Oddly enough they still use what cabovers are left for boat transport. A few fleet delivery customers but mostly farmers who only used the trucks come harvest time. Item:24627543 Spencer, IA $242.00. Even though today GMC mostly offers pickup trucks, SUVs, and medium-duty commercial vehicles with such well-recognized nameplates as Sierra, Acadia, Canyon, Yukon, and Savanna, there were times when the company was focusing on producing urban and transit buses, fire trucks, ambulances, and heavy-duty semi trucks. White trailers with a big "Food Lion" graphic. We like the way they roll. 1900. It had the red and white paint scheme but but was otherwise pretty plain, with cast spoke wheels and painted fuel tanks. This is because they are usually made of steel, and they are also available in other materials, such as plastic. A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. Year. There are folks who thought the Astro was a rip off of a Mack design from the early 60s. Ive had the pleasure to drive an LTL-9000, and the misfortune to drive a Brigadier. The cabovers were nice for doing a lot of repairs although I hated pulling radiators. Every time I see one of these old Astros, I think of Food Lion supermarkets fleet back in the 80s. Each truck had a slightly longer than normal wheelbase, with tandem axles, a steel flatbed with wood decking, and an interesting low-mounted fifth wheel hitch setup. I could have sworn I took several of the truck Ill be attempting to feature below, but for some reason I am unable to find them. Cochran Auctioneers & Associates LTD Boonsboro, Maryland. In 1959, GMC introduced its Class 8 cabover trucks, replacing the previous "Cannonball" fixed-cab cabovers. These two galsno idea who they aremade frequent appearances in company literature. The driver would grab the outer rail and swing out and down! GMC's Astro story originally begins in the early
And so came the companys latest investment, circa 1987: a fleet of new-to-them tractors with brand-new trailers. The International was brand new when I got it 1978, had a 290 Cummins and 10 speed Roadranger transmission. Cab is up in the air, a crack noise followed by some crunching sounds. They also all open in a certain way (although they differ in this area). Postal Code: 7 LOT #: 10062 Save 1986 GMC ASTRO Sleeper Trucks Buyer's premium included in price USD $120.00 GMC COE single axle. Definitely a product of White Motor Company or one of its spin offs. Recommended Company Sponsored Schools, Requirements, pros + cons, what to expect from company-sponsored cdl training programs. As I left the yard that day, I watched as the dilapidated Astrowas being hacked apart by a small herd of torch jockeys. Chevy Turbo Titan III. I wouldnt be so quick to write the Road Commander off as an Astro copy, Larry Shinoda of Mustang and Corvette fame was the man behind the design. This is a highly detailed restoration of the exterior and the interior. This gives good access to the motor for maintenance and repair. It represents the days of trucking we all long for, in todays world of trucking, that is so muddled up and complex with its mounds of unnecessary rules, regs and guidelines. Related > What It Was Like to Drive the Older Model Rigs. I was a little concerned about the pieces that were twisted on the right front, yea they looked fine but I couldnt see taking a chance on this happening again. COEs have been the standard in Europe since many decades, a conventional truck is rare. Here are some comments sent in from truckers. Thats a nice one! This meant that there were less gauges on the wraparound part than
Ford made a big cabover on air bag suspension that leaned in the corners and felt like it was going to tip over sideways when the driver climbed in or out. The cabover is made of metal and the interior is black. The cabover style of truck took full advantage of the trucking industry length laws, in effect at the time. And 35 years ago no computerized support systems. Following the launch of the cabover product line in 1969, the GMC Astro quickly exceeded the Chevrolet Titan in sales and market share. Drive Side. Needless to say, everyone there knew their products VERY well. The one thing that cabover interiors are best known for is the way they can camouflage some of their interior panels. In stark contrast to the boxy Crackerbox, the exterior of the Astro/Titan featured rounded body corners and wraparound windshield glass. uplevel sound and CB systems. email me. The new model has replaced the line of C/M 90/9500 trucks. economy. [1] In an option that became standard a year later, in 1979, GMC and Chevrolet offered the SS (Special Series) package. the styling-the highly boxy shape made it commonly referred to as the
I drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. All Rights Reserved. 1975 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - AS-IS. The engine dog house was shaped with a wide slot that allowed the driver to look down to the little window and see the blind spot on the right side. They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. It took a while for me to warm up to that oneI thought it was tacky when I first saw it, but apparently the secretaries got a kick out of watching peoples reactions. They were quite popular, particularly with fleets. It's flush glass and smooth exterior surfaces
1974 Diamond Reo Cabover An early model of COE style rig American made. As you say, its tough to be distinctive. The white cabooses have interiors that are usually made of glass. They were legal and they got the job done. I know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. Downtime means lost income. Some of the time in a cabover International and the rest in an Astro 95 then a Chevy Titan 90. Also in common with GM products of the day Astros didnt age well, particularly inside the cab. A 60 Detroit and a 10 speed trannie under the hood. I sold off the shop manuals years ago on the internet. As I recall they were much easier to deal with than most boat companies who prefer to use their dealers for all customer support. NO
The next year I was put in a brand new leased 1979 GMC General. Left Hand Drive. I understood that much of the interior and the dashboard were designed by a woman named Martha Jayne Van Alstyne, who also worked on the interior of the 68 Corvette. Today, you can still find a fair amount
They were indeed good-looking trucks. Van Alstyne was one of the female designers mentioned in the book, Damsels in Design, by Constance Smith which came out a couple of years ago and which was mentioned on this site and on others. However, due to it's
The left front cab mount failed, the cab has swung around to the right some and landed on the motor. They are very similar at a glance. Beat me to itthe White was clearly an Astro rip-off, although there isnt exactly a lot of leeway with big COE trucks in making them look distinctive, at least in the idiom of that time. Highly inconvenient. They are also becoming wildly popular at truck shows. My Dad drove so many of these, his knees still rattle and shake! #3 was under the cowl and the piston/liner assembly would only just clear. Out here, the farmers still run Brigadiers, Generals, and Ford Louisvilles. Planning to exit the medium-duty truck market, General Motors canceled the production in 2009. When I worked at Peterbilt in the late 70s to early 80s, we definitely paid attention to some of the features of the Astro as well as Ford CL9000, especially the cab air suspension of the latter. Never tripped across one that didnt rattle! The only other cabovers weve seen have a black, red, and blue interior. Along with the Dragfoiler roof spoiler, the option package included body extension panels between the cab and trailer, an air dam below an extended bumper and an optimized radiator grille. I happened to be at the yard a few days later, and saw the big old GMC roll in on a lowboy trailer. It was like driving a bus! To make matters worse this truck was built without power steering! The neighbor has one Brigadier- a 1979 thats on its last legs. The early ones, like the red one at top, are better looking than the later ones. My good friend and photography mentor loves them. GMC. Useful articles fast to read and guides easy to understand written by mechanics and car enthusiasts to turn your shopping experience with TRUCKiD into a pleasure. Instruction, clear advice, videos and photos for truck driver skills, maneuvers and information for all professional truck drivers. (Powerliner). Some models had quite large sleeper berths. This truck is very rare as we are finding out. me with questions and comments! time. Safety. I knew a guy who worked in the service department at a Caterpillar dealer, and he said that some of his customers wouldnt hesitate to come right over his desk if they got the slightest inkling that he might be causing some delay in getting their equipment back into use. The GMC Astro (also known as the Chevrolet Titan) is a heavy-duty cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors from the 1969 to 1987 model years. The doors were a little wider on the Astro than the International and I thought the Astro was easier to get into and out of. When the shop was sold and moved out of town his land lord offered him 300 bucks to clean out the space. TGH928V900010. Who knows? And when I came on in 2006, things werent looking pretty. In 1987, GM ended the production of the GMC General. If anyone knows about these powerplants in
In 1909, GM purchased the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company founded by Max Grabowsky in 1901 that designed some of the first ever commercial vehicles. Your commercial medium- or heavy-duty truck needs to be in perfect working condition to be able to make money. The Only Old School Cabover Truck Guide Youll Ever Need, Old School Cabover Truck Photo Collection, The Clifford Truck Show Best Cabover Collection EVER, What It Was Like to Drive the Older Model Rigs, Trucker Culture and Professionalism A Salute to the Professionals That Move Us, 1980 International Transtar Eagle Model Review, The Peterbilt Cabover Truck Photo Collection, The 5 Best Semi Trucks of All Times A Trip Down Memory Lane. Ive spent my whole life in the marine industry and its amazing that I still find new boat companies all the time. You've disabled cookies in your web browser. They were deadly in a head on crash. This truck had plenty of power and I was able to easily beat a friend on mine driving the International cabover out of a toll plaza. One of the other farms runs a fleet thats all GMC on the older stuff. Her fleet of 95s did cross country turnarounds with two drivers, Indiana to California and back in 5 days over the Rockies, the drivers loved them. Want to learn the language of the truck driver? [2] For the 1969 model year, the GMC Crackerbox was replaced by the GMC Astro, while the Chevrolet Titan was unveiled for the 1970 model year.[3][4]. It was truly a great truck. By the mid eighties, they were doing pretty well for themselves: theyd moved into a big new facility, had expanded their lineup to include such things as portable ice houses and their trademark line of peddle-boats, and of course they were still cranking out pontoons left and right. when the cab was tipped, anything and everything in the truck and sleeper berth that wasnt glued down, would fall onto the windshield of the truck! MN. The Internationals were good solid trucks. This must be the Astros counterpart from across the pond, the English 1974-1986 Bedford TM. A larger cab provided more interior space and greater comfort for the driver, and larger windows allowed for better driver visibility. Could be theres more badges these wore. In contrast to the Crackerbox, the cab of the Astro was lengthened nearly six inches into a 54-inch BBC length with two sleeper cab configurations available. (USED) GMC ASTRO DOOR SIDE VENT, DOES NOT INCLUDE INTERIOR TRIM, NEEDS SEAL, CAB OVER $242 USD Located in Spencer, IA, US Email Seller (855) 370-___ Seller Information Vander Haag's Inc. 3809 4th Ave W Spencer, IA 51301-2082 United States Get Directions View all Inventory (154948) Get Shipping Quotes Save Price Alert Send to a Friend Print Listing Especially love the old Kenworth K100E Aerodyne. These continued to remain as GMC's main class
You are visitor number to this page! The Astro could be ordered with standard Detroit Diesel 6 or 8
Wild dashboard, what a shame that there isnt really any use for these old beasts once they get on in years . Call or email for more information. Cabover interiors are usually found in the back of a car, and they are usually made of steel rather than plastic. Related > Classic TrucksFrom the Golden Years of Trucking. Three of the sixteen-footers were completed and used for testing and promotions; this catalog picture depicts the very same boat seen above, only twenty-two years earlier. Search our large inventory of New/Used GMC ASTRO Cab, Misc Parts for sale. A walk-in version was added in 1985. They look like something out of the 90s rather than the 60s. They were great for maneuvering in tight spots, but not so great to live in for long time periods for over the road trucking. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. The dealer I worked at had a large rural customer base. Your email address will not be published. The GMC Astro (also known as the Chevrolet Titan) is a heavy-duty (Class 8) cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors from the 1969 to 1987 model years. Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. The GMC Astro and Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. Its powered by an NTC 400 Cummins, 15 speed, 433 ratio with dual air breathers. My Red and White Astro 95 being an older truck was pretty well broken in and she was hot (A/C permanently broke) and noisy to be in 10 to 12 or more hours a day. But, unfortunately, its also the one big truck for which Im most starved for pictures. If every driver of EVERY vehicle on the road followed these safety tips, our roads would be SO much safer. But somewhere down the line (perhaps in the early eighties) they acquired another line of business: building pontoon boats. awkward shapes, it did not receive good aerodynamic ratings, and cut fuel
The cabover interiors are usually made with a black finish that makes them look like they have some kind of black paint on them. Restoration completed recently. Perhaps even these Jeeps were big trucks in a past life. The Astro was available as a 58 in BBC Day Cab, and a 86 in BBC
Of the seven, five were sixteen feet long, and two were seventeen feet. A wide range of engines, which could be easily modified for alternative fuels such as propane or compressed natural gas, made the model popular in the school bus and police bus industry. Ive seen a number of really nice ones, rebuilt and re-finished and restored back to new condition. Aahhhh yes, I spent many a day in these. GMC Astro cabs were built almost entirely out of aluminum, with SMC fiberglass-reinforced plastic doors, and were offered in three lengths: the short 55-inch non-sleeper cab, a 75-inch sleeper cab and an 87-inch sleeper cab. It looked similar to the above shot when I last saw it, but I bet its cockpit was much more awe-inspiring in its younger days. In contrast to the Crackerbox, the cab of the Astro was lengthened nearly six inches into a 54-inch BBC length with two sleeper cab configurations available. The early COE trucks were also very cold, as they werent well insulated. time were adopting. 1 of 11 ever made by General Motors. They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. There were approximately seven built, all told; they were prototypes for a new line that never got off the ground. Thats actually not an Astro. GM originally intended to offer an Allison gas turbine engine as an option in the Astro 95 alongside the various Detroit and Cummins diesels when the truck was introduced. Although Volvo GM would continue sales of COE trucks under the White GMC and Western Star brands (the WhiteGMC WH and Western Star Cabover; both versions of the White Road Commander II), the GMC Astro was never directly replaced by Volvo GM, Volvo, or General Motors. I had a Grand National at the time and it was very tempting for me to consider trading it off for one but I didnt want another car payment so that was that. Cabover interior is the way that the caboose opens. We take a look at the exterior and interior of the vehicle, so you can receive a general idea and appreciation of a certain brand or model.Our coverage is from Truck, Auto and Commercial Vehicle Shows in USA, Europe and Canada.Thanks for watching!! There was no coming back after that. The truck only racked up 85,000 miles in that entire time and the engine only has 2,500 hours on it. After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. A major factor leading to the cancellation was lack of support for heavy-duty trucks by Chevrolet dealers. [1] In 1977, the Cummins KT450 and Caterpillar 3406 became options; the larger engines required the addition of a larger radiator. Oh man, how I love those old cabovers and the other rigs, especially the Petes. The Kenworths had dog houses big enough to sleep on. So, in 1987, GMC sold the heavy duty operation to Volvo, and
This interior is one of the highlights of my apartment. For the paddleboat, of course. (Wonder how many other people can say they own not one, butthree brand-new, never-used, 1991 model year boats?). At SMART TRUCKING, were also avid fans of the cabover truck. Many RVs even up to today use the same glass. Maneuvering a big trailer was a real workout. Visibility was not very good and made life tough in some of the tight spots in the old cities and towns I delivered to. But now a sighting of a working cabover truck on the road is more rare. Given the paint scheme, it seems fairly likely this tractor and trailer spent at least part of their lives together. The Astro 95 was the best-styled truck of its time, and one of the best ever. He believes that Content and Social Media Marketing are the strongest forms of marketing nowadays. (c) 2000, Evan McCausland. before, and some were cut as cost-savings. Cabover trucks, COE (cab over engine), are essentially a style of big rig truck without a hood. Heck, it reminds me of the good old days when there were way less laws and regs. After a couple years of testing the idea was dropped due to the turbines poor fuel consumption. In fact, this picture was used to create a cut-out on foamcore, which sat atop their reception desk when it was unstaffed. 1900 GMC ASTRO 95 Day Cab Trucks Sold Price: USD $990.00 Auction Ended: April 10, 2021 Financial Calculator Machine Location: Boonsboro, Maryland 21713 Stock Number: 615 VIN: TGH928V900010 Drive Side: Left Hand Drive Compare J.G. A lot of the later Astro 95s were Cummins powered. The interior was designed for optimal
But, with surprising candor, he began to lament his purchase of the truck having now done the math, he was expecting to take a big hit on it, and several other things hed won at that auction. By the time you had everything jacked up and secured you could barely work the transmission out of the narrow frame rails.