MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Custom FleetsideLook along the back edge of the bed
Custom Fleetside’s black roof and covered bed give the little pickup a tidy outline. The back edge is easy to overlook, yet it helps explain why two covers may open differently. Get a rear view before trying to lift one.
The custom pickup in the first lineup
The 1968 Custom Fleetside was based on Harry Bradley’s customized 1964 El Camino. US and Hong Kong versions have black interiors and flat-black roof paint. US glazing is clear; Hong Kong glazing is blue.
A worn roof is not evidence of a special roof treatment by itself. Look at the edges of the remaining paint, and keep any known touch-ups in the description.
A body notch or a tab on the cover
A documented later US casting has a notch at the rear to help lift the cover. The Hong Kong version uses a tab on the cover instead. Establish which arrangement is present before touching it.
Check the hinge area, edges and fit with the cover closed first. If it resists gentle movement, stop. A tool slipped under the edge can mark the body and break the part you wanted to inspect.
The cabin gives you another comparison
The US steering wheel is molded with the dashboard. The Hong Kong interior has a separate wheel, no dashboard and a smaller central hump. Its underside also has suspension openings and more mechanical detail.
Photograph the front, rear and base together. A glossy side view can hide a cover repair or leave the country version uncertain. Keep the later Sky Show Fleetside separate when comparing accessories and completeness.
The Deora guide covers a different first-year pickup whose loose accessories need their own assessment.
