the gmc times€¦ · maple plain, mn 55359 763-242-6734 [email protected] page 1 gmc truck...

The Newsletter of the GMC Truck Chapter of POCI

September/October 2017

THE GMC TIMES

GMC Winners in Texas

The GMC TimesSept./Oct. 2017

Volume 11 ~ Number 5

The Official Publication of POCI’s GMC Truck Chapter

Pontiac Oakland Club InternationalChapter #93 ~ Established 2007

www.gmctruckclub.wordpress.com

The GMC Times is published six times per year by the GMC Truck Chapter of the Pontiac-Oakland Club Interna-tional (POCI), a nonprofit organization.

The GMC Truck Chapter, founded in 2007, is dedicated to the preservation, res-toration, education and enjoyment of all GMC vehicles, stock or modified. Mem-bership 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 “sub-scription only” rates for the GMC Times newsletter are $20.00 U.S. and $25.00 (outside of U.S.) An “elec-tronic” membership is available for $12.00 per year. Send change of ad-dress notices and article submissions to the GMC Times editor (use the contact information listed at right).

GTC Head Honchos

PresidentDennis Carol

9503 Country Club LaneDavison, MI 48423

[email protected]

Vice PresidentJohn Preikschat

PO Box 310 Station MainWhite City, SK, Canada

(306)[email protected]

TreasurerDon Berringer

1303 U.S. Hwy 42 Ashland, OH 44805

419-282-1200 [email protected]

Secretary, Newsletter Editor,

Web Site Administrator:Paul Bergstrom

1165 County Road 83Maple Plain, MN 55359

[email protected]

Page 1

GMC TRUCK CHAPTER

gtcpoci.info

PREZ SEZI cannot believe that summer has gone by so fast this year. It’s now early October as I write this, the POCI Convention is over, we wrapped up Jacob’s high school graduation open house, we headed off to Hilton Head Island South Carolina for one last family vacation before Jacob headed off to college for the first time. After that, it was the Woodward Dream Cruise, Labor Day weekend and the start of college and pro football season, and the MLB baseball playoffs have started. The Charleston (WV) Rod Run and Doo Wop was my last big show of the year with Lucy. Lucy has to be in a homecoming parade on Friday and the Widetracker’s Fall Color tour will be on Saturday, then it’s time to put Lucy away for the winter. So what have you done to your truck this summer? Have you had a chance to work on it right? Have you had a chance to drive it? I hope the answer is yes to both questions. Please send us your adventure stories, humorous and war stories, and challenges. We are here to serve you, the GMC community.

If any of you are familiar with the Gilmore Museum in Hickory Corners Michigan (near Kalamazoo), you know it to be a premiere car collection and a world-class museum. However, one thing it lacks is an extensive truck collection. This is because the previous curator of the museum was very pro-car / anti-truck. That is no longer the case now. A new all truck exhibit opened in May, and I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview. I will be sharing those pictures with you shortly. Until next time, Dennis Carol, GTC Prez.

….means everything else is just a Tonka!

The Michigan Widetrackers (POCI Chapter #16) invited GMC Historian Don Meyer to their annual spring Dustoff car and truck show on June 11th. He was the guest speaker this year. Don spoke about how Pontiac and GMC have been interrelated over the decades, beginning in the early 1930s when Pontiac actually made bodies for GMC, and when Pontiac engines were put into late 1950s pickups.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

GMC Truck Chapter

Member Stories & GMC Truck Photos Wanted!

What’s in your garage?

New members... send us some photos of your trucks!

John Saeli, Geneva, NYOwns: 1934 1-1/2 ton Model T-16-B

From The Driver’s Seat

The car show/cruising season is coming to an end here in Minnesota, although the changing colors of the leaves on a sunny day can make for a great road trip!

Keep sending in ideas and contributions to help make our GMC Times newsletter enjoyable and educational. I know we all like to hear about how the truck proj-ects are coming along, so what ever stage you’re in, send in a few photos and give us an update - it may even encourage us to get going on our own projects!

Thanks to Gerson Goldberg and Den-nis Carol for their contributions. Special thanks to Don Meyer for his letter and information on GMC engines this issue. Don, we truly appreciate the support and encouragement! Until the next issue...

Keep on Truckin’!Paul Bergstrom, Editor

GMC Truck Chapter website:

gmctruckclub.wordpress.com

2018POCI Convention

Wisconsin Dells, WIJune 24-28th

Online registration is now available on the POCI website (www.poci.org).

Hotel information and event updates are posted on the website and pub-lished in the Smoke Signals. Call the POCI Club Office at (763) 479-2111 if you have any questions.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

2017 Membership Dues We have included a renewal form if your chapter dues are due. Please remit payment to Don Berringer, treasurer.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

GMC Truck Engines ‘49-‘55

How to Become a GMc Truck Dealer

The Pontiac district sales representative wanted me to attend the SOB (son of boss) course at General Motors Institute (GMI, now Kettering Univ.) in Flint. Unlike my brother, my college degree was in Chemistry, not Business Adminis-tration, and the rep felt I would learn a lot from the course.

I went to this 5-week course. While there, I spoke with other Pontiac SOBs, and almost every one said that when they signed up with Pontiac, GMC Truck was included in the deal. Sounded cool. So, when I returned home afterwards, I obtained needed permission from Pontiac and wrote to GMC Truck to apply for the franchise.

The franchise was open for our town, but they needed a Full-Line dealer. The Area of Responsibility for the 9500-series trucks would be the part of Connecticut east of the Connecticut River, a very large area. The GMC people were not happy about having a carline dualed with a Full-Line GMC Truck & Coach franchise. That was very rarely done as the heavy truck business is quite different, as we were to discover. However, no one else was at all interested in the HD franchise.In those days, GMC Trucks had several levels of franchising available: Up to 3500 (Light Duty Franchise), to 4500, to 5500, to 6500, to 7500, and to 9500 (Full-Line Franchise). Coaches (as in, Greyhound buses) were always separate franchises as were the Motorhomes when they became available.

In April 1972, we were appointed the Light Duty (to 3500) fran-chise. We began con-struction of a separate service department for the Heavy-Duty trucks. Once that was complet-ed in May 1973, GMC upgraded our franchise agreement to include through 9500-series trucks.

My father and his brothers had started an auto repair facility in 1919. In 1941, a few years before I was born, they took the big step and took on the Pontiac franchise. So, I grew up around the dealership. After my older brother graduated college, my father bought out his brothers, so that it was just our immediate family.

Congrats toSteve Cook on the Most Outstanding and the Best of Show awards!

We had some very interesting times learning the HD truck business and eventu-ally, becoming very successful at it. GMC Truck had a program called EZ-Spec to have pre-engineered trucks quickly a dealership. The problem was that an averagely equipped truck in Michigan for a given application was not always best for rural Eastern Connecticut. Custom specifying how the truck was to be built to be useful in our marketing area was something we had to quickly learn to do right. In the process of properly equipped Medium- or Heavy Duty-Truck into a cus-tomer’s business, I had to learn as much as possible about what the customer wanted to do as well as what the customer was actually doing and planning to do. Fortunately, GMC Truck was very willing to do the engineering necessary to ensure that the Regular Production Options (RPOs) and the Special Equipment Options (SEOs) that we would request to do the job for the customer could be built into a safe and usable truck or truck tractor.

While we sold lots of Light-Duty GMC Trucks and made lots of satisfied custom-ers, there was always something different in selling the heavier stuff. Whether it was a single truck or a fleet, simple delivery van or complicated special purpose truck, the moment of delivery was special.

Gerson M. Goldberg

Info Wanted1932 GMC/Yellow CabHello,

I spoke to you earlier about the Yellow Cab Co Pontiac. So the story goes in 1932 GM Truck produced 394 GMC General Cabs specially for Yellow Cab Co. They used the 1932 Pontiac body on a heavy duty chassis. They added a new grill and hood ornament and also included a GM Truck badge on the Pontiac body. They were sold as GMC commercial vehicles by GM Truck. This piece of GM history may be the only one left in existence and the only proof besides a picture of a brochure and a vintage picture of a 1932 Pontiac painted as a Yellow Cab.

In these pictures you will see the paint was indeed Yellow before oxidation. You will see the grill and hood ornament differences and on the GM Truck Commer-cial brochure you will see the Pontiac and the grill. At the bottom of the brochure they mention making taxicabs. You will also see the Truck badge on the Pontiac body.

Any info and or interest please contact:Darren Hunt30 Hamco CircleRussellville AR 72802Phone 1-479-857-9613Email [email protected]

photo from the internet

Smoke Signals Coverage

Thanks to Tim Dye for the GMC cov-erage in the Smoke Signals magazine. In fact, a GMC Truck is on the cover of the October issue. What a great strory on that ‘37 GMC COE, check it out.

GTC Facebook Page

Join us on Facebook - we currently have 1,500+ likes, not too shabby!Can anyone help out on this question that came through on our Facebook page:

www.business.facebook.com/GMCTruckChapter

Check out our Website:www.gmctruckclub.wordpress.com

1938 GMC BUS Short Wheel Base

VERY RARE bus with 14 foot wheel base. It measures 23 feet bumper to bumper. It is close to 8 feet 6 inches tall. Has the original GMC 6 cylinder engine, and 4 speed transmis-sion. Located in Rapid City, SD. Asking $4,500. Clear title. Call Bill at 605-348-7373.

http://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Details.cfm?VID=732292&Year=1938&Make=GMC&Model=BUS

Ride the “Short Bus”!

GMC TimesClassified Ad Rates:

(for 6 issues)

$200 full page $100 half page $50 quarter page $25 business card size

GMC Times On-LineMembers have access to the news-letter on-line from our web site:

www.gmctruckclub.wordpress.com

LMCTruck.com | (800) 562-8782 |©2017 Long Motor Corp.

Parts & Accessories for Trucks & SUVs1947-13 Chevy/GMC • 1948-15 Ford • 1972-15 Dodge

John Thomas’ 1964 GMC C10 Share Your Truck Journey at

LMCTruckLife.com

1962 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4 V6; ‘54 GMC 1 1/2 ton 6 cyl 4-spd w/hydramatic; ‘55 Pontiac Chieftain 2-door wag-on; ‘59 Catalina convertible & ‘59 Catalina 4-door wagon ‘60 Catalina 2-door. Contact Charles Jorgenson (701) 680-0777 [email protected] (Lisbon, ND)

$4,000 each: (3) ‘59 GMC 100’s. #1 Rare fleet model, 8 ft. stepside, orig. and 90% compelete. #2 Small win-dow, 8 ft wideside, chrome grill, 350 V8. #3 Big window, orig. V8, pwr steering, 90% complete. Contact Bill Sells email [email protected] (Par-ma, ID)

‘57 GMC extended cab w/’65 389 2 bbl, auto, Chevy front clip. Not com-pleted, project. Best offer over $7,500. Nelson Powell (618) 347-2370 (IL)

GMCs FOR SALE PARTS FOR SALEFor Sale: NOS 1965 GMC Truck Right Side Front Fender Part #1-3781472 $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 post-age 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) 200-5279

Rebuilt ‘63 305 V6: GM HEI dist., Rochester elec. choke, carb., updated heads. 6,400 miles, drive it, $650. Also have chrome grille and bumper for ‘60-’66 GMC $25 @.Roger Aho (734) 751-9316 (Plymouth, MI)

305 V6 engine: 3,500 miles on prof. rebuild, the works! $900. Walt Heini-ger 208-835-4720 (Troy, ID)

Front clip & chrome grille & bum-per for a 1957 GMC 2-ton or larger truck. Jim Goltz (507) 828-9712 email [email protected] (MN)

1952 GMC center hubcaps: white lettering $100 + shipping. Howard Kolus (717)766-6444

1954-57 GMC 6-volt radio, exc. work-ing condition with original installation instructions and manual. $575 Daniel Rush (207) 985-9850 [email protected]

I have a 1947 250 GMC flatbed, single axle that I am not able to restore. If there is someone out there that would like to take on this project. Please con-tact me at [email protected], Fred Dutton

1957 GMC: Camaro sub frame. 1966 389 motor.700 r4 trans. Cruise control, tilt wheel, vintage air/heater, power steering, power brakes. We drive this truck anywhere, it gets noticed wher-ever it goes. Iowa. Fly in, drive home! Asking: $22,000 Rainer Nielsen, [email protected]. 712-431-6837

Wanted: Literature/brochures for ‘37 to ‘58 Canadian GMC light duty truck showing panel trucks and sedan deliv-eries. Wanted for 1949 3/4-ton: radio, fog lights John Preikschat (306) 771-2929 [email protected]

Wanted: cab for 1/2 ton ‘69 GMC pick up. Lloyd Oman, Box 131, Brady, NE 69123 (308) 930-0131

Wanted: ‘46 GMC lower front grille. Louis Flippin (336) 986-8802 (NC)

Wanted: Any speed equipment for 50’s GMC 228-302 C.I. engine (in-take manifold, exhaust headers, carbs., etc). Duane Peterson 716-664-1973 or [email protected]

Wanted: ‘92-‘99 Suburban Running Boards. I am in need of the factory ABS molded black plastic running board in excellent to mint condition. These boards consist of a long center along with a front and rear end-cap. Bryan Hartley, [email protected] 317-530-5574

Wanted: 1954-59 GMC COE “Can-nonball” diesels: artifacts, memora-bilia, photos Also driver’s stories run-ning these trucks. James Semon (440) 979-0831 [email protected]

Wanted: GMC COE, Delane Lang-ton 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), grille for 1946 GMC. Don Ber-ringer (OH) 419-289-0591

WANTEDWanted: 1963 GMC Fleetside send email to: [email protected] Charles Ide.

Wanted-Front Grill Emblem for 410 GMC 55-59, will pay in advance and pay for shipping. Contact: Lawrence Pilgrim, (706) 892-6440 (GA)

1959 GMC wanted: fleet model (stripped down pick up). Send photo to Jerry Welden, 202 Glen Dr., Iowa Falls, IA 50126 or email [email protected]

1956-1959 GMC Pickup with original factory Pontiac V-8 engine. Contact Jim Ketchersid at (205) 979-5387 (AL) or [email protected]

Wanted: Any GMC truck or tractor prior to 1950. Joe Castellana 404-808-1010 (GA)

Wanted: 1970-72 GMC pickup: 1500 1/2 ton, 2WD, shortbed. #1/ or #2 con-dition. Reward paid to leads that end up in a purchase! Steve Ledger (847) 487-5340 (IL) [email protected]

wanted: 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: for 1989 GMC Sierra 3500 SL Dump Truck (SWB) grille, tan door panels, dash rubber floor mat, rubber cover for brake, what have you? Deane Fehrman (303) 880-2900

Page 16

GTC Technical Advisors

GMC HistorianDon Meyer, GMC Historian, is avail-able to field your questions. You may contact Don at (248) 693-1227 (Michi-gan)

GMC MotorhomesJohn Biwersi, (651) 779-6498 Central Time Zone (MN), [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 pick-up for 44 years. He is also looking for used chrome park light trim rings for 1951-63 GMC pickups. Contact him if you can provide any leads.

Canadian GMCsJohn 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]

WANTEDWanted: GMC hood emblem for 1941-47 GMC C.O.E.; Intake, Exhaust Manifold for GMC C.O.E. 228, 248, 270. One for an updraft Carburetor Walter Heiniger (208) 835-4720 (ID)

Restoring a 1989 3500 short-wheel-base “Tipper”. Could use tan interior parts, door panels, dash, upholstery and good grille. Also married to “S-Series” (1955-67) IH 3/4-ton pickups and parts. Interested in sales brochures for both. Deane Tehrman (303) 880-2900 or email [email protected]

Front clip & bumper for a 1957 GMC Pick Up. Prefer factory light blue col-or. Jim Goltz (507) 828-9712 email [email protected] (MN)

Wanted: set of hubcaps for a 1966 GMC Suburban, 4-wheel drive, 1/2 ton. Don Golm (708) 485-6950

Wanted: step gas tank for a 1971 C60 Chevy Single Axle dump truck. Con-tact Jerry Holtzgrafe, 2626 Mayfair, Quincy, IL 62305, (217) 316-329

Always looking for photos of GMC Cannonball trucks, James Semon Sr. [email protected]

Wanted: 1959 GMC Truck “wide-side” or Suburban with original Pon-tiac V-8. Any condition. 910-686-0899 John Keating (NC)

Wanted: 50s to ‘72 GMC 2-wheel drive automatic pick up, solid. [email protected] (920) 621-0584

Wanted: 1956 GMC/Pontiac engine mounts. Tom Wilhite 316-250-1143

Wanted: 1949 GMC pickup ignition surround ring/lock, diagram for throt-tle & carb., AM radio (complete, was radio delete). Kerry Klotzman (216) 469-0190 [email protected]

Wanted: Continental 4-cyl. engine for a 1920 GMC 3/4 ton Model 16 truck, need for parts. Also, 1922 Buda engine specs. Dennis Klug (320) 251-3133

Page 17

GMC Chapter Membership / Subscriber FormIndicate if joining as a POCI Member or a non-POCI Member

____ $15.00 Annual dues if you are a POCI Member (POCI # _________)____ $20.00 Annual dues for non-POCI member

____ $12.00 Annual dues for an Electronic Membership (newsletter is emailed to you)

(US rates above, if outside of US, please add $5.00 to the rates above, except for Electronic Member)

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 Don Berringer, 1303 U.S. Hwy 42 Ashland, OH 44805

NEXT ISSUE...how about a feature onYOUR GMC TRUCK?

WANTED

Wanted: Fleetside tailgate for my 1959, “Fleetside” bed emblems, can be very rough, for a trailer. Natalie Preikschat (306) 692-3938

Wanted: “dog dish” style hubcap that fits 1955 to 1959 GMC 100 series pick-up. Looking for one or two hubcaps to refinish and paint white. I can use ei-ther the white or chrome hubcap so long as they are not badly dented or rusted. Contact: [email protected]

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the gmc times€¦ · maple plain, mn 55359 763-242-6734 [email protected] page 1 gmc truck...

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