Ultra rare collectible square body trucks?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
6,076
Reaction score
7,743
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
And tastes vary from person to person. I personally prefer crank windows, some don’t.

Even with old cars...

Take a 60s Camaro—I wouldn’t care about all the super rare options or numbers matching because I like it for the body and that doesn’t change. So as long as the outside looks period correct, I’d prefer modern suspension, brakes, trans, reliability, safety equipment, etc.

I think it’s cool when something is an original survivor, but would never go out of my way to pay 5-10x what I can get a clean roller for.
 

skysurfer

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Posts
2,664
Reaction score
2,104
Location
west coast
First Name
John
Truck Year
1989 Suburban
Truck Model
V2500
Engine Size
5.7/TH400/NP241C
And tastes vary from person to person. I personally prefer crank windows, some don’t.

I have crank windows and power locks. It’s funny how often passengers sit there hitting the locks up and down trying to adjust the window. I always say my burb has the rare “Armstrong windows option.” There were some young German tourists I was chauffeuring around that had never seen window cranks, they all had to try them like some novelty thing.
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
Also can't forget about the ext. Cab squares. I've seen one on the local CL along with one long step side.

I wouldn't really include the extended cabs with factory options, as they were converted by a couple of different companies. Not sure if it was available to all dealers, or just a few dealers that offered them. Much like the Ford or Dodge trucks that were converted to suburban type vehicles, more a custom conversion than a rare factory truck.
 

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,920
Reaction score
25,240
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
So i agree with Crispy's list above me, and I'd add the Big 10 because you could get a 1/2 ton shortbed with a factory big block.
That makes my big ten sound boring... A long box sbc lol. Although the factory non emissions was a huge plus!
 

Old77

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,450
Reaction score
9,401
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
And tastes vary from person to person. I personally prefer crank windows, some don’t.

Even with old cars...

Take a 60s Camaro—I wouldn’t care about all the super rare options or numbers matching because I like it for the body and that doesn’t change. So as long as the outside looks period correct, I’d prefer modern suspension, brakes, trans, reliability, safety equipment, etc.

I think it’s cool when something is an original survivor, but would never go out of my way to pay 5-10x what I can get a clean roller for.
I'm with you. I prefer crank windows, too. I have them in my '77 but power windows in my dually. Let me tell you, restoring those doors in the dually is a complete PITA with having to change those window motors!!! If it was a crank window truck I probably could just get by with replacing the rubber and felts and not have to jack with the regulator but NOOOOOOOOOOO....the 28 year old window motors are weak so gotta replace those, too. Power windows can kiss my ass! LOL
 

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,863
Reaction score
9,105
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
In Eastern NC I've never seen a crew cab square or a long bed stepper.

We built millions of those.

Crew cabs were primarily commercial vehicles for railroads or power companies.

Almost all of the export trucks to the Middle East (Kuwait or Saudi Arabia) were long bed stepside GMCs.

K
 

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,920
Reaction score
25,240
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
I'm with you. I prefer crank windows, too. I have them in my '77 but power windows in my dually. Let me tell you, restoring those doors in the dually is a complete PITA with having to change those window motors!!! If it was a crank window truck I probably could just get by with replacing the rubber and felts and not have to jack with the regulator but NOOOOOOOOOOO....the 28 year old window motors are weak so gotta replace those, too. Power windows can kiss my ass! LOL
The early 90s gmts were no better in that department!
 

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,920
Reaction score
25,240
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
We built millions of those.

Crew cabs were primarily commercial vehicles for railroads or power companies.

Almost all of the export trucks to the Middle East (Quwait or Saudi Arabia) were long bed stepside GMCs.

K
Why were all the long steppers shipped away?
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
We built millions of those.

Crew cabs were primarily commercial vehicles for railroads or power companies.

Almost all of the export trucks to the Middle East (Quwait or Saudi Arabia) were long bed stepside GMCs.

K


Any idea why the long step was so popular over there?
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
11,221
Reaction score
17,061
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
Any idea why the long step was so popular over there?

It's easier to stand on the platform between the cab and rear fender when you have a bed full of bombs and rocket launchers and guns. Easy reach in the bed while you fire away at the infidels.
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
It's easier to stand on the platform between the cab and rear fender when you have a bed full of bombs and rocket launchers and guns. Easy reach in the bed while you fire away at the infidels.
Lol. Probably very true.
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
6,076
Reaction score
7,743
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
The Saudis like squares. Jihadis prefer the Toyota Hilux and Nissan Hardbody.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Before squares was there not a '69 Sport package where the truck had bucket seats, 396 and 4 speed? Might have come in two tone also.
 

82sbshortbed

Fuckemall!!
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Posts
15,773
Reaction score
52,944
Location
SE Texas
First Name
Doug
Truck Year
1982, 1984
Truck Model
1500 shortbed, 1500 longbed
Engine Size
454, 305
I think since they made so many they'll not be rare for a ling time. I mean **** they're already 40 plus years old and you can still find one relatively easy now. About 2 to 3 newbies post I just bought my first square body truck every week. There's such a love and big following for these squares that I don't know if they'll ever be rare in our lifetime. Parts are readily available for them too. Because there's such a love and demand for them. You total it and the insurance company pays very little I'm sure unless you come to agreed value on it. Guess you'd have to ask gas monkey when they wrecked that one the other day. Bet he lost his ass on it.

Like some have said above GM built them as trucks to do work with. That's why they made so many and why I think they won't be labeled as rare for a very long time. You see them every day so that's proof in of itself. I agree with the packages being rare tho. Because those packages numbers were much lower. But, I did see a pic of a rare one today with a side scoop on it. Lol
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,067
Posts
948,715
Members
36,134
Latest member
saintjunior33
Top