Such a rare GMC ½ ton! You can attend truck/car events over a lifetime and never see the design of this 70-year-old GMC.
The owner is Pete Bogardus from Eugene, Oregon. He comes from a family of GMC owners. There was rarely a time that they didn’t own a pickup, and always a GMC. Pete even remembers at age 7 when his parents bought a new GMC Suburban.
It was just right for a family, plus small storage spaces are behind the back seat for miscellaneous things they might need. They chose not to own a car.
Pete currently owns two GMCs, both bought in California. A 1959 1-ton truck with dual rear wheels and a hydraulic tilt-up bed was used in his work responsibilities.
Our featured truck is Pete’s 1958 ½ ½-ton short-bed stepside. He bought it last year after a long, long hunt for a show-quality GMC of that year. When he saw the advertisement on Facebook Marketplace, it was “love at first sight." There was no debating the price. He did not want to lose it. Look at the photos and see why!
Some details: A pure GMC 270 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine with a factory-installed 4-speed transmission floor shift. Correct 6-bolt wheels with the small chrome GMC hubcaps held in place with spring clips, riveted to the wheels. As an attractive filler between the hubcaps and the wheel edge are chrome beauty rings. A great extra is the whitewall tires!
One very rare item Pete wanted was a 6-foot step-bed. This is very basic, as originally most GMC buyers paid a little more and ordered a Fleetside.
The side-mount spare tire with an indented left rear fender (without being under the bed) was just another eye-catcher that told Pete he had to have this rare GMC. Yes, of course, it has the famous logo stamped on the tailgate, so following traffic has no doubt who is ahead of them!
Photos to come...