The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts GMC LCF tandem

I spotted a GMC 550 low cab forward by the roadside. I only had a few seconds to look at it ( my wife was in the car). It had task force type cab with a single headlight on each side so I guess it would have been a '56 or '57. It did have a tandem rear with what looked to be ten or twelve bolt wheels. I couldn't see if it had air brakes, couldn't check for engine or tranny. It was obviously set up for heavy work, was painted yellow and had what was probably an old county sign on the side. Anyone care to speculate on what I saw and what the potential is?

Matthew,

The GMC 550 is rated at 26,000 GVW and 50,000 GVCW. All Task Force 550's had single head lights. To the best of my knowledge they had the 370 gas engines with either a 5-speed or Allison automatic trans. The 10 stud wheels were an option as was Air Brakes. My info doesn't show tandem axles as being an option, someone else will need to weigh in on that...are you sure it wasn't a Tag Axle?

Hope this helps,

Mike B

It could have been a tag axle but I didn't have time to look closely. It did have a heavy leaf spring between the two axles which made me think it was a tandem at first glance. It was on a longer chassis too, so it was not a tractor but would have been a body loaded truck. The bed had been removed. It is in Olton, Texas, 24 miles west of Plainview if anyone is interested.

If you ever get back up there, possibly you can take a closer look at it. My first truck was a 550 GMC and I am in the process of rebuilding one, but I can always use parts. The 550 came with a 371 Olds engine which GMC called a 370.I used to haul grain out of Olton with the old 550 back in the 60's. I have a good engine, but I could always use some parts. I am down in Fredericksburg which is about 400 miles from Olton. The 550 was built from 55 through 59 with single headlights.

I used to live in Mason. There were a couple of AD type GMC 2 ton trucks on a ranch off Red Lane north of Streeter, not too far from you. Might have to drive a few country roads to find them. Also Poston Iron works just west of Mason has a GMC winch truck sitting on his yard. It may be a 4X4. I'm not sure if he would part with it however. Hope y'all get some rain.

I heard about the GMCs near Streeter several years ago and spent a Sunday afternoon looking for them. I never did find them. A lot of 50's GM trucks came through Fredericksburg last year that had been crushed and were going for scrap in SA when scrap iron got so high. We are the Fina distributors here and a lot of them stopped at our place out on the SA highway because it is the nearest thing to a truck stop around.