Kinda funny, a guy told me last weekend at a car show (his opinion ), "The only people that think a 5 window hydra-matic's are special are people who own them" I was offended at first, but then i laughed.
"Special is as special does"?
"Special is in the eyes of the beholder"?
"Who cares if it is special to someone else - it's special to me"?
Back in the 60s & 70s, when I first drove Advance-Design trucks, my only experience was in 3-window cabs (these cheaper models were common - I never saw a 5-window cab in the rural/farming areas of VA - I did not know they existed - my uncle sold Chevies to farmers).
Thirty years later, when I first rode in 5-window cabs, I immediately realized how superior there are in terms of safety and "driving pleasure". If someone has a choice of a 5-window cab vs a 3-window cab (let's say in the same condition, at the same price), I think they would choose the 5-window (perhaps because it is "special"; perhaps because it is more valuable).
Regarding the Hydra-Matic being "special", there is no question that it was (and is) a cast-iron, 4-speed, direct-drive (I think that is what it can be called called) automatic transmission :
- the first automatic transmission used in a domestic Chevrolet truck;
- it weighs about as much as the engine;
- it was/is surprisingly reliable;
- it was so reliable and efficient that it was (supposedly) used in race cars (in the day);
- it is/was relatively uncommon; and,
- it is a conversation piece of historical interest (look at some of the informative posts above)
Regardless of all the above BS about what is rare and what is special, what difference does it make in your "testing of the waters"? An "authentic" restoration vs a "modification" restoration is a personal choice which is usually based on personal factors.
If you are going to restore for your own long-term use and long-term ownership you might go in one direction - do what YOU like; if you want to restore it to turn a profit, good luck (no matter what you decide to do).
