MEAN MR. MUSTARD

It’s always cool to hear stories about folks who presently own their dream vehicle, but were a lot closer to scoring it decades prior for a fraction of the price. It’s kind of a bittersweet type of memory to break down, but it’s more inspiring than a bummer at the end of the day. Old things become scarcer over the years, and in turn, become more valuable, which can simultaneously be a good and bad thing. We recently caught up with Cade Cottle, who shared his account of how he secured and finished off this partially customized 1972 GMC Sierra Grande, and the childhood memories he had with this same model truck. Now that he has a truck like the one he took a liking to years ago (although his is arguably much cooler), he is hoping that his young daughter will grow up to love it just as much as he does.

“I’ve been heavy into vehicles since I was in high school,” Cade says. “I’ve had a lot of vehicles throughout the years, but I have really grown attached to these old classic trucks. There’s just nothing more enjoyable than cruising around in them with the windows down, and there is just enough room for my wife and daughter to ride along comfortably. Before I purchased this truck, the last experience I had with a Sierra Grande was years ago when our neighbor had one for sale when I was a kid. Even though I remember liking that truck, my dad always talks about how much nicer it was than I remember – and that I could have bought it back then for $4,000. Hey, we all make mistakes. Luckily, I had an opportunity to purchase another one that was more my style.”

Cade is the 3rd owner of this ’72 GMC pickup. Its first owner bought it brand new in Auburn, California, and had it until 2018. The truck was in regular use until the early 1990s when it was parked in the gentleman’s backyard and forgotten about until someone else spotted it gathering dust. “The truck’s second owner was Mike Damman who pulled it out of that guy’s yard,” Cade adds. “Mike didn’t waste any time tearing the truck apart or building it back up again. Mike did a lot of work on it by the time I stumbled upon his Instagram where he was sharing the progress he was making. I liked what he was doing to the truck, so I made an offer to buy it. We eventually made a deal, and I was able to bring it back home with me to Utah.”

The modifications that Mike Damman made to the GMC while in his possession were no small feats. He used to race Corvettes, so his natural mill of choice was a ‘Vette LS3 and 6L80E transmission to back it. From there, Mike then set that drivetrain into a full GSI ‘bagged suspension setup. Those are big additions are exactly what lured Cade into the truck’s charm. “Mike had done all that work to the truck while it was sitting on jack stands on the side of his house,” Cade says. “When I acquired it, I loved everything about it and saw how much more potential was still there. Once I got it back home, I called my good friend Broc Easton of Easton Speed Works in Evanston, Wyoming, and told him what my thoughts and plans were for the truck. After a good conversation, he was off to the races.”

Since the engine and chassis systems were well taken care of already, Broc was ready to jump into fabricating the raised bed floor and custom rear tubs. The bed was further customized with a Mar-K wood floor kit that was white-washed to blend in with the GMC’s wonderfully preserved original two-tone Ochre and white finish. Luckily for all three of the truck’s owners that it had been kept in Northern California most of its life where it was allowed to age gracefully in the region’s mild weather. “It’s so hard to find old vehicles with original patina that isn’t damaged or rusted through,” Cade admits. “This truck’s natural exterior is what also drew me in. It’s just so perfect and has even inspired the truck’s name; Honey Mustard.”

While most builders find the most challenging part of the build process deciding on what drivetrain to run, Cade came into the truck with this portion already handled. The most difficult part for him was figuring out what to do with his GMC’s interior space. “Originally, the truck had all black vinyl upholstery that was stock from the factory,” he states. “Colors can make or break a vehicle’s look and appearance, and since I wasn’t about to make any changes to the original exterior, I knew I had to get it right inside the cab.”

Cade found himself in Oregon for work and was near the SMS Auto Fabrics facility where he was able to pour through NOS samples in hopes he would find the right material to run with. After hours of looking, he found an original GM knitted material from the 70s that would work great as seats and door panel inserts. That selection turned out to blend in perfectly when paired with the white-colored hide from Apex leather that was used to cover the seats, dash, and paneling all throughout the cabin. “I received a recommendation to consider Seams Impossible Upholstery in Salt Lake City to perform the overhaul,” Cade says. “After talking with Cody Nebeker, the shop’s owner, we were able to lay out a design that he simply knocked out of the park. It was the best decision I’ve made on the truck so far.”

In only 6 months of owning this ’72 GMC, Cade was able to complete the modifications he wanted to see happen. He had an ideal head start given the condition he bought it in and was able to see it through quickly so he could enjoy the finished product with his family. “My daughter is only 2 now, but she loves this truck,” Cade says proudly. “Every time we go out in the garage, she points to it and says, ‘ride daddy,’ so we take advantage of any chance my wife and I have to throw her in a car seat and go cruising. Seeing the smile on her face is just one of the truly priceless moments that this truck has made for us. I hope that she grows up to enjoy classic vehicles as much as I do. So far, I think she’s on the right track!