By D. Brian Smith
Photography: Vicente Diaz
Some work vehicles dedicate their entire lifespan to the grind of driving and hauling. While others transition from factory-fresh work trucks to pristine showpieces. The 1970 GMC panel delivery in question has been a steadfast worker for most of its existence, albeit in diverse realms of industry and purpose.
From School Maintenance Machine to Gaffer Mobile for Rock Shows, TV, & Movies
Above: A mid-1980's era Chevy 350 V8 with a 600-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetor supplying the air and fuel powers the panel. Dual exhaust with turbo mufflers sends the spent fumes melodically on their merry way out the tailpipes.
This Impala Blue panel delivery doesn't look like a GMC. 1970 GMC trucks, GMC Suburban trucks, and GMC panel deliveries have four headlights, with two on the driver's side and two on the passenger side. In February of 1970, the delivery was purchased new for the Shoreline School District in Seattle, Washington as a maintenance vehicle. The GMC served many years of trusty duty at the school district. There's still evidence of spilled paint in the cargo bay that gives the work truck a sort of badge of honor.
Above: The cab is now equipped with power windows and power door locks. There are also front and rear cameras, an Alpine touch screen radio, and a security alarm with a remote engine start by Viper. That's a 1967-68 GM truck steering wheel.
When Jonathan Munoz Tabares purchased the panel several years ago, he decided to renovate the entire vehicle. The GMC would also be his work vehicle. It was running but very tired from all those years serving Seattle's Shoreline School District.
Jonathan started with the foundation by swapping in a 1/2-ton Chevy truck chassis and 86'ed the original 3/4-ton GMC underpinnings. The renewed chassis has a 1979 Chevy disc brake equipped front suspension system and a 1970 Chevy rear end with drum brakes.
Above: The 1970 GMC panel delivery was built in Canada. A three-inch front by four-inch rear drop kit gives Jonathan's hot rod hauler just the right stance. The Jonathan Munoz Tabares Lighting (jtmlighting.com) 1970 GMC/Chevy gaffer panel delivery has conducted business travel all over the western states, including: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, and Utah. Rock 'n Roll!
The engine's a rebuilt Chevy 350-cubic inch small block V8 that's backed by a short shaft TH350 automatic transmission that spins a Dodge truck one-piece driveshaft and thus the rear end's gears/axles. The American Racing five-spoke mag wheels are 15x8-inches in the front and 15x10-inches in the rear and are shod with BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.
Once the chassis and drivetrain were all squared away, a professional body man and painter named Oscar removed the immense panel's original paint. He hung new front fenders, sanded, prepped, primed, set the panel/door gaps to GM perfection, and laid down a shimmering Impala Blue two-stage (base coats and clear coats) paint scheme. Oscar also installed the many say more appealing 1970 Chevy grill.
As for the interior, the cargo bay's still wearing its original work hard all-day scratches that includes a very long time, well-weathered wood floor. Standard gray cloth 1990 Chevy truck front seats provide much more comfort than the worn out and replaced 1970 seating surfaces.
When several Classic Industries coworkers spied Jonathan's panel delivery in the CI retail showroom parking lot, the truck's nose didn't appear anywhere near as nice as it does here. There was a big dent in the coffin-shaped hood. There was also a huge scratch and dent on the C10 grill. Come to find out, Jonathan was picking up a will-called OER grill that very day. We made Jonathan promise to bring his retired gaffer truck back in when the new grill was in, and the hood was back to bodywork and paint brand new.
The day of the panel's photo shoot, Jonathan shared some great stories of his gaffer work with a multitude of famous rock and roll, tv, and movie star clients. In exchange for a pair of backstage passes at my favorite rocker's upcoming show, I promised not to do any name dropping or storytelling. My lips are sealed. Just kidding. Ask away.
Find GM Truck Parts @ the Source - Classic Industries
Above: That's what a 1970 GMC truck grill looks like. Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions.
Classic Industries has been providing Chevy and GMC truck parts for almost as long as Jonathan's retired school panel and retired gaffer panel delivery has been delivering a great work ethic for Seattle school kids, rockers, tv stars, advertising moguls, and movie star icons. You can transform your GMC truck into your own iconic vision of an ultimate hot rod hauler nirvana by shopping on the CI website. Of course, you can greatly augment your search with a CI Chevrolet/GMC Truck Parts & Accessories Catalog. Simply click the button below and sign up to get one mailed to your home.
