1950 GMC 5-Window Pickup

Description

With patina being all the rage today, taking something that looks old and filling it with fresh mechanicals is an awesome way to have your cake and eat it, too. The bodywork on this 1950 GMC 5-Window pickup looks like it's been working the back 40 for decades, but the slammed stance, updated running gear, and comfortable interior all suggest that it's been working out in its spare time.

The bodywork is patina, which is to say, it was treated to a shiny coat of paint at some point, but the goal was to make it look a little rough around the edges on purpose, and then it was all covered in clear-coat. Sure, it has some natural bumps and bruises as well, but with those signs of character and the apropos Rust-Eze decals channeling it's inner Mater Tow Truck, can you deny that the look just makes you smile? The combination of gray paint, chips and scratches, and bare red steel gives it a look of great age, and if this one was out in a field with the weeds growing around it, it wouldn't look out of place. But that isn't to say that it looks bad, because we love the honest curb-appeal and the faux fades in the finish add to the well-worn, well-loved attitude. Looking closely, you'll see that the paint hides nothing, but the panel gaps are good, meaning someone spent some time intentionally making it look this way, and nothing has been shaved, trimmed, or altered. Instead, you get a look that will draw a crowd better than any restoration and a no worries finish that means this truck can go anywhere, any time without a second thought. Other cool bits include the blacked-out grille and front bumper, blinding Halo projector headlights, a black cap on the cabin, the roll-pan and bumper delete out back, and that raised floor-bed that's been cleverly finished with what looks like weather-proof decking materials. They definitely nailed the look.

The comfortable yet basic interior has been nicely restored but not excessively modified, adding function without losing all that's great about these trucks. The original bench seat is wrapped in comfortable brown vinyl and the exposed tubular frame of the seat gives it a function-over-form look that we love. The blacked-out dashboard includes aftermarket Shark gauges ahead of the driver, a trio of auxiliary units just below, and some work (and some don't) to keep an eye on the warmed-over 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood. There's a modern Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX radio in the dash, right where the original would have lived, so no cutting or modifying was required there, and a late-model GMC steering wheel was added along with a tilt wheel. Sure, it's not all pretty, but you can use this one every day and not get tired, which is surely the sign of quality workmanship.

Power comes via a 5.7L 350 V8 small block, and just like the rest of the truck, it's been presented in a cool, unique way that will make it stand out from the crowd. Plus, the added V8 power makes this pickup more than just interesting to look at, and it makes enough torque to feel right in the vintage pickup. Fitted with an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and matching Edelbrock intake, along with a few vintage dress-up parts, it looks right under the hood; not too flashy, but just enough to let you know someone was paying attention. A big aluminum radiator keeps it cool and a set of long-tube headers dump into a custom dual exhaust system with throaty Magnaflow mufflers. Shifts are smooth and this puppy is a highway cruiser with the help of the 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission below, and it spins a heavy-duty 10-bolt rear end that's always up to the task. The ride quality is really great thanks to upgrades galore, including the independent A-arm set-up in the front with power steering, power 4-wheel discs at the corners, and upgraded shocks throughout. It's got an awesome raked stance on fat, staggered radials, and those red steel wheels with simple hubcaps are the right old school look.

An incredible illusion or just an incredible truck? How about both? If you want to attract attention, forget bright red paint and dainty interiors, this patina-covered pickup is the hot ticket. Call today!