Where's the 3/4 ton love?

[sodly]

Hi. I'm a relative newbie here although I do drop in from time to time to lurk. I'm a big fan of 60-66 Chev trucks and would one day like to find a nice one to own. But the big difference with me (apparently, I've learned after lurking here) is that I really dig all-stock trucks. Nothing against hot rodded and slammed trucks but it's just not my thing. They're neat to look at and I appreciate the work but they're really just cars at that point. I guess I appreciate stock originality over mechanical creativity. As you can imagine, I like survivors. To make matters worse for me, I really dig long beds over short beds (blasphemy, I know) and... call me weird but... 3/4 tons over 1/2 tons. I know, I feel like a square peg in a round hole world. I really like the look of old farm trucks and I think they are the ultimate form of these 60-66 pickups. Give me a nice, stock, patina'd custom C20 with a straight 6, tall, skinny tires, dog dish hubcaps, a big ol' rear bumper and a ball hitch out back any day of the week. Even stock racks are cool, IMHO. Problem is, most of the 3/4 ton trucks were used up and spit out long ago. Probably my only hope now is to find a nice, pampered Custom Camper that lived a life of relative ease.

I've spent some time on this site looking but haven't had much luck finding inspirational pics of the kind of trucks I like, besides mostly a few old factory photos. Seems that not many people are interested enough to collect/restore them... or maybe they just don't like them. So, can anybody post or point me to pics of nice, stock 3/4 ton trucks from this era? I know there must be a few other nutty people like me out there that go for the original trucks. But are there any other 3/4 ton/long box kooks like me out there? Surely I'm not the only one. Thanks!

[bulldoggraphics]

I have a great 3/4 ton truck I love it! Parts are hard to find but fun to work on

[d00de]

showing some 3/4 ton love. here's mine:


sometimes i miss how it looked before the paint:

[70inline6]

Just getting started bring mine back... to stock looking...

[markeb01]

You might find some inspiration in this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=419645

My 1960 GMC is a hot rod, but a few years ago I bought a cherry original 68 Ford Camper Special for my wife. Preferring one style doesn't preclude liking a bunch of others.

[jonzcustomshop]

stuff from the net.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Here is a 3/4 ton I found on craigslist a while back for $500. Not a speck of rust anywhere, and that is why I bought it. He wanted $600 but when I was looking at it he mention the tail gate was missing so he knocked off $100. That is when I said ok..

[sodly]

Good thread, Markeb01. Musta missed it. I'm really kinda shocked there aren't more folks that are into originality. Seems there are just a very rare few of us. All-original trucks seem to about be one in a million, too, from what I can tell. Too bad. Is it that guys just don't like the factory stock look or are correct parts just too hard to find... or what? No offense to the modified crowd but I'm curious. With almost any other make of antique vehicle I've been around the owners are generally all about bringing them back to stock configuration as much as possible. That sure doesn't seem to be the case with post-1960 pickups, though. They are almost universally heavily modified. Very odd.

I also dig your Ford Camper Special. I have a '66 F100 Camper special very much like yours with 47k miles and completely original. My only wish is that it was a Chevy c20 but I'm happy to have anything that's so original and in nice condition.

[raycow]

Add another vote for the stock look. I will do mechanical mods to get a truck which drives better in today's traffic, but it stays stock looking. Definitely no lowering or wide tires.

Ray

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by sodly

Good thread, Markeb01. Musta missed it. I'm really kinda shocked there aren't more folks that are into originality. Seems there are just a very rare few of us. All-original trucks seem to about be one in a million, too, from what I can tell. Too bad. Is it that guys just don't like the factory stock look or are correct parts just too hard to find... or what? No offense to the modified crowd but I'm curious. With almost any other make of antique vehicle I've been around the owners are generally all about bringing them back to stock configuration as much as possible. That sure doesn't seem to be the case with post-1960 pickups, though. They are almost universally heavily modified. Very odd.

I also dig your Ford Camper Special. I have a '66 F100 Camper special very much like yours with 47k miles and completely original. My only wish is that it was a Chevy c20 but I'm happy to have anything that's so original and in nice condition.

Speaking from my own perspective, I think the reason so few of the 60-66 series have been restored to pure stock is because of what they represent. They aren’t small, cute and primitive like those from the 30’s to the mid 50’s, which is the age group I would focus on if I wanted to do a restoration. They also don’t have the creature comforts and safety features of modern trucks. The lack of power steering, brakes, and automatic transmissions make them more suitable (for many people) to perform yard duty than daily commuting. And because they are big and roomy, and have large load capacity (especially the wide long beds) they remain very practical for dump runs.

Conversely, many restored cars were treasured when new, and enjoyed legions of fans over the years preserving excellent examples. Families grew up in them with lifetime stories to preserve. When our trucks were new, they were primarily appliances and were routinely given the love and respect of a taxi cab or police car.

As these trucks aged (beginning with the 67-72 series) the popularity of trucks as daily transportation rapidly expanded. By 1973 fully optioned trucks became common, and as these came on the used market, the 60-66 series became much less desirable to everyone except enthusiasts. Most ended up in the secondary market where they continued to be beaten, abused and neglected.

The 60-66 series seems to be enjoying more popularity now than ever before, which I’m hopeful will preserve an ever increasing number of these models regardless of build direction. You should always build what you are most passionate about, and if that’s stock – great. I enjoy eyeballing the details of a pure stock truck. I’m just not enthusiastic to own one myself.

[sodly]

Aaahh, but you do... only it's a Ford. Interesting comments.

[creep]

Yikes! You guys aren't gonna like my 3/4 ton then

[jonzcustomshop]

a real nice restored one:

[markeb01]

What a cherry looking truck. The big wheels look important, and even a Unity spotlight!

[factorystock]

I agree 100% with you sodly, authentic period correct 3/4 ton trucks are very under represented. These trucks have a lower survival rate due to the fact most were used commercially for work. The exception to the rule is the 3/4 tons that were bought as recreation vehicles during the camping boom starting in the mid 60's. This factory photo shows how cool a heavy duty stock truck can look. Sure it does not drive like a car, but it can haul a load without scraping the rear bumper.

[66-PMD-GMC]

My personal take on 3/4 ton 60-66 trucks is the more the merrier.
I love my truck and the 3/4 ton suspension is going to make it do exactly what I need it to do... work... Later on down the road I may do something else with it.

[Rusteeze64GB]

Here is mine.

[sodly]

Very cool truck there in post #13. Are there any more here like it?

[Clyde65]

I thought I would only like the 1/2 ton's, but this 3/4 ton is my dad's and it is slick, yea I know, a little biased I know.

[kirtzen]

Well mine is not stock. It is 3/4 ton though.

[sodly]

A few more from my stash.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by sodly

I really like the look of old farm trucks and I think they are the ultimate form of these 60-66 pickups. Give me a nice, stock, patina'd custom C20 with a straight 6, tall, skinny tires, dog dish hubcaps, a big ol' rear bumper and a ball hitch out back any day of the week.

....you mean like this?

[jonzcustomshop]

I like this one too...

[y5mgisi]

There we go!

[creep]

This is what mine looked like when I got it.