If you don’t like trucks, I invite you to check out some of my previous articles, because that’s all this show was about. The Southeastern All Chevy/GMC Truck Nationals played host to a few hundred – you guessed it – Chevy and GMC trucks on one hot July day. As I’m sure most, if not all, of you know, trucks are the flavor of the moment in the classic automobile hobby. Pretty much every decade from the 1920’s was represented at the show, but the 67-72 C10s and Squarebody (73-87) trucks were by far the most common body styles. It helps that they made Squarebodies for 15 years (longer if you count the 88-91 Blazer and Suburban), but there was a lot of variety even in that category. Everything from a factory-fresh longbed C20 to a super-nineties pro street build with a ridiculous paint job and a big block Chevy under the hood could be found on the grassy hills of Moss-Wright Park in Goodlettsville.
I was also surprised at the number of 1950’s fleetside trucks at the show. There weren’t a ton, but they didn’t make many to begin with. It’s also somewhat rare to see the old GMC big displacement V6 today, and there was a whole row of them at the show. A 305 cubic inch V6. That’s insane. The engine is physically huge too for the number of cylinders, resembling a small block Chevy V8 if you just glance at it. I can only assume that’s why they discontinued it. Then again, maybe that’s because I’m trying to look at this engine (and the engine family, with a V6 reaching up to 478 cubic inches) in a modern sense and it doesn’t make any sense that way. Maybe a Triton or Magnum V10 would be comparable, but it’s still crazy to me because the Triton V10 has less displacement than the 478 V6. Coming back to the topic at hand, possibly the most unique vehicle at the show was a ’67 Suburban that had been converted to a 3-door crew cab truck. In essence, it was an Avalanche 30 years before Chevrolet made an Avalanche.
Were there more Suburbans and Blazers? You bet. The vast majority of them were Squarebodies, but there were a few from the prior generations. Just like the more ordinary trucks, they were customized in all possible manners as well. The show featured several oddballs, including an unbelievably original S10 Blazer. S10s, El Caminos, and newer generations of GM trucks were scattered throughout the field as well, although in much smaller numbers. My personal favorite Chevrolet truck body style – the ’58/’59 Apache – had a relatively strong showing too. A few people brought along two-wheeled transportation, to display along with – or in – their truck. A little humor helps too, and a drift trike with a LSX sticker on the single cylinder engine provided a bit, as did the SS 396 sticker on a mobility scooter.
There’s no denying trucks’ popularity in today’s car enthusiast community. I suspect they’ll stay popular in the future as well, since so many young car guys (and gals) are growing up seeing them all over the place. While it did get a little repetitive towards the end of the show seeing only trucks, there is more variety than many people would realize. Stock, lifted, lowered, over-the-top custom, and more. You can do it all to a truck.
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