1963 craigslist find:

[jonzcustomshop]

here was the ad:
1963 GMC Pick up - $300 (Hamilton)

Well used 1963 GMC pick up truck. 283 Engine. Body is in rough shape, but the drive train should be good. Not running. No battery, and the tires are shot.

couple things I noticed right away... it is a chevy, big back window, no apparent rust in the fenders or cab, the custom trim, and it looked to have the custom steering wheel and maybe an aluminum grille....
of course the c/l photos leave a lot to be desired as usual, so I headed out to Hamilton today with the truck and trailer.

[jonzcustomshop]

so here is what I got:

a little beat up , but a good builder, floors, rockers, and floor braces are all rust free. the spot over the windshield where they rust out is not rusty.

It was sold to a nursery in 1989 with 92325 miles on it, it now has 66, I think most of the 7741 that was put on it since 1989 was on the property... the underside is coated with mud-thick, and there is just no rust!

[perro13]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

so here is what I got:

a little beat up , but a good builder, floors, rockers, and floor braces are all rust free. the spot over the windshield where they rust out is not rusty.

It was sold to a nursery in 1989 with 92325 miles on it, it now has 66, I think most of the 7741 that was put on it since 1989 was on the property... the underside is coated with mud-thick, and there is just no rust!

good deal

[jonzcustomshop]

it has a 283, and quite possibly the dirtiest one I have ever seen. It is supposed to run, they just quit driving it because the driver door was off and the seat was worn out.

the engine compartment looks mostly complete, fan shroud is still there ,washer wiper bottle, and the steel upper radiator hose.
the inner fenders are not rusty.

[jonzcustomshop]

they just unbolted the door, but it is toast, both of the doors have opened up at least 160 degrees!

the seat is showing ALOT of wear, no chance finding the build sheet on this one.

custom steering wheel, red and white armrest, deluxe gauges, washer wiper, radio, 3 out of 4 heater controls, deluxe headlight knob, but no sign of the radio, wiper, or choke knobs.
it was showing dual sunvisors (they are missing), but no rear view mirror

[jonzcustomshop]

more cool stuff:
in bed, and an under bed spare tire carrier
I found the jack stuffed in the right rear cab corner, and the hard ware under the right side of the seat.

and another shot of that seat!

[jonzcustomshop]

the fenders have some dents, but are rust free... the tailgate has a slight bend to it!

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

more cool stuff:
in bed, and an under bed spare tire carrier
I found the jack stuffed in the right rear cab corner, and the hard ware under the right side of the seat.

and another shot of that seat!

$300 was a steal!!!

[jonzcustomshop]

more neat parts:

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by perro13

good deal

Originally Posted by pimpston65

$300 was a steal!!!

I thought so, lots of stuff is worn out or dented up, but I keep coming back to the rust free big back window cab... pieced out I have paid way more for some assortments of these pieces for my other trucks, and for the most part it is complete which is an invaluable resource for when you are building a truck from the ground up.

[jdl71]

Great find!

[kawecki]

Please tell me that's not an alum grill with alum bezels!

[davbowen]

so what's you gonna do with it? build it, part it, sell it.

[Mathew21]

Great find, Congrats!

[CHIZZLER]

Great score.

[duallyjams]

looks like the tail gate was laid out for high speed stability

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by kawecki

Please tell me that's not an alum grill with alum bezels!

yep alm. grille and bezels! surprised that the bezels were there, they are usually gone on 63's

Originally Posted by davbowen

so what's you gonna do with it? build it, part it, sell it.

the whole thing worked out so nice... some of the parts will help with my current crewcab build, the truck itself I will build, but it is a few projects down the road... I had been hoping to stumble upon a 60-63 long box big back window at some point , and this is it... I had been saving the 63 gmc (the other red and black one right next to it) for that project, but that one has no title, is a small back window, and has the gmc dash... this solves all those problems

[kawecki]

Great find!

[PGSigns]

Nice old truck and a good score.
Jimmy

[Clyde65]

Honestly that is a steal!
Around me, that truck would be advertised for $2500-3000, just because no rust AND it runs....well could.

Great find!

[1963c-10]

Has the in bed spare carrier also!!

[cooperhw]

That's gotta be the score of the month, if not year. Way to go. I found my 63 gmc short bed fleetside (missing bed) rust free cab, little in the door/fender bottoms perfect truck minus engine/trans for under $300 last year. Once in a while they still pop up. On the way out to get it he was offered more (much) money but we had agreed to the deal before I headed out.

[Free Candy Inside]

That's a delux headlight knob? All mine look like that.

[clemdaddy]

nice deal… building the herd.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by Free Candy Inside

That's a delux headlight knob? All mine look like that.

yep, the standard knobs have no chrome ring.

grabbed a shot of the trim codes:Z62RM for the trim, and 514A for the paint.