GMC Production Numbers

[gregbr]

Hi All. I know this has been asked many times, but I'm trying to piece together some idea of how rare my 70 GMC is. I just finished a frame off resto and I want to make a plaque giving some info for use at car shows. I would love to find out how many 70 GMC Shortbed Big Blocks were built. Mine is factory BB, Shortbed, Turbo 400, gauges & tach, Sierra Grande, Super Custom Interior, non air. I have added Vintage Air, power steering & brakes (using all factory parts). Added Pics, Air cleaner top has been replaced with another one with no decals to be factory correct for shows.

Longhorn Man has supplied the following (Hope I got this right): There were approx 2038 1970 Chevy Shortbed Big Block trucks. There is a general estimate of 20-25% GMC to Chevy ratio.....Using 22.5% makes approx 458 1970 GMC Shortbed Big Block trucks. Unknown how mant were Sierra Grande.

I would love to hear any comments or other sources of info to go with this. I have checked everything I can find on the subject with little success.

[special-K]

I think you are going to have to explain on your sign board that it is a rare truck but production numbers were lost in a fire.We can only guess.The ratio of 4-5:1 Chevy vs GMC is correct.I would venture to say add the fact that your truck is a higher optioned,shortbed Fenderside,and big block would make it even a higher ratio.The 20-25% doesn`t run in a straight line across the board.It could be as high as 8-10:1.I can say from observing these trucks in detail since they came out that would not be far fetched.
And,that is one sweet GMC!

[gregbr]

I have some of the resto pics in the Gallery under gregbr.

[Thealien]

I agree that is one sweet rare GMC!

[dan42]

Beautiful truck - but the question I really have to ask, is does it have the rare Corvette option???

[OrangeCrush1970]

That is one nice truck you have there, my friend!

[gregbr]

Thanks for the nice comments!

Special-K, I think I bought a Eaton Posi from you a while back, it's in this truck!

Anybody venture a guess how many 70 GMC's were Shortbed Fleetside Big Block Sierra Grande? Or maybe how many top of the line Chevy Shortbed fleets were made in 70 for comparison. Any info would be great.

THANKS

[rscam]

Would that color be Autumn gold. I had a 70 Camaro that color.

[ksjh1316]

Originally Posted by dan42

Beautiful truck - but the question I really have to ask, is does it have the rare Corvette option???

All GMC's V8 350's and big blocks came stock with that option the Chevy folks never figured out they got shafted

[gregbr]

The color is Dark Gold Metallic # 527. Greg

[special-K]

I don`t have those Chevy numbers.I believe a few guys here have that stuff available.I`d guess no more than 300 GMCs to 1,000 Chevys.In`70 there were a few SierraGrandes slipped in.Now,a truck like your Sierra Grande?...that would be extremely rare.

[gregbr]

Would be nice to find out how many Sierra Grande trucks were made in 70, either shortbed or total number.

[rscam]

I did some research and Dark gold metallic and Autumn gold are the same. Some Gm cars with code 58 were called either one. I guess the trucks with code 527 were dark gol metallic.

[gregbr]

ttt

[Silvius]

Nice truck....you are right, you don't see many of those around.

[gregbr]

ttt, Checking again for more info.

[ChevLoRay]

I guess that is the big question that we all would like to see answered. Best info I have is probably what you have already been told. For Chevy, it is just that the options are listed as a percentage of units sold, without specifying short or long wheelbase. Longhorns, for example, had a different usage than did the other two styles. In my opinion, I'd think that yours is rare as any short bed truck with that engine would be what I would have called a "sleeper", back in the day. With LWB trucks outselling SWB trucks almost 5 to 1, it's safe to say that the majority of SWB trucks were probably bought to be cheap trucks with a minimum of add-ons. Think utility companies, for example. LWB trucks were bought to be used on-the-job, or to satisfy the buyer, who wanted a truck to haul and wanted the additional 2-feet of bedspace, compared to a SWB truck.

[seldomseen65]

Originally Posted by gregbr

Hi All. I know this has been asked many times, but I'm trying to piece together some idea of how rare my 70 GMC is. I just finished a frame off resto and I want to make a plaque giving some info for use at car shows. I would love to find out how many 70 GMC Shortbed Big Blocks were built. Mine is factory BB, Shortbed, Turbo 400, gauges & tach, Sierra Grande, Super Custom Interior, non air. I have added Vintage Air, power steering & brakes (using all factory parts). Added Pics, Air cleaner top has been replaced with another one with no decals to be factory correct for shows.

Longhorn Man has supplied the following (Hope I got this right): There were approx 2038 1970 Chevy Shortbed Big Block trucks. There is a general estimate of 20-25% GMC to Chevy ratio.....Using 22.5% makes approx 458 1970 GMC Shortbed Big Block trucks. Unknown how mant were Sierra Grande.

I would love to hear any comments or other sources of info to go with this. I have checked everything I can find on the subject with little success.

Gregbr; that's one very nice looking truck, like the color and wheels. very clean inside, my wish book has one of those on the list.

[Longhorn Man]

honestly, and this is nothing but my opinion, I would never try to lay claim to any kind of production number. Being that there is no solid 100% acurate number of chevy verses GMC, and there was no real records kept on the options you are asking about, any number would be a guess, and hardly an acurate educated guess.
Personally I have a hard time taking people seriouse on "My car is one of 237 built" if there is no solid documentation.

[gregbr]

Thanks for the comments. Just hoping someone had obtained some info on these trucks before the fire destroyed everything.

It would be nice to figure out how many of the shortbeds got a bigblock, since that idea really doesn't make sense at the time. It makes more sense for the BB to be in the longbed for extra towing/hauling power. Unless, GM thought it would be fun to have a BB in a shortbed truck, like a BB in all those small cars in the Muscle Car era.

[sierragrande71]

I wish my '71 SG were a factory big block truck. I always seem to them find in the LWB configuration.

[GruntMoanCough]

Sorry, can't help with the numbers, but I definitely will give it a ten!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by gregbr

Thanks for the comments. Just hoping someone had obtained some info on these trucks before the fire destroyed everything.

It would be nice to figure out how many of the shortbeds got a bigblock, since that idea really doesn't make sense at the time. It makes more sense for the BB to be in the longbed for extra towing/hauling power. Unless, GM thought it would be fun to have a BB in a shortbed truck, like a BB in all those small cars in the Muscle Car era.

I`m sure there were buyers who had just that in mind.You see alot of El Cheapo basic basic shortbeds bought judt to br handy helpers.Or,in contrast,you see loaded big block shortbeds because you could.These were car/truck guys who were already on to the factory-built is best thing.There have been car buffs since there have nbeen cars.The crowd just keeps growing.

There will be no numbers.There really weren`t numbers kept that specific to options even before the fire.It would be absolutely safe and accurate to say you have one of very few built.It`s definately rare.It`s rarer than a small block,it`s rarer than any other big block.It`s rarer than the 71/72 Sierra Grandes,it`s rarer than the Cheyenne Super BBCs,it`s rarer in that color.We can only suppose,but I`d suppose your truck could possibly be the only one exactly like that...very possible,but no peoof(other than "Show me another").I know my`92 is the only one just like it.Do I have proof?No,,,but,I know how I ordered it and there`s no way another was ordered just like it.

[gregbr]

ttt