Famous Trucks: Clint Eastwood's 1963 GMC 1500 from The Bridges of Madison County

The Film: The Bridges of Madison County

The film, released in 1995, is an adaptation of a novel by the same name, written by Robert James Waller. The story follows Francesca Johnson (Streep), an Italian-American World War II war bride living in Madison County, Iowa, who falls into a forbidden romance with Robert Kincaid (Eastwood), a photographer visiting from Washington to photograph the area's numerous bridges. 

Though many believed the story to be biographical, judging from the author's usage of his own first name and time spent in Madison County photographing bridges, Waller revealed that it's merely a fictionalized story inspired by actual events. His wife, Georgia Ann Wiedemeier, inspired the novel's leading female character.

The Truck: 1963 GMC 1500

In the film, Clint Eastwood (as Robert Kincaid) drives around the streets of Madison County in a dark green 1963 GMC 1500 pickup truck. The truck appears in several scenes, including meetups between the couple and the iconic "standing in the rain" sequence after Francesca runs from the possibility of true happiness with Robert.

Where is it Now?

While not in Eastwood's possession as many believe, the truck resides at the actor's Mission Ranch in Carmel, California. Eastwood, a long-time vacationer and lover of the seaside town, purchased the landmark property to save it from encroaching condo developers. After renovating the property, the screen-used truck was parked on the ranch as an homage to Eastwood—it also serves as a great photo op for visitors. 

Build Your Own The Bridges of Madison County Inspired Truck

The Bridges of Madison County is a film that's undeniably pertinent to contemporary cinema. It's a love story that transcends generations and offers something for all audiences—even vintage truck enthusiasts. If you've been moved by the film and wish to build a tribute to Robert Kincaid's truck, read on for our comprehensive build guide.

Platform

First, we'll need a platform reminiscent of the screen-used truck. In The Bridges of Madison County, Eastwood's Robert Kincaid drives an early–mid-sixties GMC truck. While sources vary, some state that the screen-used truck is a 1963 model based on minor discrepancies in emblem placement, dash design, etc. 

For screen accuracy, we'd recommend a 1963 model-year truck. However, any first-generation GMC pickup from 1960 to 1966 should suffice with minor tweaks.

Body

The screen-used truck sports a stock body with white steel bumpers and a polished aluminum grille. Though there's no telling if the truck wore its factory-applied paint in the film, our best guess is yes. If so, it's likely painted in Glenwood Green, a color offered in 1963.

Wheels and Tires

Though the screen-used truck appears to sit on factory steel wheels painted black with stock-sized tires, these components can be challenging to come by. However, modern advancements in wheel technology have delivered vintage-looking wheels with current materials and manufacturing processes, like the Black Rhino Solid wheels in a matte black finish. 

Wrap these wheels in a modern highway tire, like the Toyo Open Country H/T II, and you'll have a setup that looks period-correct yet performs like new.

Suspension

Lastly, let's take a look at the suspension. Kincaid's truck appears to sit on factory half-ton suspension. To preserve its low, raked stance, consider retaining most factory components while replacing worn bushings and dampers. Products like Superlift Shocks deliver outstanding ride quality and a simple, bolt-on design for a hassle-free installation. 

Following this guidance, you'll be cruising a screen-accurate replica of Robert Kincaid's GMC pickup in no time. 

As always, we offer all the parts and know-how to piece together this build and countless others at RealTruck. For additional information, check out the rest of our articles on RealSource, and don't hesitate to contact the experts.