks for the info, i have other SWB trucks and was really looking to have a LWB , to look as stock as possible If i ever find a long horn bed in good condition I will pick it up and switch out this flat bed.

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's a Sierra,not a Sierra Grande. The interior was saddle (scrolled vinyl seat) and,as mentioned,Comfortilts were all black. The model# shows it was originally a Fleetside,so it's a Longhorn (but GMC didn't call them that) and not a cab & chassis. It's funny,though,the part of the model# for the 133" WB should be 10,but yours shows 60 which is the cab to axle dimension of the 133" WB trucks.

Thanks for the info!

What would be the main differnece in Sierra vs Sierra Grande ? I see on the spid it says something about Cheyenne ?

also i notice that the gauge is painted saddle color, is that how it was originally or was that something a PO did ?

and also anybody know whats up with the door panels ? Never seen that weird metallic looking color.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by Frijolito1988

also i notice that the gauge is painted saddle color, is that how it was originally or was that something a PO did ?

GMC's had the glove box door and face of the gauge bezel painted interior color. Kind of cool IMO.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Frijolito1988

Thanks for the info!

What would be the main differnece in Sierra vs Sierra Grande ? I see on the spid it says something about Cheyenne ?

and also anybody know whats up with the door panels ? Never seen that weird metallic looking color.

The SPID printers were on drugs lol. The Cheyenne and Sierra was the same truck and same for Sierra Grande and Cheyenne Super,too. Many Sierras came through with Cheyenne on the SPID and same for the other two. The key is in the code. YE8 for Cheyenne Super/Sierra Grande and Z84 for Cheyenne/Sierra.
The difference between Sierra and Sierra Grande is very minimal. The Grande adds a herringbone seat cover,woodgrain instrument cluster/glovebox door,upper side trim,and on '72s a stainless tailgate handle cover (on '71s the handle itself was chrome. If there was anything else I don't remember right now.

The door panels were woodgrain. Most show their wear these days and it looks like they were stripped and an attempt at machine-turning done

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Frijolito1988

Thats the one!

Glad you bought it and saved me from myself!

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's a Sierra,not a Sierra Grande. The interior was saddle (scrolled vinyl seat) and,as mentioned,Comfortilts were all black. The model# shows it was originally a Fleetside,so it's a Longhorn (but GMC didn't call them that) and not a cab & chassis. It's funny,though,the part of the model# for the 133" WB should be 10,but yours shows 60 which is the cab to axle dimension of the 133" WB trucks.

What did GMC call the Longhorn?

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by special-K

The SPID printers were on drugs lol. The Cheyenne and Sierra was the same truck and same for Sierra Grande and Cheyenne Super,too. Many Sierras came through with Cheyenne on the SPID and same for the other two. The key is in the code. YE8 for Cheyenne Super/Sierra Grande and Z84 for Cheyenne/Sierra.
The difference between Sierra and Sierra Grande is very minimal. The Grande adds a herringbone seat cover,woodgrain instrument cluster/glovebox door,upper side trim,and on '72s a stainless tailgate handle cover (on '71s the handle itself was chrome. If there was anything else I don't remember right now.

The door panels were woodgrain. Most show their wear these days and it looks like they were stripped and an attempt at machine-turning done

Also the badges show 1500 Sierra Grande , that is totally off right ? 1500 would be half ton ?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by davischevy

What did GMC call the Longhorn?

From what I understand,they called them Custom Campers. That's according to Longhorn Man. There were no badges and it wasn't listed on the SPID. I thought they were just a 133" WB Wideside pickup before reading what he claims,just like shortbeds and longbeds don't have names. It's just a question of which model you have by wheelbase

Originally Posted by Frijolito1988

Also the badges show 1500 Sierra Grande , that is totally off right ? 1500 would be half ton ?

Yep,it's a 3500. That's probably a repro someone put on there. No 3500 badges are being reproduced

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by special-K

From what I understand,they called them Custom Campers. That's according to Longhorn Man. There were no badges and it wasn't listed on the SPID. I thought they were just a 133" WB Wideside pickup before reading what he claims,just like shortbeds and longbeds don't have names. It's just a question of which model you have by wheelbase

Yep,it's a 3500. That's probably a repro someone put on there. No 3500 badges are being reproduced

So this is a 3500 ? Making it a 1 ton instead of 3/4 ?

[special-K]

Yes,the VIN starts out CE3. The 3 means 1t. A 3/4t would be CE2.

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by special-K

Yes,the VIN starts out CE3. The 3 means 1t. A 3/4t would be CE2.

I was under the impression that the 1 ton , 3500 trucks were duallys ? With those big rig looking wheels ?

[special-K]

Dual rear wheels were an option. The 133" (60" cab to chassis) frame is a 1t frame,even under a 3/4t Longhorn. It's true most 1t trucks did have dual rear wheels (which also came with that type wheel (Budd) up front). To confuse you more,dual rear wheel was also an option on the 3/4t trucks,which were 127" WB. There were always 1t Stepsides (9' bed),but in '68 GM put the Fleetside/Wideside(GMC) on the 1t single rear frame to create the Longhorn.The cab & chssis was always available. Because it's a 1t frame,all Longhorns have leaf spring rear suspension,since coils were only a 1/2t & 3/4t thing. After '72 GM started offering the 1t pickup in the standard long bed wheelbase.

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by special-K

Dual rear wheels were an option. The 133" (60" cab to chassis) frame is a 1t frame,even under a 3/4t Longhorn. It's true most 1t trucks did have dual rear wheels (which also came with that type wheel (Budd) up front). To confuse you more,dual rear wheel was also an option on the 3/4t trucks,which were 127" WB. There were always 1t Stepsides (9' bed),but in '68 GM put the Fleetside/Wideside(GMC) on the 1t single rear frame to create the Longhorn.The cab & chssis was always available. Because it's a 1t frame,all Longhorns have leaf spring rear suspension,since coils were only a 1/2t & 3/4t thing. After '72 GM started offering the 1t pickup in the standard long bed wheelbase.

It never ceases to amaze me what can be learned on this forum. I'm 61 years old, and used to think I new a lot about these trucks, but I run on to something I didn't know regularly. It's interesting how different members have different areas of expertise.

Thanks