1978 GMC High Sierra

Description

Work or play, this 1978 GMC High Sierra pickup is up for it. It's got that great look says it's strong enough for the job site, but it's so clean and well-restored that it almost seems a shame to get it dirty. But regardless of what you do with it, you're going to be pleased with the way it drives.

Following a frame-off restoration about seven years ago and was treated to a very high quality paint job that looks quite authentic in light yellow. Now it may seem strange to give a truck a frame-off restoration like this, but you can't argue with the results, giving this GMC a whole new lease on life. The angular sheetmetal has always looked great on these trucks, and even with light-colored paint on it, the result is one handsome hauler. Although the short beds are currently popular, in my personal opinion the long bed/regular cab has the best proportions, and this truck looks substantial going down the road or among other show vehicles. Plus, with an 8-foot bed you can move just about anything and you'll wonder how the guys with their short bed trucks ever make things work. You're in luck, too, because there's a spray-in bedliner and a mat, just to be sure, so no worries about actually putting it to work. There's also enough chrome to make this truck look upscale, which was always GMC's mission; the bumpers (with optional guards), the grille, and the stainless wheel arch moldings all look great.

The cloth interior makes a big difference in terms of the truck's luxurious feel. Most of its lesser siblings have sticky vinyl, but the new cloth seat cover makes the cab a very comfortable place to spend some time. The headliner was replaced just last year and the door panels are in excellent condition and you can see how thorough the paint job was when you look at the doors and lower dash. The factory instrument cluster surrounded by a brushed metal-look applique makes it look fresher than its age would suggest. There are also options like factory A/C, a tilt column, and an aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo with speakers in the kick panels, so it's really a pleasure to drive. There are also tinted windows with sliding rear glass, so it's easy to stay comfortable inside, and all that glass plus the rubber holding it is new.

The 350 cubic inch V8 that powers it was rebuilt last year and is a strong runner today. The engine bay is nicely maintained but pretty stock, aside from the chrome air cleaner and a few new parts like the brake master cylinder. The block was bored .060 over and there's a 4-barrel carburetor up top and long-tube headers underneath, so there's plenty of horsepower to make it ready to haul, well, anything. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission feeds a beefy 12-bolt rear end with highway-friendly 3.08 gears inside. The custom exhaust system is a 2-into-1 set up with a Flowmaster muffler, so it sounds a little racy without being too aggressive. Factory dual tanks give it bladder-bursting range on the highway and cool Torque Thrust wheels with tall 265/70/15 Uniroyal radials make for a great stance.

This truck is either an awesome starter collectable or a really affordable work truck, and all you need to do is come down and take it for a drive. Call now!