Ideally I wanted a complete running driving truck with zero or hardly any rust at all and a presentable useable paint job, the more original the better. Having worked for a good spell in a restoration shop and dealt with and replaced plenty of rusty sheet metal I fully understand the money, time, and frustration saved by starting with as solid a vehicle as you can possibly find and then afford (in that order).
What sort of truck?
Well it had to be 1948-1953, I don't care as much for the 54. Had to be a 1 ton, ideally a pickup bed. However a dually or flat bed would work and I'd swap on my old 52 Chevy bed.
GMC was first choice because I like the looks, I've never had one, and they have slightly better engines and a few other things. Chevy would also be a fine option.
Model year preferences?
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/i...ign/Advance%20Design%20Spotting%20Guide/First choice 1949 or 50 because of improved rear cab mounts, in cab fuel tank, and no vent windows. Personal preference on the windows but I think the later style cab mounts are a smart choice for the life of the cab, and in cab fuel tank is nice and convenient place to put one.
Second choice 1948, again no vent windows. later cab mounts can be added reasonably easy, outside fuel tank is not terrible.
Third choice 1952, has vent windows but also the better push button door handles. 1951 hood emblems look better than.. 1953 which does have push button door handles.
Really any of the others would be fine for lack of a 49 or 50.
How and were to search?
Posted a wanted ad here on the Stovebolt forum as well as on the
www.oldgmctrucks.com forum.
Searched ebay for both GMC and Chevrolet narrowed by years 48-53.
Searched all of craigslist with
www.adhuntr.com with the search terms:
GMC 1948 OR 1949 OR 1950 OR 1951 OR 1952 OR 1953 OR 48 OR 49.... and so on. Using "OR" between terms lets it return results for GMC and all the included years at once. This avoids making lots of single searches for every year, and yet a different search for "1948" and "48". Also weeds out duplicate results had it been lots of single searches. Similar broad searches were made for Chevy, Chevrolet, 3800, 250 and so on.
This process after a few weeks and months also gives some idea what the trucks are selling for and what a fair asking price is.
In general I found ebay trucks to be priced pretty high, and quite hard to judge value without seeing the truck in person. My best chance on ebay was for an interesting truck to not sell so I could later inspect it in person, or do so before the auction ended if close by. I did not look at any ebay trucks in person though I was first in line and ready to travel to see one in IL had the high bidder backed out, which he didn't.
The craigslist leads were more fruitful and provided several trucks to look at.
That story and the 5,700 mile roadtrip in the next post.
Grigg
