The GMC TIMES - GMC Truck Chapter of POCI

The
GMC
TIMES
The Newsletter of the GMC Truck Chapter of POCI
March/April 2013
The GMC TA Traveler
GMC TRUCK
CHAPTER
GTC Head Honchos
President
David Bailey
gtcpoci.info
The GMC Times
March - April 2013
Volume 7 ~ Number 2
19425 E. 48th St.
Broken Arrow, OK 74014
[email protected]
Vice President
Steve Cook
16565 Lancaster Est.
Grover, MO 63040
(314) 795-4700
jumbodog54
@sbcglobal.net
The Official Publication of the
GMC Truck Chapter
Pontiac Oakland Club International
Chapter #93 ~ Established 2007
The GMC Times is published six times
per year by the GMC Truck Chapter
of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International (POCI), a nonprofit organization.
The GMC Truck Chapter, founded in
2007, is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, education and enjoyment of all
GMC vehicles, stock or modified. Membership in POCI is highly encouraged
when joining the GMC Truck Chapter.
Dues are $15.00 per year (U.S. funds,
$20.00 outside of U.S.) Annual “subscription only” rates for the GMC
Times newsletter are $20.00 U.S. and
$25.00 (outside of U.S.) Send change
of address notices and article submissions to the GMC Times editor (use
the contact information listed at right).
Page 1
Treasurer
Ron Van Zytveld
4101 Byron Rd.
Hudsonville, MI 49426
Secretary,
Newsletter Editor,
Web Site Administrator:
Paul Bergstrom
1165 County Road 83
Independence, MN 55359
(763) 479-2248
[email protected]
them with the rest of us through the
use of the newsletter you don’t have to
write much except tell what and where
and thanks for doing that.
PREZ SEZ
Hello GMC Truck Chapter Members!
I hope everyone is surviving this crazy
weather that has been moving across
the nation? I know I am ready for
Spring! I will remind everyone of the
POCI and GTOAA co-vention coming
up in July it will be here soon! Hopefully we will get a good showing of
GMC trucks.
Here in Oklahoma our local car club
has already started their car show season by participating in the Darryl Starbird Hot Rod Custom Car Show, we
had nine cars from the club. We usually do the new auto show in March and
the club itself will be hosting the BOP
challenge at the local race track and we
have a car show at the same time. So
we are busy bunch to say the least.
Thanks to Paul for his hard work and
Ron for keeping us straight with the
finances, speaking of remember those
dues I myself need to send Ron some
money! This helps our chapter with the
newsletter expenses etc. I had a few
new people join recently and we welcome them to our chapter hope to see
them this summer at the convention.
Get those GMC trucks ready and show
them off whenever you get a chance!
Take care!
David Bailey,
GTC Prez.
If you are out at any shows please
please get some pictures and share
POCI
3
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Headin’ BACK to Dayton!
Page 2
2013 POCI/GTOAA Co-Vention
Attention
1938 & 1963 GMC Truck Owners
See the ad on page 6 - if we have any GMC Truck owners with 1938
or 1963 GMCs that plan to attend the convention, please contact Paul
Bergstrom at the POCI Club Office (877) 368-3454 or via e-mail at [email protected]
I would also like to hear from any other chapter members that are planning to attend the convention, we could use help with our annual meeting agenda items and setting up/tearing down our chapter display.
GMC Times
On-Line
Members have access to the newsletter on-line from our web site:
gtcpoci.info
It sure was great to see the GM Fu-
turliners and Parade of Progress article
in the April 2013 SMOKE SIGNALS.
Thanks to Paul Prinzing for putting
that together. He also has some vintage GMC truck photos to share with
us - we’ll run these in future issues.
Page 3
Enjoy the GMC Times newsletter
in FULL COLOR! The member’s
password is:
JIMMYGTC
From The Driver’s Seat
Greetings everyone, I hope that spring
Register on-line for the 2013 “CoVention” on the poci.org website.
weather has arrived and all of our members are able to get their GMCs and
Pontiacs cleaned up and ready for some
shows and “windshield time.”
The Activity Packet Guide and sign up
forms are available to download and
view from the poci.org website.
Updates are also available on-line at:
GMC “TA Traveler”
I am excited to begin looking at the
GMC TA Traveler. If anyone has information on the Trans Am Territory events
or the GMC Motorhome that was used,
let me know. Thanks to Tim Dye for
providing photos for this issue. Until
next time....
Keep on Truckin’!
Paul Bergstrom,
Editor
Page 4
gtoaapocinationals.com
Vintage Jimmys
Page 5
GMC Truck Chapter Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 11th at 1:00 p.m.
2013 “Co-Vention” in Dayton Ohio - Nutter Center (room to be announced)
Thanks to all of our members for renewing
your GTC membership -we appreciate your support!
Page 6
GTC “E-mail Bag”
From: L David Taylor email: [email protected]
Subject: 90-91 GMC 454SS pickup?
Good morning Paul,
I’m going back to a short wide box pickup and have been looking at Chev 454 SS
trucks. Someone here in Maui has what they call a 1990 454 SS step side GMC
for sale. I was not aware that GMC made 454s in short box 1/2 ton size. Is it true?
At the right price I could buy and find a short wide box to fight and would be
pleased to have a GMC truck. Have owned two prior GMC 1/2 tons. (Not 454s).
Can you advise please? It’s great to see you have a GMC Truck Chapter--I will
join if I can find or create 454 SS.
L David, Maui, HI
From the “North American Truck Club” website, for 1990-1993 Chevrolet:
“The 1990 Chevrolet 454SS is a high performance full size pickup that mated the
C1500 standard two wheel drive cab with an absolutely killer 454ci 7.4 liter, eight
cylinder engine(V-8), the 3 speed automatic transmission and a 3.73 rear axle ratio helped thrust the 454 beast under the hood, the engine produced a maximum of
230hp, 385 foot pounds of torque, All this power was pushed out to Goodyear tires
on Special 454SS rims. The interior comes equipped with a special plush Garnet
Red cloth interior and high-back reclining sport bucket seats with a Center Console. Only available in Onyx Black.”
Page 7
GMC
Trans Am Traveler
To me, it doesn’t get much better than
when Pontiac and GMC Trucks come
together... 30s panel trucks, Pontiac
V8s in the late 50s GMC pickups, and
how cool is this - in the 1970s, there
was a special GMC Motorhome that
was commissioned to visit racing
events and encourage Pontiac Trans
Am owners to come together, spread
their Firebird wings have a great time!
I have been researching this and plan to share the results with the GMC Truck
Chapter. Let’s get started! On page 9, the history of the “Trans Am Territory” is
from Michael Lamm’s book “The Fabulous Firebird”, 3rd printing, 1998.
Photo above: provided by Tim Dye; below Jill Witzenburg (more from Jill next issue)
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
The History Behind
“Trans Am
Territory”
Trans Am enthusiasts within Pontiac Motor Division had wanted for some time
to establish special areas near race courses where Firebird owners could park
their cars and socialize. Such meeting grounds had already been set aside at various tracks for other makes of cars: e.g. Corvette Corals, Porsche Parks, Datsun
Z Zones etc.
GM’s then design vice president William L. Mitchell, in talking to “Mr. Trans
Am” John Schinella in 1975, suggested setting up a “Trans Am Teepee” along
the lines of Corvette Corals. Schinella jumped at the opportunity.
Schinella’s assistant designer and fellow T/A enthusiast, Bill Davis, came up
with the name Trans Am Territory. Schinella passed the idea along to Pontiac
general Manager Alex Mair, who felt immediately that a Trans Am Territory program was just what Pontiac needed. Pontiac public relations chief Stan Richards
appointed Jill Rogers to work out the details in conjunction with John Schinella
On June 5-6, 1976, Schinella, Rogers and Dick Henderson launched the first
Trans Am Territory at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisc. This SCCA event
marked part of Pontiac’s 50th anniversary celebration, and the Sports Car Club
of America designated a black-and-gold 1976 Limited Edition Trans Am its official car for the 10-race 1976 Trans American Championship series.
Subsequently, Pontiac acquired a GMC motor home - called the Trans Am Traveler - and soon established Trans Am Territories not only at Road America but
also at Watkins Glen, Mosport, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Michigan International,
Laguna Seca, Riverside and Pocono Raceways. Each became a greater success
than the one before, sometimes with a many as 325 Trans Ams and other Firebirds in attendance.
Schinella rarely missed one of these events, and Rogers never did. Other regular
visitors included Stu Schuster, Russ Dunbar, Wade Greenisen Jr. and George T.
Reganis. The Type K, Silverbird, Banshee III and various special Firebirds were
usually displayed in roped-off areas. Local Trans Am clubs turned out en masse.
Firebird owners could usually take at least a parade lap around the track.
Source: http://www.1973-76transamconcept.com/history.html
(referenced that this article was originally from TexasTransAms.com)
Page 11
pontiacsonline.com
GMC
Trans Am Traveler
photobucket.com
Page 12
Entrance gate to the
“Trans Am Territory”
Photo credit: Tim Dye
TA enthusiasts gather ‘round
Photo credit: Tim Dye
Page 13
Welcome New Members
Marc Fox Elburn Owns: 1960 1500 3/4 ton Luxton Chip Kingman Owns: 1972 GMC 5500 R. Rosing John In pursuit of a '56 GMC 100 Owns: 1920 GMC model 16 Page 14
MN Vevetia Owns: 1955 100 Stepside WI Saint Cloud Michael A. Facchiano AZ Thiensville Dennis Klug IL PA 1976 GMC Sprint Classic - a
southern vehicle that has been in
Michigan since 1990. Hasn’t been
driven in the past 7-8 years. Currently garage stored. Appears to be
in overall good shape. Solid through
out. $5,000 obo. Gary Burr (989)
288-5216 (MI)
GMCs FOR SALE
For Sale: 1952 GMC Bus with 6-71
Detroit, for restoration. $6,000. Contact Vander Haag’s Truck Museum,
PO Box 550, Sanborn, IA 51248. Or
call John Vander Haag at (712) 4905102
Note: John has 25+ GMC trucks
1917-1990, some are for show, others
for parts or restoration. Call him or
write to him for more details - Editor
1939 GMC panel delivery truck,
runs great. New grill, tires and rims,
original engine. $18,000. Ronald
Bush, Bayport, NY. Call (631) 4720530 for more details.
GMC Times
Classified Ad Rates:
(for 6 issues)
$200 full page
$100 half page
$50 quarter page
$25 business card size
Sean Yellow Horse from California owns a 1935 Chevy 1-ton Panel
Truck and is wanted to connect up
with any owners of ’35 GMC Panel
Trucks. You can contact Sean at 310784-0575 or email Lakotaman44@
gmail.com
1966 GMC Suburban, frame on
restoration on a nice Arizona truck.
454 ci engine, fresh turbo 400 transmission, Dana 44 w/2.07 posi. Price
reduced: $15,500 or best offer. PatDowns (772) 589-2506 (FL)
Page 15
WANTED
1956-1959 GMC Pickup with original factory Pontiac V-8 engine. Contact Jim Ketchersid at (205) 9795387 (AL) or [email protected]
PARTS FOR SALE
For Sale: NOS 1965 GMC Truck
Right Side Front Fender Part #13781472 $150 or best offer John
C. Zaborowski (814) 739-9421
(PA), e-mail [email protected]
Literature for sale: 1998 GMC
Denali info in styrofoam block, unopened $18 postage paid; 1999
GMC Sierra tri-fold box info. $15
postage paid; 2002 GMC Envoy
tri-fold box info $15 postage paid.
Contact Mark Jaffke, 8101 Westview Lane, Woodbridge, IL 60517
(630) 910-1247 (weekends only)
Have rear ends, trans, etc for larger
trucks. Richard Hurt (925) 2005279 (CA)
GMCs FOR SALE
1967 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 white, long
box, 327 V8, PB, no rust. Vic Munro
(920) 563-5093 (WI)
1962 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4 V6; ‘54 GMC
1 1/2 ton 6 cyl 4-spd w/hydramatic;
‘55 Pontiac Chieftain 2-door wagon; ‘59 Catalina convertible & ‘59
Catalina 4-door wagon ‘60 Catalina
2-door. Contact Charles Jorgenson
(701) 680-0777 [email protected]
(Lisbon, ND)
Wanted: Any GMC truck or tractor
prior to 1950. Joe Castellana 404808-1010 (GA)
1970-72 GMC pickup: 1500 1/2 ton,
2WD, shortbed. #1 or #2 condition.
Reward paid to leads that end up in a
purchase! Contact Steve Ledger (847)
487-5340 (IL) email buickbullitt@
netzero.net
Wanted: I need the emblem “450” for
the center grille 1955-59. I am restoring one of the 5-window cabs. Lawrence Pilgrim (706) 892-6440 (GA)
Frame to Transfer case bracket
shown on page 368 of GMC Service
Manual (1968 GMC 3/4-ton, 4WD,
4-speed pick-up with Rockwell-Standard trans. case). David Harris (860)
584-9377 (CT)
Wanted: Literature/brochures for
1937 to 1958 Canadian GMC light
duty truck showing panel trucks and
sedan deliveries. Wanted for 1984
1500 GMC High Sierra; fender emblem, sales and accessory catalog,
dealer album, factory photos, AMFM-CB cassette radio, any unusual
dealer items, Las Vegas GMC dealer
emblem. John Preikschat (306) 7712929 email [email protected]
Page 16
Wanted: Doors for GMC T-19, or
complete cab. Engine (Pontiac split
head) or parts, and trans. Also“740”
chromed numbers for a 1951 GMC;
(2) sets of GMC chrome V6 emblems
for 1964-66 hoods. Lloyd Oman, Box
131, Brady, NE 69123 (308) 930-0131
Wanted: 1946 GMC lower front grille.
Louis Flippin (336) 986-8802 (NC)
Wanted: Any speed equipment for
50’s GMC 228-302 C.I. engine (intake manifold, exhaust headers, carbs.,
etc). Duane Peterson 716-664-1973 or
[email protected]
Wanted: 1954-59 GMC COE “Cannonball” diesels: artifacts, memorabilia, photos Also driver’s stories running
these trucks. James Semon (440) 9790831 [email protected]
Wanted: 1936 GMC T14 Panel Truck
to restore. Also wanted: windshield
wiper vacuum motor for a 1936 GMC
T14. Roger Hippen (641) 869-3796
[email protected]
Wanted: GMC COE, Delane Langton Billings, MT (406) 248-7205 email
[email protected]
Wanted: V-6 plaid valve covers (‘68),
decals for Gentleman Jim (‘75), info on
Longhorn model (‘69 with 8.5’ bed).
Don Berringer (OH) 419-289-0591
Wanted: rear bumper brackets for ‘62’63 GMC Model 1001 short/wide pickup (these are the “strap” type and must
pass between the frame and rear leaf
spring bracket). Luella Stobie (ND)
701-293-5335
Wanted for 1928 T-11: a splithead
Pontiac-6 spare engine or just manifold. Carter C-1 brass bowl carb to replace Marvel with potmetal problems.
Richard Seabury (973) 335-1876
(CT) [email protected]
GTC Technical Advisors
GMC Historian
Don Meyer, GMC Historian, is available to field your questions. You may
contact Don at (248) 693-1227 (Michigan)
GMC Motorhomes
John Biwersi, (651) 779-6498 Central
Time Zone, email [email protected]
1947-53 Series 100-250 GMCs
American Truck Historical Society
(A.T.H.S.) mechanical advisor George
Bennett has offered to help out GTC
members with questions on 1947-53
Series 100-250 GMCs. Send a SASE
please. George Bennett, 8678 US Highway 98, Sumrall, MS 39482 George
has owned a 1961 GMC pickup for
44 years. He is also looking for used
chrome park light trim rings for 195163 GMC pickups. Contact him if you
can provide any leads.
Canadian GMCs
John Preikschat call (306) 771-2929
email [email protected]
Late 1955 (2nd version)
and 1956, 1957 GMCs
Steven Cook, 16565 Lancaster Estates
Dr., Grover, MO 63040 (314) 795-4700
or email: [email protected]
Page 17
GMC Chapter Membership / Subscriber Form
Indicate if joining as a POCI Member or a Subscriber
____ POCI Member indicate POCI # _________ Annual Dues = $15.00
____ Subscriber, Non-POCI member - Annual Fee = $20.00
(US rates above, if outside of US, please add $5.00 to the rates above)
NAME: ___________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________________
CITY: _________________________ STATE/PROV. ______________
ZIP/POSTAL CODE: ____________ PHONE: ___________________
email: ____________________________________________________
GMCs owned: _____________________________________________
Send check or money order made out to:
GMC Truck Chapter of POCI
c/o Ron Van Zytveld, 4101 Byron Rd.
Hudsonville, MI 49426
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Pontiac-Oakland Club
GMC Truck Chapter
GMC Truck Chapter of POCI
c/o Paul Bergstrom, Editor
1165 County Road 83
Independence, MN 55359