68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

so i have been looking for a 67 or 68 shortbed for a LONG time. i've been wanting something special to keep long term, and i'm super picky. well i finally found the one. it's a pretty funny story how i ended up buying it, so i thought i would share...

i have been religious with my searching (to the point i'm surprised my wife puts up with it). i can't count how many sellers i have asked to see the "factory options sticker in the glove box" and 9 times out of 10 the trucks for sale (at least in california) no longer have it. which has been a sticking point for me. well last week i was headed out of town for a 9-day hunting trip out of state that i'd been planning for 5 years with some good friends. the plan was to leave saturday morning at 3am. well the friday afternoon before, an ad popped up that looked interesting. 68 swb fleetside, primered, lowered, camaro rally wheels. looked like a decent truck so i called the guy. he called me back around 5pm that night while i was doing my final packing for my trip. i asked him to read me the SPID (which i was surprised it had). he read through it quickly, and a few things caught my attention like the color (black/white) and custom trim. when he read the engine size he just said "v-8". when he was finished reading i asked what size the engine was and he said "uh it's a v-8". so i left it at that.

i was showing my wife the pics of the truck and telling her i was seriously thinking about it. a factory black/white custom swb would definitely do it for me. then the guy texts me a pic of the SPID, and i see it immediately... 396!!! i couldn't believe it. i called the guy immediately and told him i would give him his asking price. so my wife and i spent the next 30 minutes trying to figure out how/when to get it home. it was located 5 hours away, and i was leaving in 9 hours for my trip. my wife said she would go pick it up after i left (which i wasn't entirely comfortable with), but she couldn't get to it for a couple days. i was nervous he wouldn't hold it that long since he had other people calling. then my wife says "let's load up the kids and get it now". needless to say my wife is VERY understanding! so i talked the guy into letting me see the truck at 11pm. threw the rest of my gear together, my 3 kids into the car, and headed north. bought it. drove it 100 miles back to my parents house part way between to store it while on my trip. put my wife and kids up in a hotel in sacramento, just in time for my friends to pick me up in sac on the way out of town. didn't sleep at all that night, but it was well worth it!

i'm so excited to have the truck, and so thankful to have such a supportive wife. i've always wanted a big block shortbed, but never thought i'd find one. i finally have my dream truck! here are a couple pics. still formulating my plans for the truck, but i have a 396 that will be part of it...

Attachment 1450114

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Super nice find, that's my dream truck. but we need more pictures.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Wow. That's awesome. And a great find. Looking forward to seeing it painted.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Congrats on the find!

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Buddies too, Distant cousin to my GMC that was 396 t400 power steering brakes and air w/speed warning. My is a 3/4 ton though it will some day be a short 1/2 ton with 5 lugs. [I already have the rolling 5 lug frame and short bed. Jim

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

awesome. I had a great 68 and I regret selling it everyday of my life haha. Can't wait to see it done

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Very nice find!

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

How long had you been looking before you finally found it?

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Great story with a feel good ending.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

thanks. i've wanted one like this for well over 10 years, but really been searching hard for the last 3. here are a few more pics, gotta do one at a time from the iphone since i'm still on the road. not sure when it will happen, but i do want to repaint the original black/white scheme eventually.

Attachment 1450200

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Nice find! You don't see many of those around.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Very nice score! Congratulations to you and your wife! ;)

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Unicorn.
#Winning

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Congrats on finding your truck :metal: Drive it as-is now and enjoy it. When the time comes it looks like an easy resto or refresh with little to no rust or body damage.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

That's a great looking truck with a better looking SPID! Nice find!

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Wow! Nice find

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Wow, congrats on the awesome find!

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Nice find ! it looks good and straight

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Nice find and great story.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

That's a cool story, Wife, and truck. Not in that order necessarily. When you really want a particular thing it's good to wait as they do pop up from time to time. :metal:

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Congratulations from a fellow '68 freak! Nice find.

Re: 68 factory black 396 swb custom
 

Congratulations on the truck fine. You wife sounds like a wonderful women, another nice find. Your a lucky guy! Does your wife have a sister like her?