Frame Off Built 1/2 Ton Pickup 5.7L EFI LS1 V8 4L60E

As General Motor's stalwart and devoutly focused truck brand, GMC has produced years of tough and innovative workhorses that are often completely overlooked by classic car collectors. But, when it comes to rare customs, dedicated fans of the 'Professional Grade' division have a rich legacy of creating unique and exceptionally well-done offerings which cause a big stir anytime they roll onto a show field. The owner of this immaculate 1957 half-ton wanted to capitalize on both General Motor's timeless design and GMC's innate exclusivity by building 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. If you're a diehard GMC fan, an old school truck lover, or just a curious buyer who's looking for something a bit different, this killer custom is EXACTLY what you've been waiting for!

As the beneficiary of a recent high quality frame-off restoration, this sweet GMC Half Ton 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!

Introduced as the successor to GM's venerable 'Advanced Design' models, GMC's stylish 'Blue Chip' series wraps excellent proportions in timeless sheetmetal which showcases lead designer Harley Earl's talent for both form and composition. At the front of the truck a 1957-exclusive stainless grille, which seamlessly swaps its traditional model designation for a fresh “LS1” emblem, hangs between modern, chrome trimmed headlights and traditional, clear parking lights. Below that grille, a conservative chrome bumper bends around the corners of curvaceous front fenders; and above that grille, a Bel Air inspired hood wears a prominent gold “GMC” inset. At the top of the truck a curved and tinted windshield, which is cleared by two bright wipers, rides behind a show-worthy combination of fresh weatherstripping and pristine trim. At the edges of that windshield, professionally polished stainless emphasizes the truck's swept side glass; and behind that windshield, fresh bed planks anchor mirror-like hardware beneath a full-size spare tire. At the sides of the truck 'flow through' body lines, which are perfectly highlighted by bold Tobacco Copper metallic paint, glisten beneath correct chrome door handles and correct chrome mirrors. Below those lines, awesome chrome steps provide both form and function; and behind those lines, sculpted stepside fenders remind us of the time when design trumped utility. At the back of the truck an embossed GMC tailgate, which features metallic gold lettering, extends on stainless, plastic covered chains. At the sides of that tailgate, polished tail lights look good and function great; and at the bottom of that tailgate a conservative chrome bumper hangs over a modern, frame-mounted hitch.

Take a look under this GMC's stylish, domed hood and you'll find a fully detailed 5.7 liter LS1 V8 which produces enough rock solid power and stump pulling twist to put that hidden hitch to good use! Straight from the factory, GM's award winning Generation III small block 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. Aesthetically, this GMC's glossy Tobacco Copper Metallic engine compartment combines with the small block's clean silver casting to provide a natural contrast which simply oozes modern appeal. And niceties such as body-matched fuel rail covers, polished fluid reservoirs, high quality braided hoses and small “LS1” emblems add just the right amount of flash to complement the truck's simple, vintage charm.

Step right under this solid half-ton and you'll find a clean undercarriage that's free from run-ins with other cars, shows no signs of Mother Nature's wrath and, based on looks alone, hasn't seen a wet road or been anywhere near a puddle of mud since its thorough, frame-off restoration. 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. 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. And the detailing on the underside of this truck is simple and purposeful with a new stainless fuel tank, new stainless lines and new stainless hardware accenting a gloss black frame a gloss black suspension and mildly undercoated floors.

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.

Included with the sale of this first-rate custom is a stack of restoration receipts.

Whether it's simple nostalgia or their long list of extremely useful design virtues, one thing is certain: trucks NEVER go out of style. And it's becoming an increasingly rare occurrence to see one of these 50s show stoppers in our RK Motors Charlotte showroom because they sell almost as fast as we post them! If you're in the market for something that's every bit as fun as it is cool, this awesome GMC is exactly what you've been looking for. Don't miss the chance to own this unbeatable combination of performance and style!