GMC Truck History - 1902 to 1967

This page is an overview of the history of GMC Truck Division, from it's beginning to 1967, when light duty GMC's became rebadged Chevy's.

1918

1923

1929

1932

1934

GMC big trucks were even used for fire trucks - GMC introduced their Cab-Over-Engine (COE) trucks.

1935

GMC switched its light duty brake system from mechanical to hydraulic. GM formed Detroit Engine Division to manufacture diesels, which were increasing in popularity.

1936

GMC built its first half-ton pickup.

1937

GMC introduced the GMC Suburban Carryall.

1938

1939

GMC designed and began production of the ACKWX-353 military 6x6 for the US Government. These trucks are the older siblings of the CCKW WWII trucks. (Red Ball Express).

1940

GMC Trucks were now available in different colors and there were over thirty six-wheel models. Production of the ACKWX-353 ended with approximately 4000 trucks being built, and nearly half of them shipped off to France.

1941

GMC changed the front of their trucks, incorporating part of the fenders into the center grill.

1942

Truck and car sales were frozen. Gas and tire rationing began. And GM received an order for 880,000 heavy duty trucks including the legendary CCKW, tanks and "ducks" (amphibious water crafts).

1946

After building 600,000 trucks for use in the Second World War, GMC Truck designed a "peacetime" lineup of 48 basic models. GM offered heavy duty trucks for sale to civilians.

1947

The first year of the "Advanced Design" trucks. Quite a difference from the 1946 models, as GMC went away from the traditional cone shaped hood and low front fendered truck.

1948

1949

1950

GMC Truck increased horsepower in its six-cylinder light duty engine to 96 hp.

1951

Not a lot of changes in '51.

1952

1953

1954

GMC Suburban Carryall got a facelift to the windshield & grill.

1955

GMC introduced both new styling and a new engine for its 1955 "Second Series" lineup of pickup trucks. As the first major redesign since 1947, the new '55 GMC featured a two-bar-grille format, hooded headlights, bumper with circular guards and stylized GMC lettering mounted on the lower hood surface. The 287-cubic-inch, 155-horsepower engine marked the introduction of V8s for light-duty GMC trucks. GMC also offered a new and very stylish pickup model with fiberglass bed and special trim. Called the Suburban Carrier, this rarely seen GMC was a sibling to Chevrolet's new Cameo Carrier pickup.

1956

GMC offered factory-installed, NAPCO-supplied 4WD.

1957

Minor grill changes.

1958

Very few changes to the truck line, with a new grill and dual headlights. After producing only a few hundred Suburban Carriers, GMC changed mid-year to the new Fleetside bed - the fleetside tailgate is used all the way to '66.

1959

This is the last year of the "Task Force" trucks. GMC introduced the All New Aluminum "Tilt Cab Cruiser" with a 48" BBC, a true cab over engine truck. It came with or without a set back front axle. GMC Tested an all new V-6 Truck engine, the 305.

1960

GMC redesigned their entire truck line, with a wide cab styling, and powered by their new V-6 engines. Also GMC introduced the "Twin-Six" V12 Gasoline engine for heavy trucks. GMC Now had trucks from 1/2 to 60 tons. Major changes in front suspension as they used a torsion bar independent set up for a passenger car ride. Other changes include switching from NAPCO 4WD to in-house supplied 4WD for a lower "built from the tires up" look. We also saw the second tilt cab added, the 72" steel cab-over. there was also a 90" BBC truck added to the line. There were 34 pickup combinations.

1961

Virtually the same as the 1960 model, with another V-6: the 305D offered. 1960 and 1961 GMC trucks had the "N" model designation. Ya gotta love that hood!

1962

GMC smoothed down the front of the hood, making it more streamlined, whereas the1960-61 hoods had the large steel mesh front opening.

1963

GMC changed the suspension on light and medium trucks; to leaf spring in the rear and coil spring in the front on light trucks, and I beam on the medium's front end.

1964

GMC restyled the cab, with the most obvious change being the new forward side pillar, making the front windshield much flatter, ending the "wrap-around" windshield years, and offered inline six engines in their trucks. We also saw the all new Handi-Van introduced. There was now a choice of 40 pickup models. GMC introduced the Toro-Flow diesel engine, based on their V6 Gasoline engines.

1965

Nearly identical to the 1964 model, with minor engine changes.

1966

GMC introduced the 637 V8 as a replacement for the Twin-Six, which in dropped from the line. GMC also introduced the H-model heavy-duty conventional trucks in 91" and 114" BBC. This new model comes with a tilt or butterfly hood. The 351 V6 is offered in the Light Trucks for the first time.

1967

GM combined GMC and Chevrolet Trucks on the assembly lines to reduce the cost of building two truck lines. Chevrolet plants built the light trucks, and GMC Plants built the Medium and Heavy trucks. Chevy engines were offered in GMC Trucks and the V6 continued until 1969 in the GMC light duty trucks, and until 1972 in the GMC heavy duty trucks. This was in effect the end of GMC as a seperate small truck division. Smaller trucks were still built by GMC and were great trucks, but there really wasn't any differences now between the Chevrolet and the GMC light duty trucks besides engine/tranny options, interior trim and some exterior trim.

If any of the pictures of the GMC trucks on this page are copywrited without my knowledge, email me and I will remove them.

Back to the Conrad's Truck Page
Sign the Guest Book! View the Guest Book!

This page last updated on