Story of an odd '71 C3500

[J01012814]

As requested in a previous post of mine (thanks everyone for the help on the plate bracket question), here's the story and everything I know of my rather odd 1971 GMC C3500 with the 9FT step side bed. It was originally ordered as a fleet truck of maybe 10 or 15 trucks by the Ottawa Kansas National sign co. In April 1971 and delivered by the local GM dealer by the name of "Ottawa farm and implement" this truck served the sign company for around 10 years or so before being purchased sometime in the early 80s by my grandfather who drove short haul for a trucking company. He bought it as a gift to himself and to use for various projects around his property until the early 2000s. The truck has lived quite a hard life and has been passed around other family members throughout the years, parked for many years behind sheds and barns and left outside but has survived overall quite well. I remember seeing this truck when I was little sitting on the side of their house but never got to be around it much as it was replaced in 2004 with a new GMC sierra 1500. I attempted to get it going in around 2013 when I was around 14 but had no knowledge of anything mechanical. It then sat for another 8 years until 2021 when I asked him about it and he offered to give it to me and see what I could do with it. The truck by then was in very rough shape. Missing trim in some places and only 3 of the 4 headlights giving it a very ratty look. The hvac box was missing as well as the fuel tank, mice had gotten into the hvac box inside and the engine barely ran but the bones of it were very solid. I brought it home and began the long process of restoring it which I am still in the middle of (covid and life got in the way) it now lives under a car port and gets as much time and parts as I can spare. Recently I've done the wiring harness front to back, window regulators and door seals, hvac box, new gauge cluster and turn signal switch. This week I am picking up a new engine to build and the new tires should be at my shop on Monday so I can get them mounted up. Overall, it's very different than what I'm used to working on as a BMW technician but this truck means a lot to me and seeing people wave while driving it is great. Everyone seems to love an honest old pickup especially around Kansas. This truck has really not traveled more than 30-40 miles from its original home over its life though it does have around 93k on it from its time commuting to Kansas City during the 80s and 90s. Below are some pics of when I first saw it again in 2013 and the day I took it home in 2021 to today. Thanks for reading! Sorry for the length. I am happy to answer any questions anyone may have

['68OrangeSunshine]

Real nice rig.
I have a '71 GMC myself -- K/1500 Jimmy -- also a St Louis plant build.
350 is good. I didn't see a transmission listed on the SPID, so does it have a three-on-the-tree Saginaw?
Longbed Stepsides are rare. ''Longhorn'' Stepsides even rarer.

[Now the GMC purists will jump all over me, as
1] GMC didn't call them ''Stepsides.'' Fendersides or something like that is more correct.
2] GMC didn't call their 133'' chassis trucks ''Longhorns'' either. That's a Chevrolet marketing term. But if you told me you had a Longhorn Stepside GMC One Ton, I'd know exactly what you meant.]

My K/1500 Jimmy is exactly like a Chevy K/5 Blazer, but to GMC it's a K/1500 not a K/750. Go figure.


I also have '68 Chevy C/10 shortbed stepside. It was a fleet truck. Possibly Cal/Trans or Southern Pacific were the original users. [Bright Orange color is a clue.]
I bought it in 1973, when I was 23. Still got it.

[best view]

That’s a awesome truck don’t paint it

[J01012814]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Real nice rig.
I have a '71 GMC myself -- K/1500 Jimmy -- also a St Louis plant build.
350 is good. I didn't see a transmission listed on the SPID, so does it have a three-on-the-tree Saginaw?
Longbed Stepsides are rare. ''Longhorn'' Stepsides even rarer.

[Now the GMC purists will jump all over me, as
1] GMC didn't call them ''Stepsides.'' Fendersides or something like that is more correct.
2] GMC didn't call their 133'' chassis trucks ''Longhorns'' either. That's a Chevrolet marketing term. But if you told me you had a Longhorn Stepside GMC One Ton, I'd know exactly what you meant.]

My K/1500 Jimmy is exactly like a Chevy K/5 Blazer, but to GMC it's a K/1500 not a K/750. Go figure.


I also have '68 Chevy C/10 shortbed stepside. It was a fleet truck. Possibly Cal/Trans or Southern Pacific were the original users. [Bright Orange color is a clue.]
I bought it in 1973, when I was 23. Still got it.

Haha I always forget about the "fender side" marketing term
There are a few things on this truck that just aren't listed on the spid for some odd reason. The transmission is the SM465

[67C10Step]

Man, do I LOVE that truck! If you can keep it the way it is, paint wise, I'd let it show all its years of hard labor.

While mine doesn't have the family history of yours, it is a local truck to me. Purchased at the Chevrolet dealership in the town in which I currently live in September of 1967. Photo of when I got it and currently as it sits.

[J01012814]

Originally Posted by 67C10Step

Man, do I LOVE that truck! If you can keep it the way it is, paint wise, I'd let it show all its years of hard labor.

While mine doesn't have the family history of yours, it is a local truck to me. Purchased at the Chevrolet dealership in the town in which I currently live in September of 1967. Photo of when I got it and currently as it sits.

I like the patina look yours has as well. Funny how they all seem to wear in the same ways around the fenders and hood. I'd like to keep as much of it as possible but it does need the usual rust fixed in the cab corners and rockers. The bed does have some on the rear fenders. Someone welded in a 1/4in thick sheet of steel sometime before it came into my family.. some of the original wood is still under there and I'm hoping the bed strips are still salvageable as it's impossible to find anything bed related being reproduced for the 9ft. Here are some more pics of the bed from the side.. it's crazy how much difference there is between the step length from the short bed on yours to this one

[67C10Step]

My truck doesn't show it other than the driver's cab corner but it needs the usual rust repairs as well. Inner/outer rockers, one cab corner, one door bottom, etc. If I could match the patina on the bed I'd probably go for that but it was mostly junk and got tossed. The steps and fenders are original.

Check out Mar K Truck Parts (www.mar-k.com), they show bed strips for long bed stepsides. If they don't have what you need I'd contact them. When I was at their OKC facility picking up my bed kit I ended up in the presidents office talking with him about new products they were working on.

I was impressed their bed box kit and wood kit fit very well. Needed no massaging to get installed on the frame or the fenders to the sides.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by J01012814

Haha I always forget about the "fender side" marketing term
There are a few things on this truck that just aren't listed on the spid for some odd reason. The transmission is the SM465

465s are bombproof. Both my rigs have that Muncie 4 Speed.
When I saw the Jimmy in front of a Qwikie Mart in Catalina AZ in '95, with a FOR SALE on it, I was attracted. I was interested because it had 33x12.50x15 meats on it, like the ones on my '67 K/10 Suburban. Then I looked in the caband saw the floor shifter, and I was sold on it. I gave it to myself as a 45th birthday present.
I liked the color, too. "Maui Blue" a medium metallic, non-stock color.

[J01012814]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

465s are bombproof. Both my rigs have that Muncie 4 Speed.
When I saw the Jimmy in front of a Qwikie Mart in Catalina AZ in '95, with a FOR SALE on it, I was attracted. I was interested because it had 33x12.50x15 meats on it, like the ones on my '67 K/10 Suburban. Then I looked in the caband saw the floor shifter, and I was sold on it. I gave it to myself as a 45th birthday present.
I liked the color, too. "Maui Blue" a medium metallic, non-stock color.

Love this era of Jimmy they just have such a cool look with the top off and the blue is also really nice. What did you give for it in '95? the market for those has really gone crazy. Seems like you have quite a collection of cool trucks!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by J01012814

Everyone seems to love an honest old pickup especially around Kansas.

Right, the workhorse long step is a remnant of different time, when pickups were pickups, a time when work was the priority, not the glam for style and attention. Very few of this model survived and very few ever get restored, a completely different look than the typical "street" look that gets the butter.

[BRL]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

...I also have '68 Chevy C/10 shortbed stepside. It was a fleet truck. Possibly Cal/Trans or Southern Pacific were the original users. [Bright Orange color is a clue.]
I bought it in 1973, when I was 23. Still got it.

Oh I like that!
Had mine since '95 and thought I've had it forever.
...silly me.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by J01012814

Love this era of Jimmy they just have such a cool look with the top off and the blue is also really nice. What did you give for it in '95? the market for those has really gone crazy. Seems like you have quite a collection of cool trucks!

The owner was asking $3995 for the Jimmy. I talked him down to $3750 because there wasn't an air deflector panel or shelf in front of the radiator.
I wasn't trying to be a jerk, I had a '67 and a '68 and they both had them, so I figured a '71 should too. Later I found out that ''oil can'' shelf was deleted with the 1969 Model Year.
I've never had the top off, but agree they look very cool as convertables.
As for Maui Blue, I've determined it was a GM color but don't know what make or vintage. I only know that because I bought some Duplicolor Touch Up spraycans of that hue on the discontinued rack at Checker Auto.

I have four and a half classic Chevy or GM Trucks. The '68 Stepside I bought in Pasadena CA in 1973. I bought a '67 K/10 Suburban in Mesa AZ in 1993.
My '71 GMC Jimmy was acquired in 1995 in Catalina AZ. I brought a trailer up to Lake Havasu AZ and got a '72 K/5 Blazer tub and rolling chassis for $200 in 2002. The trailer -- made from an 8' GM fleetside bed on a cut-down 3/4 ton frame, I got from a farmer in Chandler AZ in 2006.
I just bought a 2003 C/1500 Tahoe this march for $2700. It runs OK, but the electronics in the door/window switches are sometimes screwy.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by BRL

Oh I like that!
Had mine since '95 and thought I've had it forever.
...silly me.

I've had my '71 Jimmy since '95.


And thanks for the flip. Standing on its rear is hard on the stepbumper.

[dave6672]

Love the truck, it has a great look.

[jumpsoffrock]

I was looking for a 3/4 ton or a SRW 1-ton, and ended up with a '72 C3500 SRW....so I have a soft spot for SRW 1-tons. Really love your truck and hope it shapes up to what you have in mind.

[57taskforce]

Nice truck, and equally great story! I’d be willing to bet that the 465 was standard equipment in the 1 ton and thus not listed on the spid. I’ve been wrong before though. A lot can happen in 50+ years.

[J01012814]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

I was looking for a 3/4 ton or a SRW 1-ton, and ended up with a '72 C3500 SRW....so I have a soft spot for SRW 1-tons. Really love your truck and hope it shapes up to what you have in mind.

Here it is after this last weekend. Brought it to work and used CLR and some green scotch Brite pads and steel wool to get some of the surface rust off. Really came out great for around $10 in supplies I think.

[67C10Step]

She's a beauty!

[54blackhornet]

Congratulations That is one cool Looking truck !

[jumpsoffrock]

Turned out great. Something special about a factory 9ft bed Truck. Love it man.

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Nice truck, and equally great story! I’d be willing to bet that the 465 was standard equipment in the 1 ton and thus not listed on the spid. I’ve been wrong before though. A lot can happen in 50+ years.

My '72 C3500 also came with a SM465 when I bought it and it is not listed on the SPID. I gotta look at the literature, maybe it says what trans is standard on 1-tons.

[MJN]

The SM465 was standard equipment on C/30's.
The NP435 close ratio and TH-automatics were optional transmissions. SM465 was the only transmission available for 11,000lb rear axle trucks.