1951 GMC Pick-Up to Concours Condition

General Motors had reached their zenith in the Stateside boom of red-blooded cars for blue collar Americans with their launch of the GMC Stepside Pick-up truck. General Motors had beaten Dodge, Ford and Studebaker to the market in 1947 with this model. The engine was given slightly more power for the 1951 model year, along with better electrics, while performance wasn't brisk, it was torquey at low rpm which is exactly what most owners needed. It remains to this day the hot-rodder's choice. The Stepside launched American love affair with the SUV, a love that still dominates the US car market today. Whereas Land Rover motored across the moors, the GMC Stepside cruised down Route 66. This show winning hot-rodders delight was first registered in the UK on 5th August 1998 following its ground up restoration by the renowned Roy Pitter of Hot Rods & Choppers, Hampshire. Each nut and bolt was substituted with stainless steel replacements, tinted windows fitted and the professional respray finishing it off. The 283 small block Chevy engine has Holley 600 cam four-barrel carburettors, complementing the smooth 350 GMC automatic transmission. Upgraded to Camaro front suspension with 10 bolt GM rear axle, with Camaro power steering, the wheels are the sought after chrome "Smoothies". Upon completion, OSJ 337 was featured in Hot Rod magazine. The current vendor purchased OSJ 337 in 2008 from enthusiast Andrew Geekie, who himself had covered a mere 10,000 miles in ten years. Purchased as a promotional vehicle for the vendor's business on the 13th September 2008, OSJ 337 was used sparingly, and for the past four years has remained correctly stored in his garage. In June of this year the Pick-Up was recommissioned for sale with a bill of £572.42 for a full check over of mechanicals, a new battery, 3ltrs of ATF, topping up of other fluids, two new front tyres, adjustment of belts, greasing of steering and prop joints and a thorough road test. Although in near Concours condition there are a few stone chips to the front and the rear hardwood bed which would benefit from re-varnishing to be shown in its greatest light. The odometer shows a reading of 5,042, and we suspect it has "gone round the clock", as the information we have from the vendor shows that the truck hasn't covered more than 12,000 since the 1998 restoration. MOT and tax exempt, OSJ 337 offers the enthusiast an example of 1950s hot rod perfection without the prohibitive restoration costs. Currently on SORN the vehicle has a number of descriptive bills and an in-depth history file dating from its 1998 restoration, plus the full V5 and V5C.