Historical/This I know/60-66 Model Changes

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Some info. . .
Well a lot of info!!!!

1960 - In 1960, Chevrolet introduced this new body style truck. It was a completely redesigned truck from the previous years, both in appearance and functionality. Front suspension is a newly designed torsion bar system. Rear suspension is a coil spring and trailing arm design. The low mounted grill consists of 2 horizontal bars connecting dual headlamps. CHEVROLET is embossed across lower bar. Center opening of grill has 3 louver insert. Front of hood has oval openings on each side. Parklamps fit in center of vertically louvered bezels and fit in these hood openings. Windshield is a wrap around design. Front windshield pillars slope forward. Vent windows are wider at tip than bottom. The dashboard consists of two large arches on either side. Instrument cluster is housed in left arch. The right arch houses the glove compartment. Master cylinder is a dual cylinder. One side operates brakes. The other side controls a hydraulically operated clutch. Small back window is standard with big back window optional. Front bumper vertical bolt holes are 3 1/4" apart. Custom cab trucks have aluminum trim strip from front fender to rear of bed on fleetside models. Side emblem consists of CHEVROLET on top with the word APACHE and series designation below.

1961- Very similar to 1960 truck. Lower bar of grill is now smooth. Plated grill insert is similar to 1960 but also has four vertical louvers and the letters CHEVROLET. Parklamps now have winged design bezels on either side of lens. Side emblems consist of the word APACHE and the series designation only.

1962- Similar to previous years but with the following changes. New modern hood without oval openings as in previous years. Character line around body is now continued around sides and front of hood. Parklamp lens is mounted in similar location surrounded by aluminum bezel. Turnsignals are now standard equipment. Grill is similar except center oval has 9 rectangular openings made from 2 vertical and 2 horizontal bars. Lower bar again has CHEVROLET embossed. Single headlamps are now used surrounded by large ribbed bezels. Custom cab trucks trim extended from front fender to rear of bed on fleetside models. A second strip of trim branched off of door trim and extended to rear of bed. Side emblems consist of a red bowtie and the series designation on top of a vertically ribbed background.

1963- Similar in appearance to earlier years. Front suspension now uses variable rate coil springs. Clutch uses mechanical linkage. Grill has CHEVROLET embossed in lower bar and single headlamps surrounded by smaller round bezels. Center of grill consists of 56 rectangular holes formed by 3 horizontal and 13 vertical bars. Front bumper vertical bolt holes are now 4 3/4" apart. First year for the 230 C.I. and 292 C.I. engines. Side emblem is a vertical rectangle with series designation on upper portion and red bowtie below.

1964 - Redesigned cab. Windshield is now flatter design than before. Windshield pillar posts slope back. Vent windows are wider at bottom than at top. Redesigned grill consists of numerous vertical and horizontal cross hatches for a screened look. Upper grill bar has CHEVROLET embossed. Single headlamps are surrounded by rectangular bezels. The dash is now full cab width and has a lip along entire top edge that forms a shelf to reduce glare. First year for self-adjusting brakes. Factory in dash air conditioning optional. Emblems are a square with series designation embossed and bowtie on top.

1965- Similar to 1964 trucks. Side emblems are now rectangular shaped with bowtie in left portion and series designation in right portion.

1966- Similar to 1964 and 1965 trucks. First year for the optional 327 V8 engine and Turbo-hydromatic transmission. Side emblems are rectangular shaped with bowtie on top and series designation on bottom.

* The 1954-56 steering wheels are the same and have their horn button on the same level with the outer ring. This changed during 1957-59. The horn button is about 3 inches deeper in this wheel making the steering column also a shorter length. This was to help protect the driver from hitting the steering column during a major wreck.
* The bed planks were not varnished or given a related finish to show off the wood grain. Trucks were produced for work and the planks were normally painted black on the 1955 and earlier. After this, they were body color or black. This better protects the wood.
* The bed planks have not been oak since the late 1930's. From then to the newer GM step pickups, the wood is hard yellow pine.
* The front fenders on 1955-57 Chevrolets are interchangeable, however, a slight difference does exist. Due to a different grill in 1957, it was necessary for GM to stamp an approx. 2" square dimple in the inner fender edge. This dimple can be filled if placed on the 1955-56 Chevrolet.
* The 1955-59 Chevrolet front bumper has the same stamping, however, only the 1958-59 has two quarter inch holes in the middle. This allows for attaching the new front license plate bracket used these two years.
* Deluxe side trim was not used on 1960-72 step beds. The add-on rear fenders did not relate to full length trim as used on fleetsides. (One exception is the 1960-61 GMC stepside. On the rare, more deluxe models, cab and front fender only came with horizontal trim like the fleetside.)
* During 1962-72 the deluxe fleetside trim was bright anodized aluminum rather than the stainless steel in 1959-61. This newer trim had been adopted throughout the automotive industry and saved in production costs.
* The famous Chevrolet high pressure 235 engine was used between 1954 and 1962. It's big brother, with some larger internal parts, was the 261 engine. A low pressure Chevrolet 235 was available on larger trucks only between 1941 and 1953. This earlier 235 has little in common with it's later 235 relative.
* The "wrap around" windshield, popular throughout the automotive industry, was used by GM from 1955-63. Modified cab and doors in 1964 changed this design to a more flat, slightly curved windshield.
* Rear bumpers were an option on most new stepside trucks. When this item was not ordered with the new pickup, the license plate bracket was on the left side and protected by the bed. The license was only at the center with a factory installed bumper.

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

If this thread doesn't prove that we have great members here nothing does. Also with lots of information to pass on to anyone asking about our year of trucks.............My hats off to all you guys..........Take a bow.....Hemmit

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Here here. . .
Then it's settled!
We are all Familia!
La Familia!
Great love for all us hommies!

Here is a thought!
Let's have an online Truck show!
What do ya think fellas?



All 60-66 Chevy/GMC driving, sittin, in the field, or on jack stands like me ha ha!

[jchav62]

Hey Chief! Aren't you going to 'sticky' this? There's plenty of 'sticky' worth material on this thread...

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

Here here. . .
Then it's settled!
We are all Familia!
La Familia!
Great love for all us hommies!

Here is a thought!
Let's have an online Truck show!
What do ya think fellas?



All 60-66 Chevy/GMC driving, sittin, in the field, or on jack stands like me ha ha!

So far you win. *****'en truck.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Demmit_Hemmit's 65

If this thread doesn't prove that we have great members here nothing does. Also with lots of information to pass on to anyone asking about our year of trucks.............My hats off to all you guys..........Take a bow.....Hemmit

I agree Hemmit...this is the best forum I have been on, we do have great members !!

Originally Posted by jchav62

Hey Chief! Aren't you going to 'sticky' this? There's plenty of 'sticky' worth material on this thread...

If you ask nicely, then I'll consider it.....Let me see what I can do.....

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Nice job jchava.....sorry, I posted right in the middle of your pics. Maybe mods can move it around so the pics are all together.

Ya....that was rude !!!

I can fix it before stick'n it if you'd like...or you can go back and delete...

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by 63sbssbbw

My '61 has side glass steel window frames,whereas my '63 chevy and '63 GMC are frameless
Also IIRC '62-'63 GMC's had clear front signal lenses with glass amber bulb covers(inside the housing,behind the lens)and '64-'66 had amber lenses.
T

shot of the 63 GMC amber glass on the turn signal.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by Strodder

So far you win. *****'en truck.

Ha ha..... Not mine.
Would not mind taking credit for it!
She's A Bad Mama Jama though.
Forgot the ole' boys name who owns that. All over the internet and magazines!
Heres my junk.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=321173
Far from that blue truck!

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

Ha ha..... Not mine.
Would not mind taking credit for it!
She's A Bad Mama Jama though.
Forgot the ole' boys name who owns that. All over the internet and magazines!
Heres my junk.

I think it belongs to a member here with the screen name YOLO???

And Pro/Sreet I want to dumpster dive at your house if that is what you call junk.. You have a nice rig your self.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

Here here. . .
Then it's settled!
We are all Familia!
La Familia!
Great love for all us hommies!

We're the "redheaded step-children" of the 67-72 crowd.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

I think it belongs to a member here with the screen name YOLO???

And Pro/Sreet I want to dumpster dive at your house if that is what you call junk.. You have a nice rig your self.

Ha ha. .
Thanks bud! Yeah, I was just kidding. Yep, had my ole' truck since 1994. She will be sharp when she is done!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

We're the "redheaded step-children" of the 67-72 crowd.

We got tha Chevy Pickup Hookups!!!!!!!
We tha shiznit Yo!!!!!
YAY YAAAAAYYYY!

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

Ha ha..... Not mine.
Would not mind taking credit for it!
She's A Bad Mama Jama though.
Forgot the ole' boys name who owns that. All over the internet and magazines!
Heres my junk.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=321173
Far from that blue truck!

Not junk. It's work in progress. Looken good so far.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by Strodder

Not junk. It's work in progress. Looken good so far.

Ha ha. .
Thanks bud! Yeah, I was just kidding. Yep, had my ole' truck since 1994. She will be sharp when she is done!

[kcjones]

You guys rock! I'm learning more each day watching the thread develop! Saw a 66 SWB at our recent Norcal meet for sale, nearly perfect, completely stock, $9800. Not a scratch or ding, possibly original paint, slight paint chipping on the bumper, no rips in the seat, door seals replaced at one point...I almost mortgaged my kids' education right there on the spot! But I'd end up cutting my project up, so I didn't feel right doing that on such a jem...

Thanks guys for all the info and sucking me into your red-headed world!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

1960 - 1966 Chevrolet Truck Options and Accessories
http://rides.webshots.com/album/516930271dSbutQ?start=0

Found this the other day. A few pics someone posted of Options and Accessories on Webshots.

[gmcpkup]

Does anyone have pictures like these of gmc pickups this is a 65 gmc with custom trim

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

I seen a 1962 GMC fleetside in Custom Classic Trucks Magazine with custom or deluxe trim on it, and it had stainless or aluminum around the door window. It looked original and kinda cool.
I think the first sentence is a run on sentance. . .
Dang it. . Where is the Spell Check on here. .
F7, F7 where is it? ?

Ha ha

[jchav62]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

I agree Hemmit...this is the best forum I have been on, we do have great members !!




If you ask nicely, then I'll consider it.....Let me see what I can do.....

That was nice... I was smiling when I typed it..

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

62-66 chev. -same hood, but 62 has clear park light lenses, and 63-66 have amber

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jchav62]

ttt...

[4dranch]

[quote=gmcpkup;3104690]Does anyone have pictures like these of gmc pickups this is a 65 gmc with custom trim
quote]

Not as clean as yours.
But here's my 63. what are you looking for?

[kizer]

Wow, nice thread. I must of missed this some how. I'm glad it got thrown up as a sticky.

[Matt's k5]

my 62 custom