First, I am not a huge fan of pickups. Current pickups especially do nothing for me. I can see how nice they are, but just not my thing. But I do have an unexplained soft spot for some older pickups, including old Datsuns and Toyotas (surprise, I know), as well as older American trucks. I love seeing any pre-1980 pickup on the road, and I usually see them in my work travels around rural Utah. There is a certain, illogical jealously I have for the guys driving those trucks. They get to live in some of the most spectacular land anywhere, and they are not wearing a shirt and tie like I am. They seem to be part of the landscape, and maybe that is why I have every version of the Chevy and GMC Stepsides that Matchbox has done.
Second, I have no connection to pre-1960's cars. When I follow coverage of Concours d'Elegance, I stop and admire the setting, filter through the super old cars, and look for post-1960's stuff. I will admit that my appreciation for their beauty is growing, but it will be awhile before I am in a blue blazer, white shoes, khakis, and one of those styrofoam hats that men in movies punch through when they are excited about something.
So I think my love of the Matchbox GMC stems from reason one, that old trucks represent some made up connection I have to rip off my tie and go run through Wild Utah for a very long period of time.
(Man, I told myself to write less. I am bad at this.) The black is awesome. I like how plain it is. I love the wheels with only the center hot-stamped. It is what Matchbox is all about: a beautiful casting, taking a less is more approach, and picking a GMC over the more common Chevy version. If you haven't collected this model, I would suggest you do. There is not a bad one in the bunch.
Ok, I am done.
Matchbox 1957 GMC Stepside Pickup (2011 basic model in black):
