1955 Second Series GMC Stepside

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	Owned by Charlie Ackerman "Old Trucker" Bolter # 25117 Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

07 March 2011
# 2876

From Charlie :

When I purchased this old truck in Tennessee, way back in September of 1993, it was a basket case. It had been stripped and stored outside. The result of being left uncovered, it had surface rust inside and out from top to bottom.

My friend went with me to help trailer it home. On the return trip, my friend ended up rear-ending a tractor trailer and totaled my pickup. That was the beginning of the restoration of my 1955.2 GMC Stepside.

The truck is painted in original 1955 GMC colors -- Aqua Blue, Dover White -- and is still wearing its original chrome, which has been re-plated.

The drivetrain has been upgraded with a Chevy 350 V8, 700 R-4 transmission, and power disc brakes.

We applied 14 coats of Spar finish on the bed boards (stained ebony), and they are held in place with stainless runner strips and hardware.

For the interior, I added air conditioning, heat, an AM/FM reproduction radio complete with CD changer, and a custom '50s style seat cover with matching door panels.

To complete the desired look, she is sitting on Chevy Blazer wheels, and is sporting custom GMC decals.

Pictures are courtesy of "Fluent Photography".  Special thanks to "Franklin Body and Repair" for the paint, Keith Ward for the body work, and Keith Proctor for help with the wiring.

The truck had been a work in progress from 1993 to 2008, when I took it to its first show at Florham Park, New Jersey. It has been a long, but rewarding journey, as I now have the truck that I always wanted.


Thanks,

Charlie Ackerman
"Old trucker"



Charlie also has a 1952 GMC Model 102 in the Stovebolt Gallery, another great truck with a great story. ~ Editor

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