Delmo-worthy truck...help me find one!

[daveshilling]

Guys, I think I found her! 59 GMC Fleetside BBW, original paint, original Pontiac V8, parked in a field in CA for 35 years. Needs corners and a floor pan, but everything is there..even has 35 year old soda bottles under the seat!

No pics of the new girlfriend until she is mine...(dont want to curse the deal) but I shook on a price and I'm doing one more inspection before I haul her home to prep. And don't worry, there will be tons of pics!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by daveshilling

Thanks for that lead! I'm looking for a short step, but my buddy loves the fleetsides, so I will pass this along for sure

Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Last year you DIDNT want a Fleetside, now you're excited about one?

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Last year you DIDNT want a Fleetside, now you're excited about one?

yeah, well when the fleetside has a 60's aluminum camper in the back... kinda changes things (=

And I do still love the stepsides.. I'm driving the Jackalope every weekend (=

[ChuckDriver]

Yes, lots of pic's please!

[daveshilling]

Well the guy cleaned it out today, and it was pretty rough in that camper. it seemed like if there was a nook, or a cranny, there was rust.
Here are some pics of what I'm up against.... I'd love to get some opinions on this one.

Guy was $7500 for this truck since its complete and original except for the tailgate. Thats a big chunk o change for a non-running truck that needs everything to be
touched, but I cant find another OG paint survivor 59 apache SWB BBW to compare it to, price-wise.
lots of tossed together trucks for sale with each part from a different truck.... not many "barn finds" like this. I know price is justified if its worth it to me, etc, etc, but you are my people.

The paint is very decent though, and the exterior is mostly solid save for the usual corners. there is barely any surface rust!!


















known issues: cab corners and door corners are bad. cab floor needs patching. no tailgate due to the camper. wheel wells are rusted where they meet the bed. bed rails are gone. glue residue all over the original paint in truck bed due to cab liner (gonna be a b*** to remove)

what do you guys think? Too rare to pass up, or there will be another one? The longer I wait the less there are, but 7500 stings.

[chevy6guy9]

Little high to me but if it's what you want and what your looking for price shouldn't matter for happiness. There won't be regrets when it's done but till then you'll wonder what did I buy and I really spent how much for this... Just make sure ya love it.

[daveshilling]

I hear ya... I'm leaning towards getting it, since a 1959 that can actually be buffed out is really uncommon... having a GMC version with chrome bumpers and unbroken turn signals even more uncommon, then add the short bed and the big back window, and all the chrome window trim is included...and i get a funky aluminum camper shell... I could be looking for 5 more years to find another one.

Sounds like I better get this truck...anyone want to buy a kidney?

[hp1957]

Daveshilling, your 59 GMC Fleetside looks Cool !!
I'm building your twin...

Harvey
1957 Chevy Stepside
1958 GMC Fleetside C4 build thread:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=535686&page=5

[daveshilling]

Nice truck Harley!! That gold color is sweet.

[daveshilling]

Should be picking her up today!! I'm pretty pumped to get this truck. Now the challenge of how to get this beauty in the garage with four flat tires... Im picking up wheels and tires today to roll her on, but I'm sure everything is going to be seized.. what do you guys do to get these rolling?

[chevy6guy9]

Ya never know, once jacked up and new shoes on the old gal she may just be ready to roll herself right in to her new home. Seen lost of trucks that looked like they would never move amaze me.

[slowcpe]

I like it! Should be a cool project.

I probably paid more for my truck than I should have but it was exactly what I wanted and 7 months later I think the truck was worth every penny I paid.

[daveshilling]

Some photos of the GMC arriving in its new home, and with some 47-51 stock wheels and tires tossed on so she rolls. I only had one wheel locked up due to the brakes being seized, fortunately the owner kept her in neutral for 30 years and didnt put on the parking brake

We hosed her down and gave her a once-over with a sponge and the grime was melting off easily!! Found more rust, but its not visible from the outside, thats awesome.

Sadly, I found out that there were some spots that were filled, so the either the old guy didnt know it was filled, or he was full of sh- when he told me its never been painted or filled.