Many vintage American truck enthusiasts regard the 1968 GMC C1500 short-bed fender-side as a ready for work pickup truck with an earnest countenance. About three years ago, Surf City USA resident, Chris Van Schyndel, was surfing around on Craigslist. Wearing a flat black, rattle can paint scheme, Chris saw a GMC fender-side that really seemed to be trying to hide its rugged good looks.
Above: A 350 GM V8 backed by a TH400 automatic transmission powers the GMC hauler just fine.
Despite those nasty Craigslist photos of the C1500, Chris somehow saw the Jimmy's potential. So, he wrested away the suede black truck from the pickup's then caretaker and set out on restoring the GMC.
Above: The second-row seat from a Chevy Suburban provided a comfortable bench seat for the single cab GMC. The steering wheel came from a later model GMC.
The truck's bed floor contained a bounty of new parts that were included in the pickup's purchase. New front fenders, a new tailgate, rocker panels, a C-notch kit, a four-row radiator, new inner fenders, and a Holley four-barrel carb - it's amazing what an old 6.5-foot short-bed, fender-side will hold - oily, flat black covered plywood bed floor notwithstanding.
Since many of these boxes said OER and Classic Industries on the cardboard, Chris knew that he was buying a bargain GMC with plenty of potential. If he performed most of the sweat equity, he might really have something nice, when he was done.
The purchase even included new wheels and tires, which weren't to his taste. He sold them and replaced the rolling stock with Toyo Radials and US Mags, 17x8's, that are shod with 225/65/17's in the front and 275/55/17's in the rear.
Chris removed four layers of flat black paint on the truck's exterior, before deinstalling the bed. He cleaned up the frame, before welding in the new c-notch kit, and repainting the frame rails. He removed some leaf springs in the back and changed the shackles. With new shocks in the front, the fender-side now has a two-inch lower ride height than stock.
Before bringing the GMC to the painter, Chris welded closed the bed post holes, replaced the front cab mounts, and the cab's rocker panels. Eric Ockerman then performed the finish bodywork, paint-prep, and laid down several coats of Aventurine Green Metallic, as well as the clear coats.
Once the new front windshield, weatherstrip, rear windshield, and new seals all the way around for the cab went into place, Chris just had to replace the grill light bezels and front bumper with some bright and brilliant chrome pieces from who else? You guessed it - Classic Industries. Oh, and of course, there's now no oily black plywood comprising the GMC's bed floor. Polished stainless-steel stringers and oak bed strips are now a much better home for hauling whatever needs to be carried, so long as no scratches or oily residue occur in the conveyance of any cargo in Chris' trusty '68 GMC fender-side!
Classic Industries Sells GM Truck Parts
Regardless of whether you're renewing a short bed fender-side GMC or Chevrolet pickup, it's a fleetside long bed, or any other sort of configuration, Classic Industries has a great supply of GM pickup components. GM truck owners can shop online for Chevrolet pickups here. Your online shopping for GMC is also too easy and fun.
GM truck owners can supplement the online shopping experience by ordering a free printed Chevrolet/GMC Truck Parts and Accessories Catalog by clicking on the button below.
Above: 1968 GMC C1500 fleetside (photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions): Chevrolet/GMC Truck Restoration: Your Ultimate Parts Guide
