LOT #1431 – 1976 GMC Sierra Grande: Flying Brick at the Brickyard

January 2, 2020
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by Eric Becker

 

1976 GMC Sierra Grande squarebody pickup

This custom 1976 GMC Sierra Grande squarebody pickup (Lot #1431) will be offered with No Reserve at the 2020 Scottsdale Auction.

 

SD20 - Lot 1431 - 1976 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Pickup_front34The 59th annual running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1975 was a hotly contested race, with eventual race winner Bobby Unser taking the checkered flag. The cars and drivers of ’75 would average 150 mph as they flew around Brickyard. Imagine, then, the utter shock at seeing a support truck with aerodynamic properties of a brick keep pace at the exit of turn three.

Built by Squarebody Syndicate, this 1976 GMC Sierra Grande pickup is the “square apparent” and pays homage to the incredibly rare – one of three – GMC produced pickups gifted to the pit crew chief of the winning Indy car. Dubbed as the Syndicate Series 02, the super truck was built following the mantra of functionality first, reliability second and aesthetics third. The result, one of the finest square-body GMC pickups to roam the Earth.

SD20 - Lot 1431 - 1976 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Pickup_EngineUnder the hood sits an LS3 crate engine with a sixth-generation Magnuson TVS2300 supercharger sitting up top. The LS3 was dressed for success, featuring anodized gold billet valve covers, Hooker Jet-Hot coated headers painted in white and a media-blasted finish to create the ultimate race-ready look. Internally the 376ci LS3 was fitted with a COMP 231/240 camshaft, a Holley water pump, oil pan and fuel system and one-off set of Drive Junky accessory pulleys media-blasted to match the engine. Additional upgrades to the engine include Frostbite cooling fans and radiator, as well as a Painless Performance wiring harness. The supercharged LS3 exhales through a custom MagnaFlow 3-inch stainless exhaust and routes power through a TREMEC Magnum 6-speed manual. The robust transmission was built to take on the power and features a Quick Time bell housing, Hydramax hydraulic clutch kit and a Hays Dragon Claw clutch. A 3.5-inch PST driveshaft sends all the gusto to the Currie Enterprises 9-inch rear end aluminum third member and Detroit Truetrac limited-slip differential with 4.11 gears.

SD20 - Lot 1431 - 1976 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Pickup_interiorThe “Brickyard Brick” is uncompromised as it hugs the ground and creates a menacing stance thanks to an AccuAir suspension outfitted by the Endo CVT air management system. All while still being capable of setting the pace on any road course without any compromise on performance. The pickup rides on a fully custom Roadster Shop Syndicate Series Spec Chassis fitted with parallel 4-link upper and lower control arms, one-off Watts link paired with Firestone airbags and RideTech adjustable shocks and R-joints. For stopping power, a set of Baer brakes with 14-inch rotors bring the truck to heel as it rides on a one-off set of Syndicate Series turbine wheels by Curtis Speed clad in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber – a wheel and tire package that mimics the ’70s fat-tire look. The special wheels measure 20×9” up front and 20×11” out back. The thick sidewall in the tire creates a special a 12-inch wide footprint up front and 14-inch wide in the rear.

SD20 - Lot 1431 - 1976 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Pickup_rear34The bodywork went through a myriad of radical changes but maintains a close to factory appearance, with additional badging, as well as the front grille being a custom-created billet piece. A set of chrome bumpers were added to culminate the near-factory appearance. The exterior is finished in white and features custom vinyl graphics to replicate the very ’70s iconic red and blue strobe pattern.

Inside, the driver is gripped by snug rawhide-wrapped leather seats and can enjoy either the thundering powerplant or a builder-insisted “sweet audio system.” The interior is climate-controlled thanks to Old Air Products, and a set of Syndicate Series Dakota Digital gauges provide the driver with all the pertinent information.

Oh, and that ’75 Indy winner, Bobby Unser himself, signed the core support of this pickup before it did five laps on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the night before the Indy 500 in May 2019. This magnificent custom truck, which is crossing the 2020 Scottsdale auction block with No Reserve as Lot #1431, is sure to be the envy of square-body enthusiasts everywhere.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles headed to the 2020 Scottsdale Auction, click HERE.