GMC photos from history

[GMCDAC]

Originally Posted by BarryGMC

This old 1950 Jimmy hauled a lot of rock up in Sitka AK. in the early 70's. here is a before and after shot of my grandfather Gordon Berglunds operation.

Wow! great pic! I recognise a 1960 Ford station wagon in the before pic---I think. What a change!

Originally Posted by Cayoterun

What an improvement.
What kind of operation was it? I'm guessing a lumber mill of some kind, maybe?

The old Jimmy could probably tell some stories about the good drivers, as well as the bad ones, and some of the wild weather it busted thru.

It reminded me of the song by Red Simpson that tells the story from the truck's point of view. I think it's called "Hello, I'm a truck"

Thanks for posting, Barry

Found it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLeae1KQSac

Yeah wouldn't it be wonderful if those trucks could tell you even a little bit about what they've been through---Like the Red Simpson song! That was a great trip back too! Thanks for reminding me about that tune.

Originally Posted by BarryGMC

Started as a little saw mill. But Grandpa and my great aunt Dorothy Darrin built it into a barge terminal. Its still there. its just north of Sitka. The two of them also had a quarry and crusher near by. So when grandpa had some spare time he filled in the area where the dock is. That old jimmy started hauling logs up north of there in about 62. 10 foot bunks 40 long. He then put a box on it and some bigger rears. It hauled rock until about 95 0r so. When he retired and moved back to Abberdeen Wa. in the 80's he brought it back with him. Near Aberdeen he used it on 80 acres of industrial land that he raised up about 8 feet, hauling fill from some land of his across the road. When he died in 07 the old 500 cube gasser still ran but a life on the washington and alaska coast had ate up most of the truck. Barry

If it was still runnin' there's still hope to do something with it! Would love to see pics throughout it's lifespan.

Originally Posted by BarryGMC

I have some more old truck pics from my family history that i need to dig up Here is my great grandfather Jacks 1927 white truck pictured in 1940 . He bought a section of Idaho white pine land near Elk city Idaho, and hauled his whole mill up there and cut pine for Diamond match Co. My surviving grandfather hauled over 1 million board feet of lumber to a rail spur about 15 miles from camp in the summer of 40 with that truck. He did this when he was 14. We still have this truck and it runs well. Hand crank start on that old guy. I am getting ready to rebuild the cab... Some day... sorry its not a jimmy, but I think it's cool. Barry

No apology need for me, great truck and story. Would like to see more pics from this trucks history to now also!

DAC

[Cayoterun]

I've enjoyed this thread from the beginning.
I think every one of us has an appreciation for Jimmie trucks, or old iron of about any kind from the youngest member to oldest. It's obvious the younger ones like them, too, or they wouldn't be building them. Like Pepsi, (we've met him and his apprentices), his kids, and yours will cherish the early memories of helping their dad on his "old" truck, riding around with the wind blowing in their faces, and telling their adventures for the rest of their lives.
It not only helps preserve the trucks history, but family time together, also.

Great site, and people. Thanks, Jolly, Jennie, for riding herd on us, and GMC63 for starting the thread.

[BarryGMC]

There was lots of stuff from AK but a fire destroyed most of it. So very few pictures survived that. I thought long and hard about that old Jimmy. I am very sentimental and have a lot of things from my family history. But in the end the long years of salt exposure proved to be to much. I do have some pics of the construction of the docks I will get few up. There are some neat pieces of machinery in those shots. The White truck was left for dead in the early 70's at Jacks property. When he passed Grandpa saved it. I will get some current shots of it and see what else I can find. Barry

[George Bongert]

Greetings fellow Club Members!

These are really interesting pictures of the history of GMC! As far as I am concerned, the "new" glorified pickup trucks on the road just don't appeal to me, and aren't built like the "workhorses" of years gone by. On another note, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[Rockdriller]

Quote " I am getting ready to rebuild the cab... Some day... sorry its not a jimmy, but I think it's cool. Barry "

The cool thing about that, Barry, is that In '82... I drove a straight truck that was a White/GMC.....joint venture type thing.
It was super heavy duty, tandem drives with a Roadranger. It was about a '74 or so and originally was worn out as a garbage truck....was stripped and made a flat-bed. She was a rough ol' girl.....but she had a little GMC in her, kinda like this one.

[GMCDAC]

Originally Posted by George Bongert

Greetings fellow Club Members!

These are really interesting pictures of the history of GMC! As far as I am concerned, the "new" glorified pickup trucks on the road just don't appeal to me, and aren't built like the "workhorses" of years gone by. On another note, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Yeah this is a great thread. The "new" trucks don't get me excited either. I enjoy driving them with the 4 speed non-power everything--including the steering and so does my wife! We enjoy the old ones that did have some of the convienences too but driving the ones that were primarily a workhorse is a gas!

Originally Posted by Rockdriller

Quote " I am getting ready to rebuild the cab... Some day... sorry its not a jimmy, but I think it's cool. Barry "

The cool thing about that, Barry, is that In '82... I drove a straight truck that was a White/GMC.....joint venture type thing.
It was super heavy duty, tandem drives with a Roadranger. It was about a '74 or so and originally was worn out as a garbage truck....was stripped and made a flat-bed. She was a rough ol' girl.....but she had a little GMC in her, kinda like this one.

There you go Barry, Rockdriller found the connection to post away on the White! I painted White/GMC signs for a heavy truck dealership I did work for back in the 80's!

Originally Posted by Cayoterun

Happy thanksgiving to all from our house!!!

Same to you and yours and everyone else on the forum, Cayoterun!

Happy Thanksgiving---DAC

[GMCDAC]

This may be getting too far from the subject but here are some pics of the GM Futureliners. There weren't many built starting in 1939 until around 1953. They were without a doubt a GMC! Designed for GM promotion, these trucks never had any other function. At one time a restored one of these held the Barrett-Jackson highest priced sale at over 4 million, once again don't remember for sure. I think an original AC Cobra beat it in the last couple years?

The first pic is the dash of an unrestored one, GMC logo is obvious.

DAC

[Cayoterun]

I'd like to see one up close, sometime. Thanks for posting.

[GMCDAC]

Originally Posted by Cayoterun

I'd like to see one up close, sometime. Thanks for posting.

You're welcome, Cayoterun. I noticed there are '55s in that last picture so they were in use at least up until then.

DAC

[GMCDAC]

Here's beautiful '66 I saw on Facebook tonight.

DAC