Why no GMCs?

[Tx79chevy]

Been searching for a SWB GMC for awhile and they seem somewhat difficult to find. My question is why are the chevys so much more common? Did they make less GMC's or did they just get used up as work trucks?

[Ed Snyder]

Production figures for Chevy trucks of the '60s are readily available, but GMC figures are not -- according to one of these stories: 1) they were either lost in a fire, or 2) they're in one of 25,000 boxes in a basement somewhere in GM-land, take your pick.

As a rule of thumb, however, you can take the Chevy figures and divide by 4 or 5 and get pretty close to GMC production figures.

You might try www.searchtempest.com to find your dream truck. Good luck!

[6066gmcguy]

Less GMC trucks to begian with, most got worked to death, and many got Chevy parts bolted to them.

[GMCNUT]

Best estimates following World War II through the 1960's are that GMC made approximately 25% to 30% of Chevrolets' production in each year - a trend known to have continued through the 70's. GMC's were never intended to be a "one for one" produced truck to the Chevrolet - instead of the alternative to a Chevy, rather a GMC was made to get ancillary sales off the expensive car lots with a generally different buyer in mind. Same with todays' new 2015 GMC's - GM will make about half as many GMC's this year as it will Chevrolets, and they will cost more than Chevy's, have a little more chrome and a little more refinement (Denali) than Chevrolet, and be sold on lots carrying more expensive brands than Chevrolet. GMC's were always sold off Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac etc lots where the clientele largely had more disposable income so since the buyers expected more accessory options and special features on their car choices, they expected the same on the truck they might need. Since expensive brand car buyers often did not use a truck for work, you generally find more 50's and 60's GMC's with custom cab trim, power steering, and automatic transmissions - things these buyers were accustomed to having on their high dollar Pontiacs and Cadillacs. The dynamic between the two brands is really interesting - there is a lot of stuff you can read on the internet about the differences etc of the two....hope this helps