Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

I will posting pictures in a couple hours and I'm wanting this post to gain some traction. I purchased this truck when I was 14 for $3,000 and now I'm 25. I'm trying to figure out the real info on this truck. What is it? Doing research over the years I've found info but very little and very vague. Looking at this truck it's a 1976 GMC Royal Sierra 1500 1/2 Ton Long Wheel base 2WD. One side has an emblem and the other doesn't. I do have a second emblem I purchased online. The weird part is on the inside it has blue door panels with an emblem that says "Spirit of '76". According to online the Royal Sierra model was made for 1976-1979 GMC models as a trim package and the Spirit of '76 model was for Chevy. I'm curious if someone has thrown something together or if this is an actual model that was purchased this way. Is there anyway to find additional details on this? Does anyone have extra knowledge on this particular type of truck?

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

If it was built in Canada, you can get the build sheet. Look it up.

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

Take the VIN to a dealer. (Edit: I say this every time this question is asked. I don't know if anyone ever does it.) They might be able to look it up for you. Mine did for me, but it's a Canadian-built truck in Canada.

My guess is someone added the door panels to make their own special edition.

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

It was built in St. Louis according to the VIN.

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

Mine was built in St. Louis according to the VIN.

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

The reason I'm wanting to know is for restoration. Honestly I'm not sure if these trucks are really worth that much anymore fixed up unless it's more for sentimental reasons. I'm just trying to decide if I should go original or put own own little spin on things and fix it up a little more modern but no too modern. Anyone wanna post examples of their builds?

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

It sounds like someone swapped out the door panels. Where's the pic's?

Re: Royal Sierra or Spirit of '76?
 

Ultimately, every truck build or restoration is your own. Don't do it for future resale value. You're almost guaranteed to be disappointed. If you want a concours correct restoration, absolutely do it, but only do it for your own enjoyment. Don't worry about whether other folks want it or not.

Your build depends completely on your intended use of the truck.
If you want to quickly sell it, just throw on new tires, new door seals, get the engine running good, and move it out the door.
If you're going to use the truck for a daily two-hour commute, lower it a little, add a LS engine, a good AC/heat system, nice cab insulation and interior, and a decent radio.
If you're using the truck for occasional trash runs, and otherwise it's just parked in the backyard shed, then replace the tires, adjust the brakes, and only do what you have to in order to be legal.
If you're planning to pull a gooseneck camper for a thousand miles per summer, swap the chassis for a c30, and install a big block or Cummins engine.
If your goal is a weekend cruiser and show-quality rig, then do your due diligence on researching the truck's history. Work through the SPID sticker for any info. Decode the VIN. Dig through the paint layers to figure out what colors the truck had originally. Etc. Etc.

You get the point.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to do with the truck. If I were making suggestions, I'd say paint it up in the Spirit-of-76 pattern if you like that color combo. It's definitely unique, and calls attention to the truck like few other paint schemes do. It just screams "1970s," which is great. Don't worry about whether it originally had that paint scheme or not. I'm suggesting painting it like that just because the truck is from the right time period, and it's a fun color combo. Don't sweat the interior details. Install a color-matching set(panels, dash, seat, etc) that's nice enough quality for date nights. Build the drivetrain and suspension to best meet your needs for the next 5 years. If in a few years, your needs have changed, then swap things around again. Don't be afraid of chassis swaps if that makes the most sense for your situation. These trucks are simply big-boy Legos. Their value is in their utilitarian adaptability, and the way they can be configured into anything from a tow rig, to a race car, to a trail buggy. Embrace that fact, and a lot of the stress goes away.