'68-'72 GMC , , The AMT Jimmy is NOT a '72

[Can-Con]

These are my favorite trucks. we had a burgundy long box stepside when I was a kid. 

Thing is, when I was looking at the AMT "72" Jimmy kit I noticed something. The grille didn't look right.

So I compared it to the grille from the old '72 stepside kit and it was indeed different. BUT, which one was correct. I had always thought that besides the bright trim around the grille on the later models, they were all the same so I did some research  , , NOT.

Turns out there are three separate, distinct grilles. 

The '67 has the GMC lettering stamped on the middle of the cross piece. 

The '68 to '70 is basically the same grille but with the lettering stamping removed from the grille and replaced with die-cast GMC letters added to the hood.

The '71-'72 has a slightly wider vertical section in the center with a slight depression stamped into it which a lot of the time [but not always]is painted black with more black surrounding the grille.

'67,,,

'68 to '70,,,

'68

'70

'71/'72

So, going by the grille, the AMT Jimmy could only be a '70 as it was the only year, the first year, the Jimmy was made that used that grille. 

But then again, I don't remember AMT actually calling it a '72 anywhere on the kit but every time I see one posted it's called a '72.

Edited January 20 by Can-Con

[Mark]

You're discussing Chevy Blazers, but showing GMC grilles.

[Can-Con]

12 minutes ago, Mark said:

You're discussing Chevy Blazers, but showing GMC grilles.

Right you are Mark, I'll change that right now.

But I know you knew what I was talking about.😉

[Mark]

Back when those kits were first issued, the original AMT company never referred to the Jimmy or Blazer kits by year.  Only the annual pickups were given a year designation.  For GMC those were only '71 and '72.

[Can-Con]

20 hours ago, Mark said:

Back when those kits were first issued, the original AMT company never referred to the Jimmy or Blazer kits by year.  Only the annual pickups were given a year designation.  For GMC those were only '71 and '72.

Not sure what you're trying to tell me Mark but the grille in the AMT kit is not a '71/72 grille, it's the previous grille.

Also, I did say AMT didn't put the year on the kit.

"But then again, I don't remember AMT actually calling it a '72 anywhere on the kit but every time I see one posted it's called a '72."

Edited January 21 by Can-Con

[Can-Con]

I just now went to take a couple pics of the grille in the kit and noticed that there's "1972" plates on the decal sheet so I guess that's where everyone got that.

The kit grille,,

[THarrison351]

Seeing it was a new tool in 1970 according to Scalemates...

[89AKurt]

I owned a '69, and now a '68 Chevy C-10, and I never knew about the GMC differences!

[Bills72sj]

Thanks for sharing. Did you notice any differences in the side marker lights in your research?

[Can-Con]

15 hours ago, Bills72sj said:

Thanks for sharing. Did you notice any differences in the side marker lights in your research?

I never really looked into it . As I said, I was checking on the grilles as I've never noticed the differences before.

I do know though that there are 2 different styles of side markers, regular for lower level and deluxe for the higher level trim.