Vintage Photos Of Trucks At Work And Play — 1950s-1970s

Text by Patrick Bell.

Vintage trucks are always fun to view because so few have survived in an original condition.  Today we have a great gallery that shows them as they were before they became the standard family car.  Let’s take a look.

Here was a gentleman with a 1955-1957 GMC “Blue Chip” 100 series Fleet option pickup with a home made shell and a camp trailer.  The trailer may have been home refurbished as it and the shell were painted the same color.  The Fleet option was a bare bones truck with little trim and a different grille and bumper.  Very few of them have survived.

A 1954 Ford F-100 with a full cab of people had stopped perhaps to take in the view of the valley below.  It had a camper shell, non original hub caps, and a snow tire on the rear.  Power came from your choice of a 223 cubic inch Cost Clipper Six, or the new 239 ci Power King V8.

A driveway paving project was underway here, with a roller unit in the garage and a 1958 Chevrolet Viking series dump truck partially in the driveway. It is difficult to determine whether it was the 40, 50, or 60 series from this angle, but it was equipped with the 235 ci Thriftmaster 6, and had a California license plate that was first used in 1963.

This young man was ready to go somewhere with his lunch box, creased jeans, and a shirt that was color coordinated with the 1957 Ford F-series behind him.  Again, you can’t tell if it was a 100 or 250 series, or if it had the new Styleside bed.  The lack of a V8 emblem on the grille indicates it did have the 223 ci 6 cylinder for power.  It also had mis-matched outside mirrors, a trailer ball mounted on the bumper, and a California license plate used from 1956-1962.  In the background on the right edge looks like a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.

This rig was ready for camping and had a pair of cute girls on the hood.  It was a 1960 Chevrolet Apache C20 Custom Cab Fleetside with an 8′ cabover camper and a small camp trailer as well.  Power came from the 283 ci Trademaster V8, and it was wearing a California license plate.

Here was a 1958 Dodge D500 that was equipped for emergency service perhaps for the Forest Service.  It had a utility body, a pair of red lights and a horn on top, plus a siren on the fender.  It was V8 powered, and looked new in this image.

A Zephyr cabover camper that was mounted on a 1962 GMC Deluxe pickup is what we see here, along with the family members posing in front of it.  It was likely a 2500 3/4 ton series, and did have the 305 ci V6 for power.

And a 1959 Ford F-100 4×4 Custom Cab Styleside with a camper shell and a wrap around step bumper shown in a 1971 photo.  It had a few bumps and bruises, but looked good for a 12 year old truck.  Available power was the 223 ci Six or a 292 ci V8.

Here was another GMC, this one a 1962 or 1963 Deluxe 2500 Wideside with an Alaskan Camper.  As you can see the camper could be raised and lowered.  It was done hydraulically, and was lowered for a better traveling profile.  The company that made them is still in business.  The truck also had a roof rack, auxiliary fuel tank, and a swing out spare carrier.

This one was a first year 1966 Ford Bronco, which was available in wagon (shown), pickup, and roadster body styles.  There were two engines to choose from, a 170 ci Six, or a 289 ci V8; the lack of a 289 badge indicates this has the little six.  The only transmission was a three speed manual on the column, and 4 wheel drive was standard.  The one above was well optioned with a radio, chrome bumpers, side stripe, full wheel covers in a 1966 only style, and had a California license plate.  On the right was a 1963 Chevrolet Impala with one of the Turbo-Fire 327 engines.

International always had a full line of trucks during this era, and seen in the foreground was a 1967 or 1968 Travelall from California with a luggage carrier on top, an ambitious bug shield, and a camp or travel trailer in tow.  Fords populated the rest of this camping area with the tail of a 1965 or 1966 F-series with camper shell on the left.  To the right was a 1968 or 1969 F-series Styleside with another Alaskan Camper.

Internationals can be difficult to properly ID, especially from the side.  My best guess is that this one was a 1963-1966 1200A with a long standard bed.  The “V” on the fender would indicate V8 power, and it also had a rear step bumper.  It appears like there was a load of dirt in the bed that the kids were standing on.  And I would think the color matching cabover camper belongs to it as well.  On the left edge was the right rear corner of a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500.

A 1968 Ford F-100 Styleside long bed was towing a Cardinal camp trailer.  Two Sixes and two V8’s were available for power with nothing to indicate what this truck had under the hood.  It was on the basic side, with the small trailer mirrors, bed mounted spare, and rear step bumper the only options I see.  It did look close to new, with straight panels and shiny paint.

Here was a busy camping spot, with a 1968 Chevrolet C series Panel front and center.  It had a Michigan license plate that was used from 1973-1975, and was towing a pop-up camper.  On the left edge was the nose of a 1972 or 1973 Dodge D series with a front mounted spare.  On the right was a 1974 or 1975 Dodge Sportsman Van, and in the lower corner a 1973-1980 Chevrolet or GMC C/K series.

Our final image today looks like work.  A 1973-1979 Ford F-100 or F-150 had a load of dirt with three guys working it and a fourth supervising.  This was the era the F-series became the best selling truck in the U.S., and they have kept that distinction ever since.  In the background was a 1973-1980 Chevrolet or GMC C series with a red camper shell.  And on the left edge was a tractor that I will leave to someone else.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

More Vintage Photos Here