1955 GMC Custom Stepside Pickup / Specs, Photos, Engines, Styling Details

Featured in this article is a great looking 1955 GMC Custom Stepside Pickup. The Stepside models have their rear wheel wells outside or the cargo box which results in a rectangular box without wheel well intrusion.

GMC, a division of General Motors Corporation, produced some great styled light trucks during the mid to late 1950’s. At that time, the GMC trucks were considered by many to be the premium variant of Chevy trucks. As the years progressed the differences between Chevy and GMC trucks are very small.

During the 1950’s passenger car design influenced trucks to an even greater degree, and this included better mechanical performance, enhanced safety features and more comfort for passengers. The reasoning was that you could own a good looking pickup truck and utilize it for both work and pleasure.

Two GMC Pickup Series Comprised the 1955 GMC’s

The 1955 model year was a bit different for GMC. Two different models were produced  These were named the First Series and the Second Series.

The First Series GMC’s were essentially carryover designs from 1954. These early First Series models were the last of the GM Advanced Design styling which began in 1947.

The Second Series, coming out on March 25, 1955. was quite different since they were designed to compete against Ford’s newly designed 1953 Ford F-100. This mid production year debut of the Second Series  featured aggressive styling similar to that of the new Chevrolet passenger car models which were very modernized. This was not only GM’s most complete product change in the company’s history but likely its most successful as things turned out. Of styling significance for the GMC Second Series was a wraparound windshield and panoramic rear windows.

The First Series GMC’s were built with the final GMC light trucks torque tube drive line, The GMC Second Series were produced with the more easily serviced open driveshaft.. The First Series’ six-volt electrical system was likewise replaced by the 12-volt electric system.

One big difference between the two 1955 Series involved the engines offered. When the Second Series trucks of GMC were introduced, they didn’t offer the small block Chevy V-8. Instead, the optional GMC V-8 came from Pontiac which was the 287 cubic inch V-8.

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