The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Hey guys - been a while as usual. I drift from 60-66 GMC projects to 55-59 projects and back and forth, so my posts are intermittent but I have a new love to show you. I have not scoured the earth or asked any of you to dig me one up, but secretly always wanted to find and buy a real short bed that came with the uber rare "Sports Trim option" interior. I have watched and waited and watched and waited for years and years and never found one that could be bought. Found about 5 all totaled and all were longbeds and dont think any were for sale. So, a buddy up in Michigan found this one a few days ago and despite its "rough survivor" grade body condition, it certainly represents what was at one time a beautiful factory Red and White Custom short wideside so I had to have it not knowing if I'd live long enough to see another one LOL. Might require a lot of parts some of you can assist me in finding or buying from you (hint hint), but this is the type of GMC we all dream of finding so it definitely deserves to be saved and resurrected.

I don't know how many newer members there are in this forum who might not know, so I will just add this little blurb about the special Sports Trim Option package to catch everyone up on what it was.

The Sport trim package was a 1966 one year only interior option offered on Custom and non-Custom (called Deluxe) trucks which included a special two toned Charcoal Gray vinyl 1966-only version of the later "buddy buckets" popular in the 67-68 owners crowd. The new seats came with a 3rd smaller seat in the center that had a folding backrest which doubled as an armrest when not in use. under the 3rd seat was a hidden metal storage compartment similar to a console. Special matching two-toned Charcoal vinyl door panel covers were added to the doors, and the dash cap was painted a contrasting Charcoal color. Loop carpeting was part of the package and was a dark Bronze color to blend the Fawn interior paint with the Charcoal Gray seats.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Nice find -- congratulations! Now you've got your work cut out for you though. The fun is only beginning!

Let us know what engine and transmission it has (or had?).

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Thanks Ed! I am hoping some members will post pictures of any Sport Trim equipped 66's anyone may have too. Probably an old thread or two I can figure out how to get to and read from years back. This one to my surprise was one of the more base model inline 250 equipped trucks but since that engine is long gone and same for the 3 speed, I will re-construct it with a 351E and Powerglide probably. Can't restore it "original" without the engine it came with but I can do it nicely equipped and "correct" and truthfully, about anyone would do the same I think. Most of us are V6 fans and less so much on the 250. I would certainly love to discover anyone was hoarding a V6 equipped parts truck that had 100% of its 3 speed overdrive equipment on it and for sale- now that would be sweeter than doing a powerglide. But, the only thing as rare as the Sport Trim option seems to be that **** overdrive. You can forget anyone selling you that because it doesn't exist. Not even going to ask LOL

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

If I were you, I wouldn't bother with a Powerglide unless you have some kind of fond attachment to two speed automatics. The '66 I restored that Clyde in SC owns now came from the factory with a 351E and a three speed Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission. That's what you ought to put in your truck too. Clyde even added an overdrive unit (Gear Vendors maybe) behind the TH400.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Here is a link previously posted by Ed from Hemmings and that link leads to the auction. The featured truck was a longbed with the Sport trim and a great video link. I’m sure you saw it GMCNUT.

That auction link had many numerous parts like a GMC V-6 crate engine and a pair of 351E exhaust manifolds and hubcaps and other parts.

https://www.bidfastandlast.com/auctions/detail/bw77796

Among those photos was this intake manifold I’ve not seen but only read about. Looks to be a Magnum Factory Four barrel and must be ultra rare.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Send the pics to Pete and he told me the crate engine is a 432 and the 4bbl manifold is a non magnum, truly rare dealer installed item. Judging by the parts that he gathered, he knew a thing or two about these engines.

GMCNut, very nice truck! A 351E would be a very welcome addition.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Neat truck! Certainly a bit rough, but lots there to work with. If you go with a 351E and find the stock automatic transmission adapter, flywheel, and flexplate you can use either a Pow-R-Flow (GMC Powerglide) or Turbo 400. The 400 was an option in mid-'66 so it would be correct as well. And like Ed Snyder says, probably a better choice.

BTW- did anyone notice the NAPA invoice for cylinder head work? The customer was the Los Angeles Times, they had a large fleet of V-6 powered GMC tilt cabs running on propane.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Interesting about the head work, a while back I posted that IMPCO article you added that it probably had to be the same customer.

My 305 runs on propane too and it loves it.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Here's a picture of a couple of L.A. Times Tilt Cabs:

https://www.latimes.com/visuals/phot...htmlstory.html

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Very nice. These came with 401 V6's.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

So, I do need to get some clarity on the T400 thing....in Chevrolet, the T400 was NOT available even as a special order for a C10 1/2 ton, and I would expect GMC to follow suit for all 1000 series trucks. I was thinking the T400 was a 3/4 ton -up option. Can you or Pete confirm?

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

So in Chevrolet the T400 was only available in 3/4 ton-up sized trucks in 66' so I would assume same for GMC - not available in a 1/2 ton. Wasn't the truck you sold Clyde a 3/4 ton?

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

[QUOTE=Funky61;76296]Here is a link previously posted by Ed from Hemmings and that link leads to the auction. The featured truck was a longbed with the Sport trim and a great video link. I’m sure you saw it GMCNUT.

yes! That was a sweet truck someone got. Wonder what happened to the intake and all those parts

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

GMC 1/2 ton pickups were available in 1966 and later with 400 TH - I think they were actually what was called the 375 which is a 400 TH with a smaller diameter tail shaft.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

The attached build sheet for my old '66 (dated 6-6-66 by the way!) lists the transmission as "AT-400 TRANS".

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Good question, now that you mention it all the TH400's I have seen in original '66 trucks have been C20's/C1500's. I do think TH400's were available in GMC C1000's with V6's as lizzemiester stated. I'll ask over on the 67-72 Chevy Truck Forum, someone there might know.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Consensus is the TH400 was not available the GMC 1000's (1/2 ton) in 1966.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Must be my lucky day....

I am brand new to the forum and have admired old trucks for as long as I can remember. I decided to by a project truck and found a 66 fleet side with the body in amazing condition. the rust behind the front wheels is the only spot where there is damage. The rest of the truck is super solid including the floorboards and other than some missing trim pieces everything is there...

What I found out today (from you) is that my interior is exactly the custom sport trim package you described. I am excited to know I lucked into a rare option but not sure what that means in terms of value and the direction i should go in restoration.

I guess the one "negative" is that the previous owner put a 500ci Cadillac Eldorado Motor and TH400 transmission.

Like I said I have only been a classic truck owner for about 3 days so I am sure I will have a ton of questions....

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

How does one go about getting a build sheet like this??????????????

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Congratulations on your rare find, Megan! Looks like your truck definitely has a lot of potential. We'll be interested in following along to learn what your plans are for it. You've come to the right forum to learn more about these trucks.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

Our trucks left the factories with build sheets tucked behind the seat springs. Oftentimes, though, they disappear over the years. So check under and behind your seat. If you find one, be careful attempting to remove it without tearing it.

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

It’s been a few months since we last saw your ‘66 Megan. How does it look today? What have you done since you bought it? Did you replace the Cadillac engine or is it still in the truck?

Gibson
Nashville


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

caddy engine still in the truck but freshly rebuilt... the modifications necessary to undo what was done to accommodate the 500 Caddy motor and, th400 transmission and so forth was prohibitive....

so far I have rebuilt the motor and transmission, replaced all the front suspension components (ball joints , drag link etc.) upgraded the front to disc brakes and changed out the master cylinder so that the truck actually stops.... rewired a good part of the electrical.

current projects are to continue to try to revive the original wood bed which is in decent shape and to have the buddy seat reupholstered in the original dark and light gray configuration

I am sure it wont make the purist happy but had to move forward with what was done..Attachment 10645

Attachment 10646

Attachment 10647

Attachment 10648

Attachment 10649

Re: The seldom seen 1966 Sport Trim option - a REAL short wideside has been found!
 

the seat picture is not mine but what i am going with when i get it redone hopefully this week