For Fred Rodriguez of Long Beach, California, this 1955 GMC 100 Series ½-ton pickup is more than just a classic truck - it’s the return of a piece of his past.
Fred owned a similar GMC when he was younger, but like many early projects, it eventually slipped away. What followed was a 15-year search to find another one that captured the same feeling. That search finally came to an end in Fresno, when an online listing caught his attention. Knowing opportunities like this don’t come around often, Fred hooked up a trailer and made the trip.
Original Pontiac V8 Installed in the 1955 GMC
Above and below: The before-and-after photos of the original 287ci Pontiac Strato-Streak V8 and four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission tell the story. GMC famously drew from the GM parts bin in this era, using Pontiac and Oldsmobile V8s in their trucks; Chevrolet engines didn’t show up in GMCs until the mid-1960s. Pontiac’s Strato-Streak was the division’s first modern overhead-valve V8, introduced in 1955 with jet-age styling and a name inspired by the stratosphere. Displacing 287 cubic inches and offered in a range of power levels from roughly 180 to over 300 horsepower through 1957, it laid the foundation for Pontiac’s later legendary V8 family.
When he arrived, the truck made quite the first impression. The seller fired it up, leaned into the character of the build by blasting the train horns, and Fred soon found himself driving the smoky, oil-scented GMC onto the trailer. It wasn’t perfect—but it was the right truck. A deal was made, and the journey home marked the beginning of a full-scale rebuild.
Above and below: The before restoration and after renew of this GMC are also equally dramatic - from a worn out Fresno found farm truck to a Long Beach looker. What a transformation!
Back in Long Beach, Fred wasted no time. The GMC was torn down to the frame, with the engine and transmission sent out for a complete rebuild. With the drivetrain handled, attention turned to the body. Rust repair and metal work followed, along with careful body preparation to ensure the truck would be ready for paint the right way.
Once the body was finished, the truck headed out for paint while the wiring was sent off for a full electrical refresh. When the freshly rebuilt engine and transmission returned, they were reinstalled, and the GMC was briefly back on the road - just long enough to confirm everything was dialed in before final paint.
After the painter laid down the finished color, the truck moved on to the interior shop, where the seat and visors were restored to match the truck’s renewed exterior and mechanicals. The result is a clean, period-correct interior that complements the rugged simplicity GMC trucks were known for in the mid-1950s.
The 1955 GMC 100 Series sits at the crossroads of GM truck history—still rooted in Advance Design toughness yet refined just before the arrival of the Task Force era. Built to work, built to last, and built with unmistakable style, these trucks continue to resonate with enthusiasts today.
Above: Vic Garibay painted the GMC a custom mint hue with a sand beige roof using Matrix brand automotive paint. The owner purchased the windshield and mirrors from Classic Industries. Classic also provided the new fuel tank, the lower door skins, and the cab's floor pan.
Above: When Vicente Diaz, one of Classic Industries' ace photographers, shot photos of Mr. Rodriguez's GMC, the bed floor wasn't installed. The owner kindly supplied the above photo.
Above: Boyd Coddington five-spoke, 18x8-inch wheels in the rear and 18x7-inch wheels in the front are shod with Lionhart radial tires. There are CPP front disc brakes now, fed brake fluid with stainless steel brake lines at the four wheels. A CPP brake booster, Monroe shocks (changed from leaf springs to coilovers and shocks), and Classic Performance Products front suspension and Mustang II power rack and pinion steering components enhanced the GMC's chassis significantly.
For Fred Rodriguez, this GMC represents patience, persistence, and the satisfaction of finally bringing a long-lost truck back into his life. After 15 years of searching and a ground-up rebuild, this ’55 GMC isn’t just back on the road—it’s back where it belongs.
Classic Industries Sells GMC Pickup Parts Aplenty
Whether you like to perform all of your GMC shopping online, or from the Classic Industries' Chevrolet/GMC Truck Parts and Accessories Catalog, CI has you covered. If you're one of the very few GMC owners, who doesn't have a GM Truck Catalog yet, simply click the button below, fill out the information, and we'll send a printed catalog to your address.
Classic Industries Truck Articles Archives
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