Where Rare Trucks Get Their Stories Straight.
Rare Truck Info is an independent research project dedicated to documenting and preserving information about rare and unusual Chevrolet and GMC trucks. The initial research focuses on the 1976 model year.
Meet Tim Roling
I’m Tim Roling, the person behind RareTruckInfo. This project grew out of research on my own 1976 Chevrolet K10 restoration project and the questions surrounding Spirit of ’76 trucks.
Old vehicles have been part of my life since childhood. My older brothers had Camaros, Corvettes, Impala SS models, ’55 Chevys, 4WD trucks and others. These machines connect to people and memories as well as parts and production numbers.
My professional background is in education, including work as a special education teacher, school administrator and superintendent. I hold degrees from the University of Missouri and Saint Louis University, including a doctorate in education. My career required reviewing records, asking careful questions and explaining complicated information clearly. Those habits guide my research here.
I compare original factory publications, vehicle documents, period advertisements and other available sources. I distinguish documented facts from owner recollections, seller claims and unanswered questions. When sources conflict, I explain the conflict rather than hide it.
My aim is to give another owner understandable findings, sources they can check and an honest account of what is still unknown. A good story is worth preserving, and so is the evidence behind it.
Why This Project Exists
Rare-truck history is often scattered across factory publications, surviving vehicles, owner records, auction archives, old advertisements, and stories repeated online. RareTruckInfo brings those pieces together and tests the claims against the best available evidence.
The goal is not simply to repeat information found elsewhere. Each claim is evaluated on its own evidence, limitations are stated plainly, and the record is corrected when stronger documentation appears.
Why Start With 1976?
The project began with a detailed investigation of 1976 Chevrolet and GMC light trucks, including special editions, factory literature, surviving vehicles, VINs, SPID labels, build sheets, and production evidence. That work helped us organize the records, check the evidence and explain our findings. We now use the same approach across 1973–1987, with coverage varying by year and topic.
How the Research Works
Every claim is evaluated against traceable evidence and assigned one of six statuses: Verified, Probable, Unverified, Incorrect, Superseded, or Not Assessable. Conclusions are dated, sourced, and revised when stronger evidence appears.
Who It Is For
The archive is being built for owners, restorers, historians, collectors, and anyone trying to understand how these trucks were originally produced. Private owner information will not be published without permission.
RareTruckInfo is an independent research project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by General Motors, Chevrolet, or GMC. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.