GMC in the Future by Seth Doulton
If you have been following my column for very long let's say 10 -15 years, you may remember a story I did a long time ago about GMC trucks. There have been a couple of stories, and I have mostly talked about the difference between Chevy and GMC from one year to the next. In case you don't remember, I will give you a little refresher course.
1947 GMC
1947- 1955 first series front end sheet metal changed little but had a different hood. The grill was unalike, and there were a few dash changes along with varying colors for the gauge paint. 1954 and 55 first series had completely different dashes with dissimilar glove box, ash tray and radio.
1955-59 again brought bigger changes with unlike grills and hoods. GMC also had a distinguishing dash for these years, other than a few fleet trucks that were built with the Chevy dash and small GMC down in the bottom the speedo vee.
1955-57 did have a hole in the hood where the emblem was, but in 1958-59, they went with the same hood as Chevrolet.
1960-61 GMC went with a wild hood that looked like it was an airintake and then in 1962-66 calmed down to just a slightly modified Chevy hood. Gauges and dashes differed again as did the grills. Chevy made five changes on their own grills, while the GMC grill remained with the same look over this period.
From 1967 -1972, GMC's grills and surrounds and the mouldings were about the only unlikeness to the Chevy truck. Interiors went out of the factory practically the same, The only smaller changes were the horn caps and emblems.
1973 to present featured slight changes that kept MC apart from Chevy. GMC tailgate stamping was replaced with MC stickers. Emblems and horn caps have always stood apart from Chevrolet and were the major differences besides a few minor grill changes here and there for almost 25 years. I'm not crazy about this terminology, but they were like cookies coming off the same assembly line (and they did come off the same line) out of the same cutter. Every so often they would sprinkle a little GMC stuff on one or two.
1954 GMC
Well change is coming in a big way in the near future for GMC. First and foremost is the name GMC which began as GMC Truck when only GMC heavy trucks were made starting in the early teens. As of January 1996, the word "truck" was dropped from the name. That's right: in all their ads, promotional literature and also when they refer to themselves. I mean it, overnight they were just plain "GMC." Let's face it, they are more than just a truck company. With vans and now of course with the ever popular SUV's that can be seen everywhere. GM is plugging Pontiac into the change to create a stand alone division with stand alone dealerships: GMC Pontiac, By creating a new division and piggybacking a car line with GMC, they can consolidate work force and at the same time strengthen dealerships.
1957
It's difficult for dealerships to survive on trucks or should I say GMC alone. Just ask Mark Borjon, owner of Paso Robles GMC. Mark says, "It's not always easy to sell a two car family two GMCs. It's gotten easier with the strong SUV sales but now with teaming with Pontiac have a lot full of hot product from sporty TransAms to luxury Bonnevilles." Just think: AMC Pontiac Division as America's number 4 auto division?!?! The big number 3 right around the corner the year 2000 corner that is. Look for the late 1990's to bring some big_changes. h evy and Chevrolet is up for the redesign in 1998 along with some new V8 motors and some wild mixes of aluminum and cast iron components. Even a 6-cylinder overhead cam quad 4 - plus 2 will motivate these new Chevys. GMC will undoubtedly have their own twist on the engines.
1966 GMC
This will also be a great time for GMC to really take off in a different direction. GMC will not build an entry level truck; rather all GMCs will be premium trucks with all the leather and lace along with the bells and whistles. GMC is not talking too much about the particulars, but 1 look for them to change the look of their truck as much as they can without tooling up and remaking the basic platform. This would mean keeping the same bed, cab and chassis and frame. This would give them a lot of latitude when it comes to building a luxury truck or SUV to help keep up with the new kids on the block: Lexus, Lincoln, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes and Mercury who are all preparing to enter the market this year or the next.
1972 GMC
GMC plans to offer the best products GM has available aimed at discerning buyers, established professsionals and dual-income households. GMC will communicate and create in consumers' minds a premium image for GMC through advertising If you can recall any of my earlier columns, I also spoke of how my father always believed that GMC trucks were just up the ladder from Chevys. Why and how he came up with this I'll never know, but that was the definite feeling in the 1950's.
For the past 25 years, the two GM truck divisions have blended together. This is unavoidably going to change. I look for the 1999 and 2000s to create a bigger contrast between Chevy and GMC than ever before; possibly as diverse as Chevy and Ford, especially when it will come to interior. GM's interior company, Delphi, already has experience in producing different interiors for a variety of companies. 1 am looking forward to what they come up with for AMC.
In 1996, GMC expects its sales to reach or surpass a half million, and by the year 2000 their goal is to reach 700,000 premium unique vehicles. I see a GMC in my future!