The Story

Imagine the surprise when the estate sale team thought they had all the vehicles accounted for in the 60'x25' commercial storage unit in Oxnard, CA, only to see some light blue patina paint peeking through stacks of boxes reaching 12 feet high. This 1955 GMC 150 Stepside had been parked in the back of the unit for a very long time, kept safe by the late previous owner. He was the owner of a Rolls Royce repair shop in Beverly Hills, CA and purchased this truck in 1966, giving him 58 years of ownership.

He had a vision of more power and drivability with the factory 287 Pontiac engine being swapped for a Chrysler Big Block 383ci V8 and modifications to the transmission by B&M in 1967. The last registration sticker showing on the California black and yellow commercial plates is from 1969, which was the last time it was registered. The 1970 registration card was never processed and is still in tact, which can be seen in the photo gallery.

It appears that this truck was purchased as a project and never completed, so it's a great opportunity for a new owner to make their vision a reality and get it back on the road. There are many directions this build could go, how would you build it?

The seller acquired the truck from the late owner's estate in April 2024. The truck has a clean CA Title in the sellers name and registered as Non-Operational status with CA DMV. There is a reserve price that will need to be met in order for this truck to sell.

What You Get

This '55 GMC Series 2 truck features a one-of-a-kind drivetrain configuration. Originally equipped with a factory 287 Pontiac V8, it was swapped for a Chrysler Big Block 383ci V8, paired with custom fender-well headers by Enochs' Muffler Service in Burbank, CA. An original Harrison radiator is in place with a mechanical cooling fan. The Carter carburetor tag decodes as a 1968 383ci. The transmission appears to be a four-speed Hydra-Matic, modified by B&M in Van Nuys, CA in order to fit the Chrysler engine, along with an upgraded Hydro-Stick shifter linkage. The true highlight, however, is its unique Hone-O-Drive overdrive unit, purchased directly from Hone Manufacturing Co. in Santa Fe Springs, CA, in September 1967. This .70:1 overdrive unit, made popular in the Baldwin Motion Camaros and Corvettes, makes this GMC truly one of a kind.

The interior appears all original and in good survivor condition. The rubber floor mat was showing its age and was removed so that the floors were exposed for inspection and photographs. The dash structure is in excellent condition and can be used as-is for a patina build. Included are the original steering wheel, turn signal indicator, instrument bezels, some original and aftermarket gauges, and both metal door panels. The glass is in excellent condition, except for the driver vent window, which is cracked. The headliner appeared original and was deteriorating, so it was removed along with the rubber gasket. The windows roll up and down without issue. The factory cab mounted fuel tank has been removed and a tank has been added underneath the bed.

What You Need

The body of this truck is really solid, with a couple areas that would need attention. The most obvious spot is on the driver's side fender, with some old body filler pushing through the paint on the bottom corner. The driver fender rubs on the door when opening, so it will need alignment. There is an area of rust on the cab's lower rear corner on the driver's side, likely from the open hole directly above it for the old fuel filler. The front end is missing the passenger side grill mustache, the GMC hood emblem, headlights, and turn signals. The truck had a Chevy tailgate loosely attached when found and the factory GMC tailgate was separate and is included with the sale. The extent of body and paint work is up to the new owner, but they will have an excellent starting point.

The interior floors are in great shape with some surface rust and pitting on the top side of the driver floor and a very small area on the passenger floor. It appears that the truck was in the middle of a partial re-wiring, adding some aftermarket Stewart Warner gauges. It will need new door weather stripping and one piece headliner. The bench seat is ready for new foam and upholstery.

The Chrysler 383ci and has not been turned over with a battery yet, but it does turn by hand. It is missing the distributor and should have the carb rebuilt prior to starting. Other basic things such as oil change, new rubber hoses, and checking the fuel tank will need to be done as well. An invoice from General Tire Service dated 4/19/1967 shows the same tires that are currently on the truck, which hold air. Once you have it ready for the road, it will need new tires.