How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jason kitchens · 08-12-2023, 12:43 AM

I have a 1968 swb manufactured in Fremont, California. Just trying to figure out how many came from that plant and that body style? I looked up the VIN number and it says it's the earlier model. Just not sure if that's for all production of that vehicle or just that plant. If anyone knows how many were built in California that Fremont let me know. Thank you!

**Ol Blue K20** · 08-12-2023, 01:05 PM

Don't know the exact numbers but it's a lot of them.

Lee H · 08-12-2023, 02:07 PM

According to wikipedia they made 25 trucks per hour, across two shifts from Sept 1963 through March 1982. So very roughly 2 million C10s at Fremont alone.

**68bowtie** · 08-12-2023, 02:31 PM

Over 1 million chevy trucks in 1968, all body and chassis types. 46,483 were 2wd swb fleetsides. I don’t know how many plants (I think 3-5?). So maybe 10-15k came from Fremont? Even if that’s off a bit, it’s far from rare.

The first off the line had 100001 on the vin. So your last 6 digits minus 100,000 is where yours was on the line.

**jocko** · 08-12-2023, 02:37 PM

Using build plant as a discriminator of rarity seems a little odd to me(?) In other words, a truck can be rare based on quantity built (in general) or rarity of combined options, etc - not necessarily quantity built in a specific plant. That's kinda like saying a truck is really, really rare because it was built in Fremont, in February (on a Tuesday, by Bill...)

68Gold/white · 08-12-2023, 02:48 PM

Now the question might be: how many are left???

**Getter-Done** · 08-12-2023, 03:13 PM

Here is some info from Jeff At Outintheshop

Link: http://outintheshop.com/prodnum.html

1968 2WD
CE10734 Fleet side bed 6.5ft Price =2468 WEIGHT=3467 PROD.TOTAL= 46483

1968 4WD
KE10734 Fleet side bed 6.5ft Price =3022 WEIGHT=3851 PROD.TOTAL= 1449

Wrenchbender Ret · 08-12-2023, 10:17 PM

Back then everyone wanted long beds. Campers were very popular. Most of them fit in a long bed pickup. The used short beds had poor resale value.
Now there are more short bed pickups out there then Chevy ever built.

George

**1970 CST Short Wide** · 08-12-2023, 10:56 PM

My Truck is a 70 and was from the Fremont Plant. Used to go by that plant back in the 70s on our way to Fremont Drag Strip

Jason kitchens · 08-13-2023, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970 CST Short Wide

My Truck is a 70 and was from the Fremont Plant. Used to go by that plant back in the 70s on our way to Fremont Drag Strip

Hello, thank you for the answer. I'm located in Pittsburgh, California too. Where do you get all your work done?

**1970 CST Short Wide** · 08-13-2023, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason kitchens

Hello, thank you for the answer. I'm located in Pittsburgh, California too. Where do you get all your work done?

I do all my own work

**BIG ORANGE** · 08-13-2023, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason kitchens

Hello, thank you for the answer. I'm located in Pittsburgh, California too. Where do you get all your work done?

I see Concord below yr name, is that North Carolina?

Jason kitchens · 08-13-2023, 06:49 PM

No it's California

**1970 CST Short Wide** · 08-13-2023, 11:34 PM

It’s spelled Pittsburg, No H. I grew up in Concord Ca and moved to Pittsburg Ca in 1988

**special-K** · 08-14-2023, 07:40 AM

I think more short Fleetsides would have been built than in some others due to regional demand. For example, Baltimore. California/Southwest region and the Southeast region had the most shortbeds

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-15-2023, 06:09 PM

Theres vin thread that shows Fremont punched out approx. 9k trucks per month, spring 1972, for example. Don't know if they built a gmc, but if they did say a 2wd swb, yeah that would be rare. Rare doesn't mean desirable. Good question above, how many are left, 2%????

**70STOVEBOLT** · 08-15-2023, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970 CST Short Wide

My Truck is a 70 and was from the Fremont Plant. Used to go by that plant back in the 70s on our way to Fremont Drag Strip

Your truck gets better looking every time I see it.

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 08-15-2023, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Theres vin thread that shows Fremont punched out approx. 9k trucks per month, spring 1972, for example. Don't know if they built a gmc, but if they did say a 2wd swb, yeah that would be rare. Rare doesn't mean desirable. Good question above, how many are left, 2%????

They built GMC C/K and the GMC version of the El Camino, per Wikipedia

**1970 CST Short Wide** · 08-15-2023, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

Your truck gets better looking every time I see it.

Thank you

**Ol Blue K20** · 08-16-2023, 05:56 PM

I used to go to the Fremont Dragstrip too. A lot!

08-12-2023, 12:43 AM	#1
Jason kitchens Registered User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: concord Posts: 46	How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? I have a 1968 swb manufactured in Fremont, California. Just trying to figure out how many came from that plant and that body style? I looked up the VIN number and it says it's the earlier model. Just not sure if that's for all production of that vehicle or just that plant. If anyone knows how many were built in California that Fremont let me know. Thank you!

08-12-2023, 01:05 PM	#2
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Don't know the exact numbers but it's a lot of them. __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul

08-12-2023, 02:07 PM	#3
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,147	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? According to wikipedia they made 25 trucks per hour, across two shifts from Sept 1963 through March 1982. So very roughly 2 million C10s at Fremont alone. __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

08-12-2023, 02:31 PM	#4
68bowtie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Turlock, CA Posts: 8,795	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Over 1 million chevy trucks in 1968, all body and chassis types. 46,483 were 2wd swb fleetsides. I don’t know how many plants (I think 3-5?). So maybe 10-15k came from Fremont? Even if that’s off a bit, it’s far from rare. The first off the line had 100001 on the vin. So your last 6 digits minus 100,000 is where yours was on the line. __________________ Please help my sister in law with her battle with cancer https://gofund.me/902f6fce Project "C10 Fever" (68 factory black 396 swb) Project "Little Sister" (70 c10 blue original paint refresh) Project "Blue Bomb" (70 c30 blue original paint refresh) SOLD Project "Vitamin C" (71 c10 orange original paint refresh) SOLD

08-12-2023, 02:37 PM	#5
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Using build plant as a discriminator of rarity seems a little odd to me(?) In other words, a truck can be rare based on quantity built (in general) or rarity of combined options, etc - not necessarily quantity built in a specific plant. That's kinda like saying a truck is really, really rare because it was built in Fremont, in February (on a Tuesday, by Bill...)

08-12-2023, 02:48 PM	#6
68Gold/white Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ark City, Kansas Posts: 3,405	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Now the question might be: how many are left???

08-12-2023, 03:13 PM	#7
Getter-Done Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: TN. Posts: 8,404	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Here is some info from Jeff At Outintheshop Link: http://outintheshop.com/prodnum.html 1968 2WD CE10734 Fleet side bed 6.5ft Price =2468 WEIGHT=3467 PROD.TOTAL= 46483 1968 4WD KE10734 Fleet side bed 6.5ft Price =3022 WEIGHT=3851 PROD.TOTAL= 1449 __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 84 Chevy K-20 63 Impala (my high school car) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...Crew Cab Build

08-12-2023, 10:17 PM	#8
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Back then everyone wanted long beds. Campers were very popular. Most of them fit in a long bed pickup. The used short beds had poor resale value. Now there are more short bed pickups out there then Chevy ever built. George

08-12-2023, 10:56 PM	#9
1970 CST Short Wide Senior Moment Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pittsburg Ca Posts: 4,185	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? My Truck is a 70 and was from the Fremont Plant. Used to go by that plant back in the 70s on our way to Fremont Drag Strip Attached Images __________________ 1970 CST LS 1 6 speed Ford 9 inch Detroit Tru Track, Dakota Didgital, Vintage Air, QA1 Coil Overs Front & Rear Lots of FUN 2013 GMC PU, Oldest Son 71 GMC LWB. QA1 Suspension, Angry SB. Youngest Son 2019 GMC Diesil Dually. Youngest Son 2017 Toyota SUV Daughters car 2018 Traverse , Wife’s Ride Pittsburg Ca 94565

08-13-2023, 06:49 PM	#13
Jason kitchens Registered User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: concord Posts: 46	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? No it's California

08-13-2023, 11:34 PM	#14
1970 CST Short Wide Senior Moment Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pittsburg Ca Posts: 4,185	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? It’s spelled Pittsburg, No H. I grew up in Concord Ca and moved to Pittsburg Ca in 1988 __________________ 1970 CST LS 1 6 speed Ford 9 inch Detroit Tru Track, Dakota Didgital, Vintage Air, QA1 Coil Overs Front & Rear Lots of FUN 2013 GMC PU, Oldest Son 71 GMC LWB. QA1 Suspension, Angry SB. Youngest Son 2019 GMC Diesil Dually. Youngest Son 2017 Toyota SUV Daughters car 2018 Traverse , Wife’s Ride Pittsburg Ca 94565

08-14-2023, 07:40 AM	#15
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? I think more short Fleetsides would have been built than in some others due to regional demand. For example, Baltimore. California/Southwest region and the Southeast region had the most shortbeds __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

08-15-2023, 06:09 PM	#16
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,320	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? Theres vin thread that shows Fremont punched out approx. 9k trucks per month, spring 1972, for example. Don't know if they built a gmc, but if they did say a 2wd swb, yeah that would be rare. Rare doesn't mean desirable. Good question above, how many are left, 2%???? __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025

08-16-2023, 05:56 PM	#20
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: How rare is a 1968 fleet side short bed from California? I used to go to the Fremont Dragstrip too. A lot! __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul



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