Chevy/GMC Tread & Post Comparison By Years

[70cst]

67-72 Chevy Pick Ups GMC
THREADS....... POST
67-72... 63,687... 609,015
47-59... 1,640... 11,472
60-66... 2,241... 12,639
73-87... 16,977... 153,290
88-98... 4,160... 20,909
99+++ 380... 2,424

I have read some post by other expressings how great Honda, Toyota, and other trucks are compared to Chevy and GMC. As I surfed the internet looking ar other Truck forums I am going to make a bold statement. The popularity of those "other" trucks are a fleeting thing. Convince me those "other" trucks will ever have the following of our trucks. I hear how great the quality and looks of those "other" trucks are...maybe so to some. But where will those trucks be in 25 plus years, Junk yards!! Also...when I grew up I cannot recall seeing Honda and Toyota dotting the rural landscape of the American roads. I cannot recall seeing those "other" trucks in the fields pulling stumps out of the fields, hauling grain and livestock, or pulling farm equipment and I don't think I ever will. Even when you look at the "other" era trucks built by Chevy and GMC...it's hands down to which truck has the most popularity. I have read many Truck magazine articles and I have never seen articles say that those other "trucks" have a timeless design that will match the 55-57 Chevy's. No...I don;t think so. So my friends when it come to popularity and collectability no other trucks will compare to the 67-72 Chevy/GMC Trucks!!! Those other trucks will never represent an America of yesteryear! Those other trucks will never represent the American family as they worked hard to put food on the family table! Those other trucks will never represent the cross section of America! When it come to what truck represent the transformation of the American Truck...it's a no brainer it's the 67-72 Chevy/GMC Truck!

[special-K]

Honda does not make a truck.No one can convince me otherwise.The rules that define a truck have been manipulated for marketing.Saburu Foresters are classed as trucks,now,so they can put dark tint on the side and back glass.Whatever,it`s a little station wagon I guess an old Impala wagon is a big rig.

[mrein3]

Let me start by saying I only buy American cars and trucks. I've purchased three brand new vehicles. All Fords. #1 is still on the road. It is a 1994 Ford Escort. I just went over 267,000 miles this week. I do all the maintenance and it has served me well. MN road salt is starting to get the best of it but I intend to get 300,000 out of it.

My dad worked at the Ford plant in St. Paul for 42 years. This indirectly put me through college. I paid my own tuition but I lived at home eating food my dad bought with his weekly paycheck. This background has made me pretty loyal to Ford. However all my classics are Chevys.

That said, let me point out that the Japs are VERY good at coming here, determining what the market wants, then building that vehicle to very exacting specs. If I was Ford and GM, I'd be VERY wary of that new Toyota truck. The ads claim they are building it big enough. Their factory quality is top notch. If that truck is all they say it is there may be some tough sledding ahead for American truck manufactureres.

Personally I think that truck is fugly but if I was buying a truck that I need to depend on every day for work, I'd have to go see what the Toyota dealer has to offer.

[70cst]

I guess the point of my post wasn't to imply that Honda and Toyota doesn't build good trucks. The point I am trying to make is they do not have a truck that is in the class of the 67-72 Chevy/GMC Trucks. I am hard pressed to find a currently built truck that will have a following like our trucks have plus the lines of our trucks are timeless. I would like to find the magazine article that I read that compares our trucks to the 55-57Chevy as they said the looks of our trucks have never grown old and they continue to grow in popularity. I would like to see any present day truck manufacture claim they will some day have the following as our trucks presently have. One can buy a Honda or Toyota and I'm sure most will be happy. But wait another 15-30 years and see how many of those trucks will still be running around.

[special-K]

I`d have to see a Toyota truck targeted for the workplace before I`d worry.They don`t build the typical 1/2t,3/4t,1t series.Theres no cab`n`chassis model.Few come through as longbeds.They don`t produce a diesel model.And,as far as I know you can`t factory-spec a truck to your company`s needs.They are built for comfort and have some "Indy-style" motor that is high-performance oriented.Although cool and all,hardly right for the bottom-line most commercial buyers are looking for.Can you get one w/o alloy wheels and other fancy stuff?They are tough competition on this new-fangled don`t even need a truck market that has taken over car sales.The Nippons are marketing whores and just immitate/improve on what sells.They make excellent Scotch whiskey,too.But it ain`t Scotch.They immitate Harleys,but they`re Hardlys.Not saying they`re not powerful or reliable,just not a Harley.Not saying a Harley (or american truck) isn`t built with foreign parts,either.Just the same company that`s been employing Americans,paying US taxes,and helping their own countrymen by providing the products they`ve needed for over 100 years,even for our military through all our wars.I`m such a fuddy-dutty,I guess.I just still see a difference.
There`s just more to it.Which is why I don`t expect they`ll ever have the kind of following beyond liking them as a good consumer product that the vintage GM trucks has and always will.Maytag always made great washers & dryers,but there`s no vintage message board as far as I know.When their time comes they hit the scrap heap and become a memory.We go out and hope to find an adequate replacement and time to time have a conversation about how it treated you good.That`s about it.

[Sport/Truck]

Originally Posted by special-K

I`d have to see a Toyota truck targeted for the workplace before I`d worry.They don`t build the typical 1/2t,3/4t,1t series.Theres no cab`n`chassis model.Few come through as longbeds.They don`t produce a diesel model.And,as far as I know you can`t factory-spec a truck to your company`s needs.They are built for comfort and have some "Indy-style" motor that is high-performance oriented.Although cool and all,hardly right for the bottom-line most commercial buyers are looking for.Can you get one w/o alloy wheels and other fancy stuff?They are tough competition on this new-fangled don`t even need a truck market that has taken over car sales.The Nippons are marketing whores and just immitate/improve on what sells.They make excellent Scotch whiskey,too.But it ain`t Scotch.They immitate Harleys,but they`re Hardlys.Not saying they`re not powerful or reliable,just not a Harley.Not saying a Harley (or american truck) isn`t built with foreign parts,either.Just the same company that`s been employing Americans,paying US taxes,and helping their own countrymen by providing the products they`ve needed for over 100 years,even for our military through all our wars.I`m such a fuddy-dutty,I guess.I just still see a difference.
There`s just more to it.Which is why I don`t expect they`ll ever have the kind of following beyond liking them as a good consumer product that the vintage GM trucks has and always will.Maytag always made great washers & dryers,but there`s no vintage message board as far as I know.When their time comes they hit the scrap heap and become a memory.We go out and hope to find an adequate replacement and time to time have a conversation about how it treated you good.That`s about it.

Although not a truck, the Toyota Land Cruiser holds a very popular following! Probably has as big, if not bigger fans considering they are world wide.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/
s/t

[70cst]

The Toyota Land Cruiser just like Subaru and other car clubs may have a worldwide following and may be fine vehicles but the point is...

The likelihood of those vehicles being designated a Classic like that of the 55-57 Chevy and 67-72 Chevy/GMC Trucks probably won't happen. There are numerous writings that praise the style of these trucks. The number of followers isn't what makes these trucks desirable or collectable...it's the design and clean lines that remain pleasing to the eye even after 30 plus years. Why are there so many suppliers of parts for these trucks? Why? These trucks have passed the test of time as each year goes by these trucks become one year older...yet they become more and more collectable. The 67-72 Chevy and GMC trucks lives on.

[Sport/Truck]

[Shaun K]

Originally Posted by 70cst

Convince me those "other" trucks will ever have the following of our trucks.

Originally Posted by 70cst

The number of followers isn't what makes these trucks desirable or collectable...

Anyway, I don't think anyone here is arguing with you that the 67-72 is a great truck, but you're kinda preaching to the choir here, no?

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

Although not a truck, the Toyota Land Cruiser holds a very popular following! Probably has as big, if not bigger fans considering they are world wide.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/
s/t

I'm a member of ih8mud, and I have to say the following for Cruisers is just as strong as what I see here with the 67-72's. Design and clean lines aren't what make a Land Cruiser what it is: it's durability, reliability, and ruggedness. I'm also not saying these trucks are great in comparison to Chevy's or GMC's (and I doubt anyone else is making that comparison either). They're just good at what they do; nothing more, nothing less.

[70gmcjimmy]

There is other trucks besides 67-72 GM's?

Learn somthin new every day!!!

Later---DAC

[cruiserman]

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

Although not a truck, the Toyota Land Cruiser holds a very popular following! Probably has as big, if not bigger fans considering they are world wide.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/
s/t

Yep. FJ40 was developed over 22 years.

[70cst]

Shaun K

Your comment "you're kinda preaching to the choir here" is correct.
I was just surprised by how the 67-72 Threads & the Post far out numbered the other years of Chevy & GM Trucks on this site. Then the thread sort of took on a different message. I would say the Jeeps in their own right are also desirable. I guess it comes down to personal preferences. Some buy Chevy's and some buy Ford's and some people like Edsels. We all don't dance to the same beat. I think it's time to put this Thread to rest. Later.

[special-K]

I think the Land Cruisers,4-Runners,and pickups are awesome 3rd world practicle/efficient little machines(that`s a good thing)that take a kicking and keep on ticking.They are the standard for all othe small trucks to be based on.And,have quite a loyal following.
I just think the Tundra is a marketing product apart from the true truck world and despite quality or nifty features is targeted to the buyers that wouldn`t know a real truck,or need one,if they saw it.They`re something to go out and race a Hemi truck in.I just don`t expect to find any sitting in a barn 30 years from now because the owner just couldn`t bring himself to part with the old friend.Besides,once they get that aged it`ll be a nightmare to service or buy parts for.It`s pretty much the same for all newer trucks,I believe.But,due to the love of the old GMs,it bleeds over into the newer stuff.Personally,anything that new is just a tool for me to use until it`s not cost effective,then get another.If I look for a new truck,I`ll buy it for the drivetrain and I want tunes and a/c,that`s it.

[Shane]

For anyone to think our 67-72 Chevy trucks have the same sort of following as the 55-57 Belairs is a wee bit of a stretch as well.

[70cst]

Shane...
Thanks for your astute input...
I agree with you...they don't have the same following. A totally different crowd yet both are considered classics by various magazines. I don’t think these trucks will ever reach the value of the 55-57 Chevy’s but then again as you said…they have a different following. Good observation.

[special-K]

I`d say it`s equal if not surpassed.At least in numbers they are bigger.Yeah,really.

[70cst]

Hey special-K
Are you saying the followers of the 67-72 Chevy/GMC trucks are equal to if not larger than the 55-57 crowd. That's impressive. That I would have never guessed. That's why I enjoy this board. You're always learning something new.

[Shane]

Our trucks have a wonderful following, but nothing to the likes of the 55-57 crowd. Those models of cars have attained "God-like" status (esp. the '57 Belair) due to the nostalgia surrounding the '50's era. We have to remember that the mid 50's were the apex years of the Baby Boomers. And there are a bunch of those folks to add to this "following." Folks that aren't even in to cars will answer with "1957 Chevrolet Belair" when asked to name the first car they can think of that was made in the 50's. The same cannot be said of our trucks.

When people think of the '50s, they think of the 57 Belair. When people think of the late '60s or early 70's they don't think of "our" trucks, they normally think of GTO's, Camaros, Challengers/Chargers, & Chevelle's.

I think our trucks are the most progressive truck design when taken in comparison to the prior model years. But I can honestly say that I don't think our model trucks hold the same mystiqe as the mid-50 Chevy cars do to that same generation.

[dan42]

Yeah, that's all, true, they may not be as popular as those '57's, but Lord, they are the best lookin' trucks ever made...

[70cst]

Shane..
This is a very good point on the 50's era. When one thinks of the 50's one thinks about Rock n Roll and the 55-57 Chevy and yes the 57 is the king of the three, In the 60's the Muscle Car was king. But when we come to the
70's the nostalgia of average cars starts to fade. These trucks to some degree bridge the 60's into the 70's with a vehicle that many Americans can relate to. Especially, those who worked or were raised on the farm. The truck was a vehicle that in the beginning was a utility work vehicle with few options and not much power. But as many magazine articles state the 67-72 Chevy/GMC trucks bridged the utility function of a work truck with that of car like comfort with options such as power steering, ac, cruise, tilt, big blocks, buckets, tach and so forth. The average guy/gal on the street can still afford to but one of these trucks and fix it up to their delight although the cost of these trucks are starting to rise. These are all good points and this is what is great about this forum. It is with input from different perspectives that educates us not only about these trucks but also other fine vehicles. As for me I could not (not willing) to pay the big bucks for a muscle car or a 55-57 chevy. The truck I have I can afford plus the truck takes me back to my roots on the farm where the truck was a work truck and a form of transportation. Again all...very very good feedback!

[special-K]

The baby boomers were babies and kids in the 50`s.I was born in 55.We think doo-wop was kinda cool,but don`t relate to it as our own and feel the 60s & 70s hard it all over on those greasers.It was the muscle car era that these trucks represent that the boomers are most relating to.I don`t want to argue over it,but I think you`re underestimating a bit.
A loaded big block shortbed can run as much as a muscle car.These trucks are also something more people can touch and own.That makes for a huge following in it`s self,while most can only dream and admire the tri-5s and musclecars.
Like the Tri-5s and the musclecars,these trucks have had a beloved following since day 1,from farmers to race car owners and the following has grow daily.I was there through it all and have been hearing people say in from the late`70s and still keep hearing the same thing,"These trucks are starting to catch on."And,I`ve been saying,"Oh,they done caught on.You`re just figuring it out."

[70cst]

All I can say this is great point and counter point info. It all adds up for me.
When it's all said and done...you can't go wrong with our trucks!!