One of the most popular vintage vehicles in the hobby is a Square Body truck built by the General from 1973 until 1987. The name refers to the squared-off lines on Chevy and GMC trucks.
The new truck style was a big departure from the rounded style of the Square Body predecessors, namely GM’s Action Line trucks built from 1967-72.
Jim Sutherland
Square Bodies were popular during their heyday and sold very well in GM dealerships over the years. In fact, the Square Body design was popular enough to last for 15 years but these days vintage Square Bodies command big bucks in the hobby.
Perhaps it’s their timeless style mixed with a large dollop of sentimentality as car guys get older and have more disposable income for investment in a mechanical blast from the past provided by a Square Body.
Another reason prices for vintage vehicles have risen over the past few years is today’s buyers like yesterday’s retro style mixed with today’s modern engineering and will invest heavily in the resto mod combination.
MyStarCollectorCar spotted a 1977 GMC Jimmy resto-mod at a summer car show and realized its modifications and build quality proved our point about an old SUV upgraded with 21st century components. For the record, the value measurement for a Square Body is simple: the older the vehicle-the higher the price tag-even in stock form.
However, the ’77 Jimmy was far removed from its factory roots and had undergone major changes under the ownership of Dave McKean. Dave loved the look of his 48-year-old GMC sport utility but wanted to improve its performance and overall cool factor.
The Jimmy’s original powertrain was swapped out for an LS crate engine coupled to a 4L70E four-speed overdrive automatic transmission that can easily handle the big boost in horses under the Jimmy’s hood.
Dave wanted to ensure his beastly Jimmy could slow down like an Indy Car when needed, so he put big aftermarket wheel disc brakes on all four wheels to take care of that issue.
He also added creature comforts like power/tilt steering, power brakes, and air conditioning into the mix because he wanted his Jimmy to provide all these features for a driver and his passengers. Surprisingly, Dave kept the Jimmy’s original seats because they provided retro style and a solid comfort factor.
Sharp-eyed Jimmy fans will notice the truck is lower than factory specs because Dave dropped it 7 inches in the rear and 5 inches in the front of his vintage vehicle. The lower stance and custom wheels give the Jimmy a sportier look than a factory version, plus the Jimmy can now carve corners upon request because of its suspension and steering improvements.
A striking resto mod feature on the Jimmy is its two-tone paint scheme, notably the turquoise color borrowed from a 1957 Volkswagen paint code, according to Dave. He added “the color catches the eye”, an understatement in our opinion here at MyStarCollectorCar.
The 1977 GMC Jimmy resto mod offers plenty of performance, but Dave said: “I don’t drive it that hard” and added, “it’s a nice cruiser”. So nice a cruiser that Dave prefers to drive the Jimmy over his new truck-and who can blame him?
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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