Before the C and K Series of half- to one-ton pickup trucks was introduced in 1960, Chevrolet and GMC workhorses were extremely simple machines. This 1952 GMC 100 pickup truck is one of them and, thanks to a nut-and-bolt restoration, it's one of the most original examples we have ever seen this part of a US dealer's showroom floor.
If you think about it, 2015 is the best year ever in terms of choice when it comes to pickup trucks. While the compact-size truck segment isn't as healthy as before, the full-size genre is kicking it stronger than ever. Take the Ford F-150 as a prime example, with its trick aluminum body shell and the availability of a force-fed EcoBoost V6 tower-of-power.
From $26,030 upwards, the sky is the limit in terms of powertrain, cabin, interior, and exterior options. Heck, the F-150 Limited model tops $60k and comes with real eucalyptus wood trim, if that kind of thing floats your boat. But this old school GMC 100 from 1952 is totally different from the trucks of 2015.
Offered for a bottom line price of $48,000 by RK Motors Charlotte, the frame-off restoration this GMC has received truly enchants the eye. Every little detail has been addressed, turning a rusty bucket of bolts into what you can admire in the video and photo gallery below. Curious what you are getting for the $48k price?
As a starting point, you get 503 miles (810 km) on the odometer, courtesy of a frame-off restoration performed over the course of 4 years. The original 228 cubic inch (3.7-liter) inline-6 motor and 3-speed stick shift have been addressed as well. The retro Narva Green paint job with the correct gold pinstripe are complemented by a Yellow Pine bed, as well as a set of 16-inch steel wheels with period hubcaps.
The 12-volt Delco-Remy starter generator and Juliano's 3-point seat belts are some of the few modern amenities the owner enhanced this old-timer truck with. Blame nostalgia or blame the design virtues of the 1950s, but one thing is certain – if staying classy is what you're looking for in a truck, this is your truck.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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