Mountain Goat Project: ’56 GMC NAPCO 4X4
Northwestern Auto Parts Company has been around since 1918. But, like many manufacturers, during WW II, they supported the war effort by supplying specialized parts and systems for the military. These military tested components served to help build quite a business converting pickups into 4-wheelers. As early as 1942 NAPCO began building 4-wheel drive assemblies to be fitted to Ford, GMC, Chevrolet and Studebaker vehicles however NAPCO is primarily associated with GMC and Chevrolet pickups. From 1942 to 1956 4×4 GMC and Chevrolet trucks could be ordered with a NAPCO Power-Pak kit and the kit could be installed later. The kit was shipped in a crate measuring 80″x30″x26″ weighing 1,410 pounds. In a matter of 3 hours with as little as 4 holes drilled in existing chassis a truck would be converted into a “Mountain Goat”, a “full-sized truck that will climb steep inclines with ease”. The seller says this one is a prime candidate for restoration. It has the original 317ci V8 and it runs pretty well. The transmission shifts nicely too. So there must be something seriously wrong elsewhere because the seller says you can’t drive it home. But you get a bunch of parts along with it to make your winter project less of a hassle. The seller is asking $12,000 for it and we’ve seen fully restored ones selling for big bucks. Start negotiating by contacting the seller here.
Is this truck still available?
I posted this truck ad almost 6 years ago! Thanks for asking but I have no idea where it is now.