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. The GMC truck in the fourth photo immediately reminded me of the cigarette truck barelling down the streets of Detroit in Beverly Hills Cop to the Neutron Dance soundtrack by the Pointer Sisters. The white cabooses weve seen are made of metal. They look like something out of the 90s rather than the 60s. You could get Cummins and later the 3406 Cat, but the vast majority had 71 and 92 series Jimmys in them. They are also becoming wildly popular at truck shows. The early ones, like the red one at top, are better looking than the later ones. The truck and trailer were plainly visible from the road. As of current production, GM has not marketed another Class 8 cabover truck (as the configuration has effectively ended production in North America). The dealer I worked at had a large rural customer base. Many memories are attached to the old cabover trucks models.Many truckers and retired truck drivers alike, lament about the classic cabover truck models, that once ruled the highways of North America. After its discontinuation, GM exited the heavy-duty truck market. Cabovers werent necessary dangerously. You can read the full disclosure policy, which is pretty dull, but here it is. Owned by Ryan Wichtner, FL. Can anyone tell me where this picture was taken. Maneuverability. But no more please, too uncomfortable. The ultimate custom truck show and big rig event schedule for U.S. and Canada. 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. The gmc astro cabover features a black interior with a white caboose. I may well have been the only guy in the Yellow Pages who knew what they meant by thickwire.. I actually had to call Ercoa once working a claim on a boat. International Cabover A 1974 model, powered by Cummins 400, 13 speed transmission, owned by Mark Johnson. The driver would be the first guy at the scene of a head on accident. Some of the time in a cabover International and the rest in an Astro 95 then a Chevy Titan 90. Gmc astro Sleeper on HeavyTruckParts.Net. Theybring back good memories from the past from the days when theindustry paid truckers what they were worth and the professional driver was respected by the public. 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. One could update the grille and headlights and the Astro 2.0 wouldnt look out of place today in a lineup of new trucks on the dealer lot. Equally memorable was a prop which sometimes sat near it: a Dixie cup which contained a spoon and was filled to overflowing with white glue, which had a bit of brown paint stirred in and was allowed to harden. Drivers had to be careful of foot placement, or else theyd end up falling on the ground! I still have a few anti-tamper ECM decals laying around somewhere. and they will be posted! There was no coming back after that. Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Yugo When Was The Last Time You Saw One? I love my truck and it will be around for a long time to come. images may be used without permission except for personal viewing. Used. As far as I know this is a Bedford KM, the heavy-duty TK. It also has a black, white, Among their factory leftovers was a small group of V-bottom boats. The Sleeper Bunk. uplevel sound and CB systems. The only other cabovers weve seen have a black, red, and blue interior. Placement of the truck cab over the motor saved some length. Id suspect a lot of their business came from a few good dealers, and especially from operators of a small fleet of big rigs but a varied fleet of everything who would appreciate a one-stop shop where they could get heavy haulers to get the product out, pickups and vans for *their* service techs and sedans for the sales reps through one dealership and one contract. It featured an all-aluminum cab with a 108-inch or 116-inch hood. me with questions and comments! COEs in general seem to be on the way out, though there is a big black Kenworth COE that hauls container trailers to and from the local port on the James River. The nose of the semi is flat and the truck cab sits on top of the diesel engine and steering axle. Given the design and material information I hung onto from earlier, I expect to be able to finish their construction fairly easily. One of my most exciting or tense days involved a White Road Commander. Its too bad they dont make them like that any more. In 1981, General Motors ended sales of heavy trucks by the Chevrolet Division, leading to the cancellation of the Chevrolet Bruin, Bison, and Titan. The top speed was right around 60 mph, the speed limit those days was 55 mph so many trucks were geared to keep the top speed down. When the truck manufacturers decided to increase driver comfort in these trucks, their price increased as well. The California Air Recourses Board made me put a 2002 N-14 engine in it and a super large catalytic converter/particulate filter, but it dynoed super clean and the Astro 95 can be used until 2027. Buyer's premium included in price USD $458. Thanks for the history of the company. USD $3,300 . Visit our site at any time to acquire GMC semi truck accessories and parts needed for your restoration or upgrade project. In stark contrast to the boxy Crackerbox, the exterior of the Astro/Titan featured rounded body corners and wraparound windshield glass. 94, with LT1 power, velour seating, and a trunk rack. I am actually the current owner of the truck on this article. GMC ASTRO Cab, Misc Parts for Sale - vanderhaags.com rearranged. They would haul trailer loads of potatoes in from Idaho with these rigs. I was really taken with the Astro cab. The GMC Astro is a heavy-duty class 8 cabover truck that was unveiled in 1969 as the replacement for the GMC cabover semi truck produced during 1960-1968 that received the nickname "Crackerbox" for its boxy-shaped cabin. When I was a kid, my parents would drive me to the nearest truck stop, so I could take pictures of the big rigs, and talk to the truck drivers. Guess I did a better job than necessary, in this case! As I recall they were much easier to deal with than most boat companies who prefer to use their dealers for all customer support. Gmc astro Sleeper for sale on HeavyTruckParts.Net 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. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert. There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. Cab Manufacturer: gmc Model: astro $2,000.00 1986 GMC ASTRO Cab Create Estimate Tag #: 25276546 VIN #: 1GDT9L4C5GV505534 *Brakes: AIR Engine: CUMMINS BCIII Type: SHELL Style: CABOVER SHELL CAB, COMPONENTS SOLD SEPARATE, ALLISON HT754CR Part Info (877)238-5030 Request Info Enterprise Vander Haags Inc Cb Council Bluffs IA $786.00 1983 GMC ASTRO Cab The model was dubbed the GMC B-Series and stayed in production for three generations. Your email address will not be published. [1] In 1977, the Cummins KT450 and Caterpillar 3406 became options; the larger engines required the addition of a larger radiator. Nothing on earth sounds as good to me as a screamin Jimmy Diesel. I drove one in 71 for two years, with a V12 Detroit engine. Some truckers wore full length snowmobile suits in them, just to stay warm! One of the other farms runs a fleet thats all GMC on the older stuff. Its Hall-Scott gas engine was still running well, but the truck just was too slow to be competitive in the late 1960s, and it was actually driven to its resting place in the woods at the local wrecking yard, where it sat for years before being scrapped. In past years, it had been E.R.C.O.A., as in the Electric Reel Company Of America, maker of battery-powered fishing reels. 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. It seemed the final nail in their coffin might have been the failure of a large chain of boat dealers, which happened to be one of their biggest distributors. Apparently, many was the visitor who attempted to dip their fingers into it! Feed Body, model unknown cabover 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. 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. COEs have been the standard in Europe since many decades, a conventional truck is rare. 8 model, until 1959, when the all-new H model was introduced. But they are still the gold standard in Europe, Australia and Japan. Changing a clutch was always fun since the rear engine mounts were attached to the transmission instead of the engine. We had to do allot of work to use it in the state of California. Bid History for 1975 GMC Astro 95 Cabover Truck - AS-IS Auction Start Date: 06/03/21 5:11 PM ET Auction End Date: 06/17/21 9:03 PM ET Asset ID: 1453 . I know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. metatron-nw.com 2023. In 1909, GM purchased the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company founded by Max Grabowsky in 1901 that designed some of the first ever commercial vehicles. Radhe also tries different gadgets every now and then to give their reviews online. Throughout the entire production run, the trucks were assembled in Pontiac, Michigan by the Pontiac Central Assembly facility. Interesting hearing about truck models from the mechanics perspective. 1983 GMC Astro cabover restore and semi work - TruckersReport I drove a COE for the first ten years or so of my driving career. Used Chevrolet Astro for Sale in Provo, UT - CarGurus Also seem to recall some connection with carnival equipment. the standards the H series set, yet be more streamlined and beyond. The replacement for the F/D-series "Crackerbox" COEs, the Astro was marketed by Chevrolet as the Titan, serving as the largest cabover trucks ever produced by General Motors. Not running. Broken lights and lenses throughout. Yes! Luckily the shop we are in was originally a heavy equipment shop. Dan is hoping to use this truck in the summer to haul hay. Mechanically sound. $4,000.00 1979 GMC Astro cabover semi tractor Detroit 892v 13 speed 54,276 actual mileage 2,324 hours Starts and runs great. Gmc astro Cab for sale on HeavyTruckParts.Net These gems were a challenge to drive without power steering. wide panoramic glass provided excellent vision to the front and the A 60 Detroit and a 10 speed trannie under the hood. (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 GMC Astro 95 Cabover T/A Road Tractor, ; Vin# TGH928V900010, Special Plate- AC122503, Manual Trans.- NO TITLE Sold By: J.G. You see a LOT of dilapidated Fords smoking their way down the road, somehow still going. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. [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]. 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. I believe that a gas turbine was optional in limited quantities, yet The one thing that cabover interiors are best known for is the way they can camouflage some of their interior panels. This retro truck style is rising to the surface once again for particular working applications. Related > The Clifford Truck Show Best Cabover Collection EVER. That thing is so deliciously 80s. The Freightliners could be as cold as the Arctic, even with the heaters on full! Aahhhh yes, I spent many a day in these. Noisy. . Depending on when it was made its Road Expeditor II, an Autocar or a Western Star. Want to learn the language of the truck driver? Single rear axle. This is a highly detailed restoration of the exterior and the interior. But given their neglected state, it also seems likely that their service lives have come to a close. Left Hand Drive. Heck, it reminds me of the good old days when there were way less laws and regs. Learn the dangers of a truck driver encounters when driving an Australian road train in the barren Outback and how trucking in Australia is so different from North America. Under the joint venture, GMC trucks were phased out in favor of White-designed Volvo GM products. 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. of these honorable trucks on the road today. 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. In 1976, another 9 of length was allowed, for a maximum 75 allowance. Year. relocated to next to the trailer air brake lever itself, as shown. The red caboose is made of metal too. Still, he remained hopeful that the tons (literally) of aluminum pontoon parts hed also bought would make up for it. I noticed and like the 92 Dark Cherry Metallic Chevy Caprice in the background of the third picture from the bottom. the styling-the highly boxy shape made it commonly referred to as the No other semi had that much glass, and the fact it went down so far gave the driver better vision of things real close, like someone in a crosswalk, but it freaked some drivers out at first because you do feel exposed compared to say a Kenworth or Peterbuilt Cab over of the time. there is no reaching into the sleeper to grab something, when sitting in the drivers seat! 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. Postal Code: 7 LOT #: 10062 Save 1986 GMC ASTRO Sleeper Trucks Buyer's premium included in price USD $120.00 GMC COE single axle. 1969-'88 GMC Astro | Hemmings That was all there was to drive at one time. Video: Crackerboxes an Astros - CDLLife And so it was that I got my one and only surviving picture of the trucks at hand. for it was optional. Ive had the pleasure to drive an LTL-9000, and the misfortune to drive a Brigadier. This model was designed to have a higher cab, bigger rad, and a larger engine, than its predecessor. The gmc astro cabover features a black interior with a white caboose. So they dumped their interests in such things as snowmobiles and recreational craft, going hard after that one market they felt was most lucrative. your own Pins on Pinterest [2] Along with single or tandem axle configurations, the GMC Crackerbox was available with a sleeper cab. "Crackerbox" by operators and fans. Its design was cleaner and slicker than the Transtar. An Australian truck driver talks about the REAL BAD BOY big rig trucks that run through the Outback of Australia. Updated: Mon, Nov 14, 2022 1:32 PM Get Shipping Quotes - (Opens in a new tab) Apply for Financing - (Opens in a new tab) No image. [1] In 1975, GMC introduced a Dragfoiler roof spoiler as an option. Jun 7, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Lieutenant 107. And run they did. at the Hollywood Park Truck Show in Ingleside, CA in 1969. I happened to be at the yard a few days later, and saw the big old GMC roll in on a lowboy trailer. The white cabooses have interiors that are usually made of glass. Overspray bedamned, Ill take it! Picture of my Titan 90 north of Portland Maine 1979. Ive got several more for later on in the week, but hey why not start with the biggest? In fact, this picture was used to create a cut-out on foamcore, which sat atop their reception desk when it was unstaffed. I vaguely recall it being at/near a T intersection. Because of the regulations for length, this style of rig was very popular in it's day. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It had the red and white paint scheme but but was otherwise pretty plain, with cast spoke wheels and painted fuel tanks. My extended family has owned and used that exact model of paddleboat on various lakes in Minnesota for close to four decades. What can I do, I have diesel in my veins and Detroits in my heart. Shopping with us, you get parts and accessories that work hard just like you, built tough just like your vehicle. 118" WB, 104" cab to rear, 184" overall. 1972 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - Walkaround Exterior Interior Tour - 2021 Clifford Truck Show TruckTube 3.9K views 8 months ago Cabover Peterbilt With Completely Full Trailer FSC Trucking. It also lacked most of the personalized touches this one hasno fancy clearance lights or custom paint jobs here! gmc astro cabover interior - Meta Tron Nw Comfort is a big issue especially for long haul trucking. I can remember the day we got in a shipment of tools and manuals for the 91 Syclone. These rigs are true classics for sure. [1], In a major change from precedent, when introduced in 1969, the Astro/Titan were marketed exclusively with diesel engines. As a result, I finally got a chance to get up close and personal with their fleet of trucks. Maintenance and Repair A cabover is repaired by tilting the entire cab forward. The model was discontinued in 1987. It's flush glass and smooth exterior surfaces Buyer's Premium . Even the old freight shaker cabovers! In 1959, GMC introduced its Class 8 cabover trucks, replacing the previous "Cannonball" fixed-cab cabovers. The trucks, however, were not so lucky. Discover (and save!) To this day I still drive a cabover, 48 years and never owned a hood. These old school cabover trucks, whetherKenworth,Peterbilt,Freightliner, White, GMC, Ford, Diamond Reo or old Crackerbox, meantfreedom, simplicity, open roads, good memories and yes, some back aches. IHC dealers usually at least understood that an out-of-service truck meant someone wasnt making their wages. You had to jack the front of the cab up to get the valve cover off. Today, you can still find a fair amount There are fewer blind spots too. If anyone knows about these powerplants in I was astounded when he paid $3500 for the title-less derelict Astro; upon looking it over again (just to see if Id missed something), I couldnt understand how he was making money on it at that price. It could go maybe 65 mph tops. I am trying to see if by some chance this trailer is still in existence. In the late 1960s, as American truck manufacturers introduced updated designs for cabover trucks, design work began on an all-new Class 8 cabover. White trailers with a big Food Lion graphic. The H model was a redesign of the semi-cabover design, with a more rounded look as the GMCs at the One of my regrets is that I wasnt yet smart enough to try to figure out how to save my fathers old 1947 Autocar 10-wheeler dump truck from the scrap yard. Every downturn claims some, Boats and RVs are big discrentionary extras subject to consumer confidence. GMC ASTRO Farm Equipment Auction Results - 22 Listings - TractorHouse.com Resale on these still seems to be excellent! Must have been a big Chevy truck dealer out there. so has very low miles. But now a sighting of a working cabover truck on the road is more rare. Also, by the end of the 1970s, Astro's dashboard had been slightly It did the job but no one ever confused it with a Peterbilt or a Kenworth. Expanding the product line to the Chevrolet brand, the replacement for the GMC Crackerbox sought to expand interior space, visibility, and driver ergonomics. I would sleep across the doghouse in my cabover. The Astro was also GMs swan song in the big-truck sector, and it never sold in the numbers needed to keep GM truly viable. So, in 1987, GMC sold the heavy duty operation to Volvo, and My good friend and photography mentor loves them. William C. Durant established General Motors (GM) as the holding company for Buick on September 16, 1908. Plus, I turned out to be a convenient source of labor for creating the coming years catalog, since their marketing department was no more by that time. You are visitor number to this page! Thats an Isuzu Bedford the TM was a heavyduty TK with a double bumper, I saw one of those on Sunday a dead one they are too low powered and small for todays applications. The early COE trucks were also very cold, as they werent well insulated. In 1986, General Motors created the VolvoGM joint venture with Volvo Trucks, leading to the discontinuation of the Astro in 1987. Upgrades to the truck's suspension improved its handling and ride, as well. The cabover interiors caboose is a unique design concept that is made possible by the fact that it has black and red interiors. Thanks for the pics of the Astro interior, forgot how nice the dash was. The large carriers who were the big buyers of cabovers, switched over to the conventional style rig, and the bottom rapidly fell out of the market for them in North America, thus the fall in popularity of these trucks. They were spun-off from Volvo during the Mack acquisition as the combined company would have had to big a share of the Low Cab Forward Truck market. Given the paint scheme, it seems fairly likely this tractor and trailer spent at least part of their lives together. The International was brand new when I got it 1978, had a 290 Cummins and 10 speed Roadranger transmission. Anytime the driver wants anything from the bunk, the process is the same. Another future COAL . "[1][2] Available in a 48-inch BBC (bumper to back of cab) length, the truck was produced with an all-aluminum fully tilting cab. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. As such, several other trucks will be standing in for it at various points. Search our large inventory of New/Used GMC ASTRO Cab, Misc Parts for sale. 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. Interior. Provo, UT - Cabover Truck - COE Trucks For Sale - Commercial Truck Trader The Astro died honorably with Chevy Turbo Titan III. Not surprising, given that it came from GM, although its predecessor, the Crackerbox (attached) certainly couldnt have spent much time in the Design Center. This merger formed the basis of the General Motors Truck Company giving the GMC brand name for their trucks. Generals were actually a pretty good truck, at least competitive with the Transtar 4200/4300 and better than the various Loiusvilles from Ford. Dents and rust throughout, interior dirty and worn. The cabooses are all designed with different colors, textures, and materials. I read somewhere that Larry Shinoda had a hand in designing the Astro 95. Every once in awhile Ill see one sitting on a back lot. Drove them back in 88 when I started driving with Schneider National. All were late 70s vintage cabovers with sleepers and rooftop air deflectors, painted white, with the obligatorylogo on the door. Having already acquired White Motor Company in 1980, the joint venture would do business as Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corporation, selling trucks under the combined WhiteGMC product badge. These Astro cabs had (exterior) styling far ahead of their time, especially the ones with the smaller grille. The Great Lakes Truck Club hosts the Clifford Truck Show, featuring a hot line-up of cabovers, Macks and older model rigs. I might have even worked on this one. A major factor leading to the cancellation was lack of support for heavy-duty trucks by Chevrolet dealers. I got to test drive one with a 9L CNG motor and Heil Frontloading refuse body Dec of 2012 and was impressed with it. In 1930, another GMC truck made a similar journey from New York to San Francisco in just 5 days. Old Dutch was a really good customer. You can connect with him Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And their parts guys knew the product a lot better. It was truly a great truck. (Wonder how many other people can say they own not one, butthree brand-new, never-used, 1991 model year boats?). When it comes to clutter, some say its nothing more than postponed decisions. Needless to say, everyone there knew their products VERY well. Previews will consist of visual inspection, and vehicle can be started. In what would be a distinguishing feature of the vehicle, the Astro/Titan was produced with a wraparound dashboard;[1] the speedometer and tachometer were placed directly in the line of sight of the driver while most secondary gauges were placed off to the side, based on their level of use. Following the 1980 model year, Chevrolet exited the heavy-truck segment; thereafter, alongside the Brigadier and General conventionals, the Astro was marketed solely under the GMC brand. The GMC ASTRO INTERIOR FOR AMERICAN TRUCK SIMULATOR - YouTube For more information on the last new 1972 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - Walkaround Exterior Interior Tour - YouTube GMC Astro - Wikipedia later dropped from the lineup. This particular 1977 GMC Astro 95 has an interesting backstory in the fact that it was order by NASA and used very sparingly at the Wallops Island facility in Virginia. Cabover interiors use a different system from other car interiors in the same way that a car interior uses a different system. There was also the memorable wrap-around dashboard, all decked out in woodgrain. From the second picture on, I knew it would be enjoyable! It was easy for the younger drivers, but not quite so easy for the older truckers! Condition. Most kids wanted to go to the beach, but my favourite thing was to head for a truck stop! Cabover trucks werent particularly comfortable, back in the early years. My first impression? [1] Although Detroit Diesel had developed a gas-turbine version of the GMC Astro in the early 1970s, fuel-economy concerns would keep it out of production. It takes only one quick glance at a side view, above, to see how the F-Model GMC tilt-cab trucks and tractors of 1959-68 deserved the name "Crackerbox.". In fact they were as cold as hell! cylinder engines, and Cummins power was available. Cochran Auctioneers & Associates LTD Boonsboro, Maryland 21713 Phone: (301) 739-0538 Email Seller Video Chat Astro featured many things that made it popular and innovative at the AS IS Sold Price: USD $1,120.00 Auction Ended: Wed, Feb 17, 2021 4:04 PM View Buyer's Premium Financial Calculator Stock Number: 520 VIN: 1GDT9L4C1GV541124 Drive Side: Left Hand Drive In addition to light trucks, this meant a potential GMC franchise needed the ability to support medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty commercial trucks, the GMC motorhome, P-chassis, and school bus chassis. Item:24627543 Spencer, IA $242.00. The cabover interior is unique because it is the only one that has a caboose. If I remember I bought it for only $2000 and was used just as a yard truck. All rights reserved. The Astro offered many improvements over the "Crackerbox" trucks. White trailers with a big "Food Lion" graphic. Did find the high-res original of that pic, but alas, no GPS information or other pictures for context. The sleeper seemed tight and on the same claustrophobic scale as the drivers side of the cab. I also lucked out on a few items from their shop, such as this toolbox. You mean this one Bryce ? As I left the yard that day, I watched as the dilapidated Astrowas being hacked apart by a small herd of torch jockeys.