1957 GMC 1/2 Ton Pickup Tour
This 1957 GMC Half Ton is a world class show stopper which mixes the best elements of a pro-touring pony car with the all-American class of a vintage pickup! As the beneficiary of a recent high quality frame-off restoration, this sweet custom is a meticulously planned crowd gatherer which wraps classic 50s design around the comfort and reliability of a modern street machine. During its rejuvenation, the truck’s expressive body panels were stripped, massaged into a laser-straight canvas, and bathed in a rich coat of Planet Color Tobacco Copper Metallic basecoat. When that killer black and brown ‘flop’ dried, a protective clearcoat shell was sprayed, sanded and buffed to an impressive wet-look shine. And today, the truck sits as a slick utilitarian showpiece which trades blue collar Main Street overalls for white collar Wall Street fashion! Straight from the factory, GM’s award winning LS1 Generation III small block V8 combines a sturdy aluminum casting with lightweight aluminum heads, coil-near-plug ignition and flat top aluminum pistons to create razor sharp throttle response and a torque band that’s as flat as Kansas. At the front of the engine a modern serpentine system, which is complete with a full set of billet pulleys and polished brackets, spins a chrome alternator and a chrome AC compressor at the sides of a chrome air cleaner that’s equipped with a fresh re-usable filter element. Once air enters that filter, it flows through a factory LS1 throttle body into a chrome Street and Performance Magnum 3 intake which is bolted down over completely stock internals. High octane fossils are provided by a GM electronic fuel injection system. Sparks are sequenced through high performance Taylor plug wires. Spent gases are whisked away by a slick pair of ceramic coated Stainless Headers shorty headers. And cooling comes courtesy of a gloss black radiator that’s complete with chrome corrugated hoses, a polished overflow tank and a large electric puller fan. The hot LS1’s power flows from a rebuilt 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission to a solid driveshaft which turns a sturdy Ford nine inch rear end. That gloss black axle pushes the truck on a familiar four link suspension via a pair of high quality QA1 coil over shocks. Tracking is provided by a modern double A-arm set-up which features tubular control arms, two more quality QA1 coil over shocks and power rack and pinion steering. And quick stops are a cinch thanks to power four wheel disc brakes which utilize GM front calipers and Wilwood rear calipers to clamp large drilled and slotted rotors. At the center of the floors, an aluminized true dual exhaust system breathes through mandatory catalytic converters and brash Flowmaster dual chamber mufflers. And at the corners of the floor, 16 inch painted steel wheels spin mirror-like center caps inside fresh stainless trim rings and 235/70 Hankook DynaPro AS wide whitewall tires. Twist this awesome GMC’s classy chrome door handles and you’ll find a spectacular Chocolate and Tan interior that’s one of the many highlights of a first-rate custom build. The leather topped dash, which is accented by a smooth coat of body-matched paint, hangs a full set of Auto Meter Carbon Fiber Ultra-Lite gauges between an engine turned instrument panel, controls for the truck’s heat and air conditioning system and a modern Pioneer CD player that’s Bluetooth equipped, MP3 compatible and satellite capable. In front of the dash, a firm split-back seat wears attractive two-tone leather trim which is mimicked by both the headliner and cab panels to add a bit of luxury to an otherwise utilitarian design. At the sides of the dash, custom leather door panels hang great sounding speakers below small armrests, billet door handles and well-integrated power window switches. Under the dash, like-new carpet props color-matched floor mats next to custom kick panels and traditional rubber foot pedals. And in front of the driver, an aftermarket tilt steering column spins a traditional, painted wheel around a billet shift lever and a modern accessory stalk which activates the LS1’s cruise control.
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