GMC 100 DeLuxe Pick Up Truck, for sale in San Juan Capistrano, California, price on application.

A no-excuses, DeLuxe 1956 GMC truck, fully restored to impeccable condition. Go to the County Fair, the Car Show, or the Concours in something unique!

This is a painstakingly restored GMC 100 pick-up. The fully documented restoration was completed by professionals; we are informed that all parts are new old stock (NOS) or refurbished, and all are authentic 1956 components with the exception of one fuel filter!

As background: in late 1955, the all new GMC Blue Chip light and medium duty models debuted mid-year, featuring many improvements in comfort and styling. V8 engines were offered for the very first time, providing more power and smoother operation than the GMC inline six-cylinder engines that were still available. The V8 used in light and medium models were built by Pontiac.

1956 incorporated a year of work that make significant changes to the GMC truck brand. Looking for an increase in market share, GMC added more strength to the engine, redesigned the axles and transmission, and added a 12-volt electrical system for better lighting, all to attract more customers.

Years later, the most noticeable features on the ’56 GMC are the unique front tube grille and the long box truck bed that came with the vehicle.

Engine: the new 316 cubic inch V-8 engine was built by Pontiac. The engine installation required a new method of mounting the block to the frame that reduced vibration and increased mounting life.

Transmission: Along with the new engine choice was the Hyrdra-Matic transmission. Hydramatic (also known as Hydra-Matic) was an automatic transmission developed by both General Motors’ Cadillac and Oldsmobile divisions. Introduced in the then-new 1940 models, the Hydramatic was the first fully automatic mass-produced transmission developed for passenger use.
The transmission would use four forward speeds plus reverse, with all acceleration provided by the gearing; the fluid coupling did not multiply the engine output as a torque converter does. There was no separate Park position as found in modern transmissions.

Hydramatic was a trade name used by GM in the automatic transmission division, which produced transmissions used in a variety of military vehicles, including the M5 Stuart tank and the M24 light tank. The extensive wartime service greatly improved the postwar engineering of the transmission, later advertised as “battle tested”.

Brakes: the 1956 GMC truck was slowed down by power brakes, a new approach in truck braking systems. Which previously just used plain cable pulley systems for activating drum brakes.

Driveline: the driveline was redone for 1956 as well. The previous year’s model had a torque tube driveline. The 1956 trucks began the of GMVC’s open-driveshaft. This new design made it a lot easier for mechanics to get into the system to perform repairs.

Suspension and Wheels: Suspension was refitted to address the strength and vibrations of the stronger 1956 GMC engines. Road Shock Damper (RSD) Suspension was created and installed on the trucks with the hope of making the ride more similar to a passenger car than a cargo truck. In the wheel world, GMC took a new turn and began incorporating tubeless tires on its trucks for the first time in 1956.

Accessories: Additional accessory changes on the ’56 tuck included turn signals, enhanced rear mirrors on the truck doors, electrical windshield wipers, and better lighting due to the new, brighter 12-volt electrical system.

Only a two-owner pick-up, the second owner rescued it from a long sleep on a northern California farm and commissioned a full restoration to a like-new condition. The connection to this year and model was inspired by the fond memories with an uncle that had a similar vehicle.

The color palette applied to the exterior and interior are a match to the original finish of this particular truck.

With less than 700 miles since the completion of the restoration, this no excuses, fully restored DeLuxe 1956 GMC 100 truck needs nothing.