GMC by CHEVROLET
I was walking through Williamsburg recently when I saw this big beast sitting in front of a motorcycle shop. Some dudes had just lifted a bike frame out of the back and were going back and forth so I could only squeeze off a few shots before annoying them completely. The reception was cool to begin with and I sensed it wasn't going to get warmer anytime soon!
I was walking through Williamsburg recently when I saw this big beast sitting in front of a motorcycle shop. Some dudes had just lifted a bike frame out of the back and were going back and forth so I could only squeeze off a few shots before annoying them completely. The reception was cool to begin with and I sensed it wasn't going to get warmer anytime soon!
This is a 1964 Chevrolet C/K 20. I originally thought this was a GMC truck as it has the GMC grill, but the tailgate and side emblem are correct (not that the Chevy was really any different from the GMC of the same year). The color may be Fawn, but I can't quite be sure.
This truck has the small back window, but you can see the dimensions of the larger one in the metal stamping had it been chosen. The body style is known as the Fleetside as the lines of the body continue unabated down the side of the bed.
This truck has the small back window, but you can see the dimensions of the larger one in the metal stamping had it been chosen. The body style is known as the Fleetside as the lines of the body continue unabated down the side of the bed.
There are 2 details in this pic that help us identify this truck as a '64. The main thing is the windshield which was a more pronounced wrap-around job in the years previous to this one. In 1963 the wrap-around windshield went almost straight down from the top corner while the angle remained the same. The second clue is the emblem on the side that says 20 below the Chevy bow tie logo; starting in '65 it was totally different in placement and design. The 20 refers to the amount this truck can haul; 3/4 of a ton for this one, 1/2 ton for the 10, and a full ton for the 30.
From this angle you can see the chrome non-Chevrolet grill. Under the main bar connecting the headlight pods there were once cartoonishly large chrome letters spelling out GMC. Perhaps the owner left those behind so as not to confuse the Chevy with a partial name change? The bracket for those missing letters is still visible.
The wipers are a curious arrangement where they are hinged on the outside and extend outward to the top corners of the windshield as opposed to moving in tandem. This must have been ordered as a work truck when new because there is very little in the way of trim. If you disregard the chrome grill and bumper that came from another truck the only brightwork at all are the turn signal surrounds, side emblems, mirrors, side trim behind the door glass, and tie-downs along the outside of the bed. I'm 99% sure that this was built with a plain painted grill and bumper as opposed to flashy chrome. In addition, the Chevrolet grill only has one headlight on each side instead of quads.
That bright metal trim behind the door glass looks so out of place on this basic truck, but it is correct for the year.
I was happy to see this thing still working for a living, full of parts and driven by somebody with dirt under their nails (even if it was a nouveau Brooklyn approximation of the Working Man ideal). The wheels are kinda crummy, and there's black spray paint/primer here and there, but overall this thing looks ready to do the job.
I was happy to see this thing still working for a living, full of parts and driven by somebody with dirt under their nails (even if it was a nouveau Brooklyn approximation of the Working Man ideal). The wheels are kinda crummy, and there's black spray paint/primer here and there, but overall this thing looks ready to do the job.
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