Squarebody Revival
More Than Rust and Rumors.
Rare Truck Info documents the history, factory details, special editions, surviving examples, and original paperwork of rare Chevrolet and GMC trucks.
Current Research Focus
Our research is growing across 1973–1987 Chevrolet and GMC light trucks, with 1976 as the pilot project. Follow the stories through factory literature, surviving trucks and their paperwork. Coverage varies by year and topic: start with 1976 research or explore the published notes from other years.
Find the Truck. Follow the Evidence.
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Reference Library
Start with the glossary, then explore VIN and paperwork research, option codes, powertrain identification, and source notes.
Latest Research
New evidence and published work on Chevrolet and GMC trucks.
Personal restoration project: My 1976 K10: History and Restoration.
- What two Chevrolet SPID labels tell us. Selected label readings from a dealer-listed 1977 C30 and 1984 C10.
- Dorsey Chevrolet in Tekoa. A wrecker, a service shop and a few surviving records bring a small-town Chevrolet dealership back into view.
- Who made a 1976 C10 or K10 part?. A starter number, a bearing catalog and an Oshawa newspaper offer three different ways into the history of a truck’s parts.
- When the factory numbers don’t quite add up. A six-pound difference in a 1973 Chevrolet Stepside chart shows why the small print belongs with the numbers.
- Two C-2500s on One Page: GMC’s 1986 Suspension Choices. GMC’s two-wheel-drive C-2500 columns list different standard springs and shocks, with some overlap in the options.
- Same Trim, Different Cab: The Small Details in GMC’s 1983 Pickups. Coat hooks, sill plates and seat trim show why the cab matters as much as the trim name.
- GMC’s 1973 Safety Pitch Went Right Down to the Knobs. GMC’s safety list included small cab details such as soft knobs and the vinyl edge around the mirror.
- GMC’s Half-Ton Diesel Sales Pitch. What GMC included with its 5.7-litre diesel, and why this sales-sheet story stays undated.
- A Little Shine Was Standard: GMC’s 1985 Exterior Trim. Several bright trim details came with all three trim levels. The 1985 brochure shows which ones they shared.
- 1983 GMC pickups: standard features and available accessories. The 1983 GMC brochure has separate pages for standard features and available accessories. Both are now linked in the Reference Library.
- New source note: 1979 and 1980 Chevrolet regular cab two tone interiors.
- New source note: 1985 Chevrolet Outdoorsman sales offer.
- New source note: 1987 R/V and 1988 C/K: identify the truck, not just the year.
- September 24 · First GMC vehicle record: 1976 GMC K1500, VIN TKL146Z501557. Follow the SPID, build-sheet, and vehicle-marking evidence; see which claims remain unverified.
- September 25 · New source note: What the 1976 Chevrolet Power Teams chart can prove. See the GM source pages, the combinations they show, and why they do not establish a particular truck’s originality.
- October 1 · New source note: Squarebody Folklore and Factory Evidence.
- Factory options: Read the RPO and option guide with links to GM truck and Suburban source material.
Browse the 1976 Vehicle Records directory for published Chevrolet and GMC trucks. New records and source findings are added as evidence and publication rights are reviewed.
Featured Research
Factory Trim Evidence
A February 1983 GM parts catalog directly documents the 1976 NDW1 red-white-blue trim entry with Z62 Scottsdale/Sierra Grande and identifies YE9 for Silverado/Sierra Classic trim.
Spirit of ’76 Registry
The registry is being built from VINs, SPID labels, build sheets, paperwork, and photographs. Explore published survivor records, with additional leads added after evidence and permission review.
A 1976 C10 in Japan
A patina-worn Chevrolet C10 photographed in Japan is an unusual international survivor lead, with a possible Texas connection still visible on the truck.