Caballero Canuck

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CaballeroCanuck

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Jun 27, 2021
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94
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As the heading suggests, I'm the proud and original owner of a 1978 GMC Caballero in Ontario, Canada.

In late 1977, the GM parts department where I worked (for 42 years eventually) received a stack of new sales brochures for the 1978 models. I was looking through them and found one for the '78 GMC Caballero. It was love at first sight.

I went up to the truck sales manager's office and handed him an option list for a Caballero that I wanted a quote on. A couple of days later,he got back to me. I didn't act on it immediately.

A few weeks later,I was out for a bit of fresh air at lunch hour. A car transport came wheeling around the corner and lo and behold my Caballero was on the top deck ! The sales manager correctly assumed that it would be like waving a carrot in front of a donkey's nose. He was right. I bit !

The only thing he changed on my list was to have wire wheel covers replace the factory rallies. A few years later, I bought a set of aftermarket modulars that are still on it today. It was my "swap meet" truck, chasing parts for my 1921 Chevy roadster-pickup. I therefore had a custom topper painted and installed, to keep my treasures from blowing out.

About the only other "mods" were a 4 bbl carburetor, a front spoiler from a Diablo, and a hood ornament from an '81.

For the first two years, I drove it winter and summer, making regular visits to the car wash bay in the winter months. After that, I used cheap winter beaters while the GMC was safely tucked in the garage.

It still wears most of it's original paint and has clocked about 230,000 km. The photos show it as purchased, and as it looks today.

Jim
 

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5spdCab

Royal Smart Person
Dec 29, 2019
1,190
1,989
113
Tukwila, Wa.
As the heading suggests, I'm the proud and original owner of a 1978 GMC Caballero in Ontario, Canada.

In late 1977, the GM parts department where I worked (for 42 years eventually) received a stack of new sales brochures for the 1978 models. I was looking through them and found one for the '78 GMC Caballero. It was love at first sight.

I went up to the truck sales manager's office and handed him an option list for a Caballero that I wanted a quote on. A couple of days later,he got back to me. I didn't act on it immediately.

A few weeks later,I was out for a bit of fresh air at lunch hour. A car transport came wheeling around the corner and lo and behold my Caballero was on the top deck ! The sales manager correctly assumed that it would be like waving a carrot in front of a donkey's nose. He was right. I bit !

The only thing he changed on my list was to have wire wheel covers replace the factory rallies. A few years later, I bought a set of aftermarket modulars that are still on it today. It was my "swap meet" truck, chasing parts for my 1921 Chevy roadster-pickup. I therefore had a custom topper painted and installed, to keep my treasures from blowing out.

For the first two years, I drove it winter and summer, making regular visits to the car wash bay in the winter months. After that, I used cheap winter beaters while the GMC was safely tucked in the garage.

It still wears most of it's original paint and has clocked about 230,000 km. The photos show it as purchased, and as it looks today.

Jim
Welcome to GBF Jim, from Seattle, Wa.
I have a '79 El Camino, but my daily driver is also a '78 Caballero (base model though, not as pretty as your's).
 
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Oct 14, 2008
8,806
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Melville,Saskatchewan
Nice Caballero, still looks great after all these years.

 
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g0thiac

G-Body Guru
Sep 6, 2020
939
582
93
As the heading suggests, I'm the proud and original owner of a 1978 GMC Caballero in Ontario, Canada.

In late 1977, the GM parts department where I worked (for 42 years eventually) received a stack of new sales brochures for the 1978 models. I was looking through them and found one for the '78 GMC Caballero. It was love at first sight.

I went up to the truck sales manager's office and handed him an option list for a Caballero that I wanted a quote on. A couple of days later,he got back to me. I didn't act on it immediately.

A few weeks later,I was out for a bit of fresh air at lunch hour. A car transport came wheeling around the corner and lo and behold my Caballero was on the top deck ! The sales manager correctly assumed that it would be like waving a carrot in front of a donkey's nose. He was right. I bit !

The only thing he changed on my list was to have wire wheel covers replace the factory rallies. A few years later, I bought a set of aftermarket modulars that are still on it today. It was my "swap meet" truck, chasing parts for my 1921 Chevy roadster-pickup. I therefore had a custom topper painted and installed, to keep my treasures from blowing out.

For the first two years, I drove it winter and summer, making regular visits to the car wash bay in the winter months. After that, I used cheap winter beaters while the GMC was safely tucked in the garage.

It still wears most of it's original paint and has clocked about 230,000 km. The photos show it as purchased, and as it looks today.

Jim
Hello fellow Ontarian, I take it this was an Oshawa built vehicle? Since it's a Canadian model I assume it has the 305 there.
 

CaballeroCanuck

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Jun 27, 2021
27
94
13
Hello fellow Ontarian, I take it this was an Oshawa built vehicle? Since it's a Canadian model I assume it has the 305 there.

This one was built in Doraville, GA on June 24,1978. it's got a 305U engine, TH350 auto and 2.73 gears. I still have the build sheet.
 
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