Guys, I'm new here, having just found your forums. A friend of mine found a very odd truck, and I'm hoping some of you can help me figure out WHAT this thing is. Here goes. This looks to be a 52 or 53 GMC, either 3/4 ton, or single wheel 1 ton. It is four wheel drive, and the running gear looks to be very original looking. I'm assuming it to be a NAPCO, or Coleman conversion?? Here is where the wierd starts. This thing has a full crew cab, with a rear seat, but only two doors. It has bucket front seats, that tilt forward for rear access. These seats look to be period correct, for a GM truck. It has a one piece cardboard headliner that also looks period correct, and full rubber floormats that look correct. The rear side windows are split, and slide for and aft, like an early International Scout. While you scratch your head about this, it just gets more strange. This thing has TWO truck type four speed transmissions, with a short (maybe 8 inch) drive shaft between them. The rearmost lever bends forward and comes through the floor just to the right and rear of the forward one, both having stock looking boots and knobs. It has two levers for the transfer case, like an old Jeep. Now back to the body...it has a pretty much standard looking 6 foot bed, with a spare tire relief in the left fender. The distance from the rear of the cab, to the fender on the bed, is maybe 6 to 8 inches less than standard, so there is a slight relief in the rear of the cab to clear the spare tire. OR it may be stock dimension, but designed for a taller tire?? Again, this looks factory as hell. I'm not done yet.... The cab and bed appear to sit perhaps 8 inches higher on the chassis, than it would on a normal pickup, but the front fenders do not. There are seperate extension pieces that bolt onto the bottom edge of the hood, and extend downward to meet the fenders. These also bolt to the fenders, making the front end one piece, in effect. The whole unit tilts forward, like a semi tractor. There is a handle on the front end of the hood, to pull to tilt it. There are two long springs connected from the hood to the firewall, by cables, again, like a semi hood. The radiator sits in a free standing core support, attached to the front frame crossmember. None of these pieces are kludged, or hand fabbed. Everything looks factory stamped, flanged, and bolted together. The only thing non factory stock appearing on the whole truck, is the engine. It is a newer Chevy six, either a 230 or 250. Oh, I almost forgot, the truck has power steering... The old type that uses the ram on the tie rod. I know nothing about GM stuff, but I know Ford used this type steering as far back as 1952, in the Lincolns. Folks, I am dumdfounded as to WHAT this thing is....I can believe that some of the running gear is non-stock, but the sheet metal on this thing is no doubt some kind of factory conversion. The steel stampings and interior pieces are clear proof that this wasn't a one off custom. Any help identifying this oddball machine would be much appreciated. I doubt it has any real value, but it is so interesting that my friend is beside himself wanting to restore it to stock. Thanks!
