Rare 60-61 GM Stainless Paint Divider Trim History Wanted

[par4tom]

Here's the story...

About a year and a half ago, I started a restoration project for my dad's 1961 Chevy C/10 Apache.

Somewhere along the way, I heard about this stainless paint divider trim. Information was scarce.

I did see one come up on ebay for about $1000 with the side sails, but I didn't want the side sails just the wrap around trim.

Anyway, I dug up a forum from about 8 or 9 years ago, and there was a gentleman in Colorado who had a couple of different sets in stock...one was NOS! I emailed him on a lark and he happened to have a NOS set. Lucky me.

Anyway, We struck up a deal and now I am the proud owner of what appears to be a very rare part. I didn't realize these were that hard to find.

I thought I would post some pictures of this trim both from when I bought the pieces, and as soon as I get the truck back from paint and get them installed.

Can anyone tell me the history of these pieces as they originally came from the factory? It looks like they may have been for just the 1960 GMC? Does anyone know more about this? Was it a factory option or just an accessory you could buy from the dealer?

Thanks for the help gentleman...
Tom

[bonehead]

Wow, Never saw one of those. Sorry I'm no help.

[benwah]

My guess it would be GMC. Nice score!

[Brad54]

I know on the Chevy Deluxe Cabs, with the chrome/stainless sail panels, the bottom of that sail panel wraps around the cab and ends.
On the '60-'61 Deluxe Cabs, there is a rare piece that goes between those, under the back window.
Basically, it serves the same function as that piece you have, but works with the Custom Cab side panel trim.

Very cool pieces you have!

-Brad

[Sick5]

Great score!!
sorry
i dont have any info

[60-66]

What you have is 1960-1961 GMC only. Chevy used a thin stainless molding on the back of the cab that was straight , the wrap around was the sail panel. Heres a Custom GMC.

[TJ's Chevy]

I was thinking it might be a GMC piece....now I know thanks to 60-66! LOL! Great find! Those are fairly rare!

[duallyjams]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=571094&page=7
post 157 shows the chevy version

[60-66]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

I was thinking it might be a GMC piece....now I know thanks to 60-66! LOL! Great find! Those are fairly rare!

Well TJ, I do my best to answer posts with usefull information .

[par4tom]

60-66...

Very cool photos you got there...to further what you said, I did some research today and it appears that GMC offered these for only 1960 (and maybe early 61)...after that they disappeared as someone said the guys that bought them, we're banging them up when loading their trucks so GM discontinued making them...thanks for the info and the pics. Nice job and really cool photos...

For second, I thought they were only an option on the BBW, but it looks like they were available for the small window as well.

Great info...

Tom

[60-66]

That's interesting because these are both 1961s, heres the gray and white one http://www.ebay.com/itm/201027565469...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The other is my 1961 3/4 ton,.

[par4tom]

Your 61 is a well kept beauty!!!

[60-66]

Thank you Tom, That picture was taken the day it arrived years ago. Im changing the wheels back to original and getting it cleaned up. So what are your plans , are you going to put these on your Chevy truck ?

[perro13]

Correct me if I'm mistaken, The Chevy long trim piece is one long piece & GMC is a two piece. I'm talking about the one that go's across the back of the cab.

[par4tom]

I am going to put it back on the cab. There were some "challenges on this though...as you can see from the pic.

First, the radius in the corners on the GMC's may be different than the Chevy's. The pieces fit, but had gaps of about 3/8" around the corners. They just didn't fit all that great, especially on the drivers side.

In addition, the back of my cab had a bit of a sway inward and I didn't want stainless trim on a wavey panel.

So, I blocked off the cab, floated it with a straight edge and fabbed the corners just a bit to get a perfect fit.

The truck left yesterday for final spray and paint.

Oh...and regarding clips for these things, that's a whole other story.

When alls done...I like the trim as an accent piece and quiet frankly it's got a cool history to share with others thanks to you guys helping out.

[buckmaster 700]

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[markeb01]

For what it’s worth there is a GMC trim piece on Ebay right now for $375 (not mine):



http://www.ebay.com/itm/351120957594...84.m1423.l2661

[ls60apache]

Originally Posted by perro13

Correct me if I'm mistaken, The Chevy long trim piece is one long piece & GMC is a two piece. I'm talking about the one that go's across the back of the cab.

yes you are correct the chevy is one piece that connects to the sail panels,the sail panels them selves are also different from the regular 60-63 sail panels.

[gmcbigbl]

Looks like the two verticle companion door pieces that complete the GMC cab trim for sale on ebay. $175

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-61-GMC-...item51c070b273

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by buckmaster 700

I am looking for some 60-61 trim pieces if anyone has some spares . need 2 fender , 1 door, and 1, A or point at the read of the bed passenger side if it makes a difference.

pm sent

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Well TJ, I do my best to answer posts with usefull information .

[1963c-10]

Heres some pics of the 60-61 chevy trim when I was restoring it for my 63. That's got all the dimensions with it.

Taken form the build thread and copied:
Heres the pic of the custom cab back trim. I have taken numbers and measurements in case anyone else comes across one (how to identify it) or decided to make one. They are hard to find, and no one reproduces them. Anyway, they haven't been installed yet, so i figured id document them. The center piece is just shy of 63 1/4" long and 3/4" wide with a rolled back edge and a slight curve to the face. The clips place as follows...from left to right 1 1/2", 11 1/2", 21 1/2", 31 1/2", 41 1/2", 51 1/2", 61 1/2". The sail panels mount and look like the standard custom cab trim pieces but have a differnt rear cab mount. It is 3/4" long to accomodate the center piece covering the end. The center piece has the ends trimmed to cover the end piece of the sail panel. I have completed the work on the sail panels, i just did the paint a week or two ago. Went w/blue to match the body color when its painted. The center piece I still need to polish. All metal work was done by hand, then 220grit followed by 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 and then onto my 7" polish wheel for some brown rouge followed by some grey. So far up to about 15 hours, but im pleased so far and although I bought the sail panels seperate from the center piece (which had been folded in half at some point in its life) im into the project about $200 for parts & shipping. The center piece has taken the longest due to the damage, but luckily I was able to salvage it. Lots of little taps. Stainless steel works slow when doing this kinda trim. The windshield trim gave me alot of practice (pics to follow). I also have 63 GMC side window trim to do next.

[1963c-10]

1st pic shows the difference in the back of cab trim and standard sail panels.

2nd pic is the completed custom sail panels for the back of cab trim.

[LostMy65]

Lakeroadster did a pretty nice job with the smaller aluminum side moulding;

Originally Posted by Lakeroadster

Installed some modified bed side trim across the back of the cab at the two tone paint break line.

Pretty subtle, not very noticeable in the photos below, but it visually ties the custom cab b-pillar trim panels together.

[LostMy65]

And here is that trim in all its glory;

.
and here is an article about the truck;
. http://www.customclassictrucks.com/f...ckup_shortbed/