1959 GMC 100 Stepside Pickup RARE Big Back Window, 4 spd Hydramatic

1959 GMC 100 Deluxe Stepside Description

1959 GMC 100 Truck, Deluxe, period correct 336 cu in v-8 (see below), numbers matching 4-spd hydramatic automatic transmission, manual steering, manual drum brakes. Decent quality restoration. Purchased at West Coast Exotic Car Auction in Jan 21, 2018.
History on Vehicle: Built in Oakland, California. Told that it was a long term project for Father/Son (10 yrs), then spent life up til 2018 in Calgary Canada. Truck was advertised as all original numbers. Data is hard to find, but Ive listed the info below so a buyer can determine their own decision

• Serial # 101 8 CS 1101A- breaks down as model/series 100, 8 cylinder, Oakland California, Production number 1101 (started at 1000)
• Engine block casting is 530046- which is a 1959 Pontiac V-8, with serial # 3361 5120; the 336 confirms it is the 336 cu in block that it would've been born with. The 336 ci is a Pontiac 370 stroke and bored differently for GMC applications in 1958, 1959
• Intake Manifold casting # 528577, which is from a 1958 Pontiac 370 (240/255 hp), rochester 2 bbl. The truck would've come with a Stromberg 1bbl carb- so I suspect intake was changed to a period correct one to accept a Rochester carb. The carb on it is a 1972 Rochester - which I professionally rebuilt (Chris's Carb shop- best in nation) and added an electric choke while doing it.
• Head casting numbers appear to be 528511 (very hard to decipher)- those casting numbers would be from a 1958, pontiac 370 ci.
• Transmission does appear to be 100% original

My conclusion is that the longblock is very likely the original motor. I would guesstimate that the heads and intake were changed during the restoration to accomodate the rochester carb. The intake and heads are period correct. However, I cant find any data to suggest a rochester coulda been on it - the current carb is obviously not correct being date coded 1972, but overall I do believe it to be fairly original. When cleaning engine up, it had a few coats of black, a darker navy blue, and the original paint appeared to be the GMC red/orange that I sprayed it when detailing bay.

Work Since I've purchased: new fuel cell with sender and filler hoses, filler pipe (newer electric pump was already present on frame rail) complete rebuild of heater box (over $650) including new heater core, therm static valve, blower, cage/boxes cables, and resistor switch plus rebuild hot/cold pot metal lever instrument controls, new aluminum radiator with flush and thermostat, new hi voltage petronix ignition (points replacement) and flamethrower external coil with new spark plugs, wires, cap/rotor, rebuilt rochester 2bbl carb with electric choke add, engine detail, fresh oil and canister filter change. Has orig style wet oil bath air cleaner and orig canister type oil filter. Battery is newer. Engine compartment looks clean and mostly original appearance.
The trucks engine runs and idles extremely well- no smoke or knocks or pinging (some evidence of oil leaks prior to de-greasing and painting but normal type wear. Transmission leaks some drops on floor, I haven't investigated but I assume rear seal, and it shifts pretty hard from 1st-2nd. Steering linkage (has old divorce style bar going to passenger side) needs some freshening. Wiring is old and alot of original appearing harness- I installed a new headlight switch and cleaned up some of the wiring going to it and the heater box- to take to next level, id recommend to replace entirety of harness with new complete aftermarket and perhaps update alternator. Speedo cable has annoying clicking noise- I dont think odometer is accurate- its exempt at this age anyway. Tires have good tread but are dated with some dry cracks in tread. Turn signal collar needs work. Brake lights, headlights, brights, etc work- even the dome light works. This is a manual 4 drum brakes and manual steering truck, e brake works fine. Its not a blast to drive unless you just want to drive 25-45 mph to the grocery or shows- runs fine just alot of work with manual brakes and steering. There is no radio- has a factory radio delete bezel plate- however it has what appears to be a factory antenna on passenger fender- so Id say it had one originally, just deleted in restoration.
Id rate the overall paint quality as a 8 on a 10 scale. No rust anywhere in this truck and no apparent filler. Bed looks brand new and has nice sprayed in black bedliner and nice wood floors with new strip trim. Cab fenders, hood, and doors are very nice and appear like the could be orig. They did choose to add a 6-8" stoneguard like technique in the paint on the bottom painted areas of the cab/doors- was pretty popular trend in the mid to late 90s to do that- doesnt appear to be hiding anything, but it looks a little shotty in the door steps area/sill area. Sills have a chevy embossed add on step-tread plate- they look nice so I left them. Glass is all excellent and newer seals, some glass looks new. some common wind noise when driving. Frame is very solid- repainted rattle can it appears and its flaking off in several areas, but overall clean and very solid. All brightwork is nice, most of it looks brand new LMC type products, with a few of the V8 and GMC badging as original with minor pitting, but the bumpers grill and headlight buckets are gorgeous. Interior is beautiful. Bench appears new. Dash was painted during restore. When I replaced fuel cell, I inspected floors- they look new and unrestored- very solid original sheet metal. Gauges are original and in need of restore- functionality is not very good, old electric system including in the motor compartment so gauges jump around a little, some of the gauge lights work and dim correctly about 75% of them. gas gauge bounces around- new sender so prob wiring.

Candidly, this truck needed alot of fine tuning after I got it home- and I already had more than $28k in it......so I stored it in my climate controlled facility until I had time to get some things "right", to present it for sale. I'm listing this for a fair price. Im going to lose ALOT of $ on it, as I have several more thousand in it now, but it is what it is, you cant sell it for what you have in it, so Im selling it for a reasonable market value. These 59 Trucks, especially big back window step sides are very sought after and are bringing bigger dollars.
Overall, very cool old truck thats had alot of love & money put into it- some of the previous work was "weekend garage" type worker. This would be a perfect candidate for a pro-touring frame swap/LS swap or to drive as it is to local shows and Sunday Miss Daisy type driving while you tinker with it and fix a few things. Ive driven it 50 miles or so, since I completed the work. It runs and idles excellent, good power, perfect engine temps with no smoking or drivetrain noise, brakes while manual still function fine, great heat, fires right up and turns off with no dieseling, kinda veers a little around as its old suspension and original steering and older tires, but fine to drive around town. Wouldnt take alot of work to make into a show stopper! Happy to answer any questions and Im happy to help coordinate with your shipper or I could deliver within a few hundred miles of home which is Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio area. I maintain a used car dealers license in Ohio- its just a hobby; handful of cars a year. Title is Ohio and lien free.