GMC Astro had a windshield that seemed to come down to knee level! My son and I still drive this truck and trailer every week from San Diego California, to LA. A truly excellent truck! A 60 Detroit and a 10 speed trannie under the hood. Today, it is one of the most recognizable marques in the industry. 1985 Kenworth Cabover, K-100 Kenworth release the first of their cabovers, in 1955. EnterpriseVander Haags Inc Sp Spencer IA. $4,000.00 1979 GMC Astro cabover semi tractor Detroit 892v 13 speed 54,276 actual mileage 2,324 hours Starts and runs great. After its discontinuation, GM exited the heavy-duty truck market. A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. Independent front suspension, air-suspension all-round, an ultra-light forward-set alloy cab only 48 long, power steering, a complex fabricated frame that was 50% lighter, and the lightest diesel engine: This was the recipe for the most technologically advanced semi truck tractor in the world in 1959. But as you can imagine, by this time there wasnt much left of them. the cab was made of aluminum. They would haul trailer loads of potatoes in from Idaho with these rigs. A walk-in version was added in 1985. 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. Theirs was an Astro 95, of course; a 1978, if I recall. Some of the time in a cabover International and the rest in an Astro 95 then a Chevy Titan 90. Hes the one that hired me. Dents and rust throughout, interior dirty and worn. My extended family has owned and used that exact model of paddleboat on various lakes in Minnesota for close to four decades. The neighbor has one Brigadier- a 1979 thats on its last legs. Gmc astro Cab for sale on HeavyTruckParts.Net Since the length laws have changed so much to allow longer units on the roads, there are no longer the same advantages to this style of truck. 1978 GMC Astro 95 What a mess. Its the only one of the three weve seen that has a black, red, and blue interior. Crackerbox: The 1959-68 GMC Aluminum Cabover Trucks However, Ive noticed a resurgence of interest in cabover trucks recently. [1] In 1977, the Cummins KT450 and Caterpillar 3406 became options; the larger engines required the addition of a larger radiator. GMC ASTRO Trucks For Sale - 2 Listings | TruckPaper.com - Page 1 of 1 Given the paint scheme, it seems fairly likely this tractor and trailer spent at least part of their lives together. Since 1966, General Motors has been manufacturing a line of buses based on a traditional cowled chassis. custom built, and that GMC had been experiencing slightly slumping sales during The At SMART TRUCKING, were also avid fans of the cabover truck. I love the old KW100E. Much different then cars boats are still a little bit in the wild west of manufacturing. It doesnt have the sunshade, but otherwise it is a dead ringer. I thought the International Cabover was somewhat claustrophobic. Here we have a 1983 GMC Astro. The largest cabover trucks ever produced by GM, the Astro was introduced for 1969, replacing the 1960-1968 GMC "Crackerbox" COEs. [1] In 1972, the Detroit 12V71 became available as an option; though rarely ordered, the V12 engine would remain through 1978. In the period from 1978 to 1988, General Motors offered the GMC Brigadier, a heavy-duty class 7-8 short-hood truck available in straight-truck and semi-tractor configurations. Interior. Nothing else you could do there anyway. GMC Astro 95 Semi Tractor Cabover Truck 1:25 Scale AMT - Arrow Models Every downturn claims some, Boats and RVs are big discrentionary extras subject to consumer confidence. 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. These Astro cabs had (exterior) styling far ahead of their time, especially the ones with the smaller grille. It featured an all-aluminum cab with a 108-inch or 116-inch hood. Old Dutch plant located in Minneapolis. I got a blue Chevy Titan 90 replacement while big red was in the shop. There are folks who thought the Astro was a rip off of a Mack design from the early 60s. 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. There are fewer blind spots too. cylinder engines, and Cummins power was available. They were once very common, particularly in fleet service. The sleeper seemed tight and on the same claustrophobic scale as the drivers side of the cab. I might have even worked on this one. This is not one of them. I may well have been the only guy in the Yellow Pages who knew what they meant by thickwire.. At the time I was trying to obscure the trucks location to prevent unwelcome tourists (as I commonly did with any roadside pics). It had chrome bumpers, a chrome grille, and a single chrome exhaust stack, but the gas tank was steel, as were the wheels. The shortened wheelbase allows for this tight turning radius. Add To Cart. Gmc astro Sleeper for sale on HeavyTruckParts.Net There are distinct niches in the trucking industry where trucker pay is above the average wages paid. Loved it when trucks had real character. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_TK. As of current production, GM has not marketed another Class 8 cabover truck (as the configuration has effectively ended production in North America). 1972 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - Walkaround Exterior Interior Tour - YouTube Did find the high-res original of that pic, but alas, no GPS information or other pictures for context. Heck, it reminds me of the good old days when there were way less laws and regs. [1], In a major change from precedent, when introduced in 1969, the Astro/Titan were marketed exclusively with diesel engines. 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. Nothing on earth sounds as good to me as a screamin Jimmy Diesel. We/I cant go anywhere without people coming out with cameras and cell phones to take pictures of my truck. 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. email me. Their heyday may have started in the mid 80s, but those boom years were fading away by the early 00s. I dont think Id ever consider trying to restore one. 1974 Diamond Reo Cabover An early model of COE style rig American made. The cabovers were nice for doing a lot of repairs although I hated pulling radiators. Sleeper Type: CAB OVER: Part Info (877)238-5030 Request Info. Safety. Save $2,894 right now on a Chevrolet Astro on CarGurus. Its interior became much more spacious due to an optional sleeper cab. 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. 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. I love my truck and it will be around for a long time to come. time. The gmc astro cabover features a black interior with a white caboose. 1976 GMC Astro day cab over semi, Big Cam 350 Cummins eng., 13 spd., 11R24.5, spring ride, sliding hitch, 711,344 miles, VIN TDC926V578511 - new batteries Carlisle, Iowa. I had a friend who was renting shop space in a building next to a marine machine shop. The Kenworth cabover, better known as the bull nose, was built with comfort and driver safety in mind. The cabover interiors caboose is a unique design concept that is made possible by the fact that it has black and red interiors. In 1976, another 9 of length was allowed, for a maximum 75 allowance. It was pretty tiring crawling in and out of it and having to lie down to get dressed! Cochran Auctioneers & Associates LTD Boonsboro, Maryland. We have everything you need to maintain your GMC in top condition to avoid truck breakdowns and get it operating properly again. 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. After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. The Astro 95 was the best-styled truck of its time, and one of the best ever. And their parts guys knew the product a lot better. 800,000 miles, and a rebuild. However, due to it's So an auction was scheduled, and the companys assets were bagged, tagged, and sold to the highest bidder. White trailers with a big "Food Lion" graphic. Welcome to TruckTube!!! Of the seven, five were sixteen feet long, and two were seventeen feet. Autocar will still sell you a new truck. The one thing that cabover interiors are best known for is the way they can camouflage some of their interior panels. The one weak area for the Astro was the cab tilt mechanics. The black caboose is one that is used for a single person and the red caboose is used for a couple of people. So they dumped their interests in such things as snowmobiles and recreational craft, going hard after that one market they felt was most lucrative. GMC ASTRO INTERIOR FOR AMERICAN TRUCK SIMULATOR - YouTube 0:00 / 0:57 GMC ASTRO INTERIOR FOR AMERICAN TRUCK SIMULATOR Caterpillar D8N 701 subscribers Subscribe 1.2K views 11 months. They were quite safe if they were driven with respect. Ive seen a number of really nice ones, rebuilt and re-finished and restored back to new condition. As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. However, the conventional long hood vehicle still fairs better in an accident. Tahoe where I used to work had a tough time getting to stuff on our Pete 320 LCFs. This is not one of them. One summer day I lost one of the rear ends coming in off the highway. I am actually the current owner of the truck on this article. 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. It seemed certain that these once-proud rigs would be fed to the crusher soon. Drove these trucks for years. 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. Didnt most of these Astro / Titan trucks use Detroit Diesel power? I happened to be at the yard a few days later, and saw the big old GMC roll in on a lowboy trailer. 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. 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. Jun 7, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Lieutenant 107. All rights reserved. at the Hollywood Park Truck Show in Ingleside, CA in 1969. It wasnt exactly a dignified end for such a long-lived piece of machinery. (Bedford being a GM division.). Gmc astro Sleeper on HeavyTruckParts.Net. In 1930, another GMC truck made a similar journey from New York to San Francisco in just 5 days. And you see a lot of Brigadiers out here too. On various occasions, I walked in to find the President working a welder and the VP forming sheets of aluminum ahead of him! There was no coming back after that. Every once in awhile Ill see one sitting on a back lot. 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! Id been itching to make a deal ever since I became aware of their presence in the back of the warehouse some years ago, but my offers to buy had always fallen on deaf ears. Your email address will not be published. The H model was a redesign of the semi-cabover design, with a more rounded look as the GMCs at the Thanks for the history of the company. Provo, UT - Cabover Truck - COE Trucks For Sale - Commercial Truck Trader Because of the regulations for length, this style of rig was very popular in its day. In fact they were as cold as hell! The yard owner and I were talking at the time, and I congratulated him on his win. I drove one in 71 for two years, with a V12 Detroit engine. The Sleeper Bunk. As much as I enjoyed finally getting to climb around on the trucks, I was actually there for another reason. I would sleep across the doghouse in my cabover. Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Yugo When Was The Last Time You Saw One? 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. My Mom ran a truck leasing operation in the 70s-90s (NationalLease/LendLease) and back in the 70s when the 95 came out it was a VERY big deal. Thats actually not an Astro. "A Brief Outline of the First Century of GMC Truck History - Generations of GM", Rigs of Rods; GMC Astro 95 & Chevy Titan 90, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GMC_Astro&oldid=1140760775, Articles needing expert attention from January 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 17:11. The nose of the semi is flat and the truck cab sits on top of the diesel engine and steering axle. All were late 70s vintage cabovers with sleepers and rooftop air deflectors, painted white, with the obligatorylogo on the door. The nose of the semi is flat and the truck cab sits on top of the diesel engine and steering axle. I still think about those days and whenever I see a picture of an Astro 95/ Chevy Titan 90 I know first hand they were one of the best designed and nicest looking trucks on the road. 1985 Cabover Kenworth, K100 This Aerodyne model of COE, was one of the best looking of the cabovers. 1972 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - Walkaround Exterior Interior Tour - 2021 Clifford Truck Show 4,021 views Sep 9, 2021 109 Dislike Share Save TruckTube 186K subscribers Welcome to TruckTube!! The reason? Engineering:GMC Astro - HandWiki Find the 9 highest paying truck driver jobs in 2022. [1] In 1979, the 6-71 was replaced by the 6V92, making all available Detroit Diesel engines V-engines; the 6V71 was discontinued after 1980.[1]. Cabover interiors are always black and have that kind of chrome finish that makes them look menacing and slightly menacing. Resale on these still seems to be excellent! At that time, another local company, Boatel, was looking to divest itself of several product lines so it could focus on its core business, manufacturing yachts. 1950s. 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. We opened the doors, bolted together 2 10 shelving beams, wrapped the beams with rugs for cushioning, stick them thru the cab hook up the hoists and gently reposition everything back in place. TGH928V900010. But now a sighting of a working cabover truck on the road is more rare. If every driver of EVERY vehicle on the road followed these safety tips, our roads would be SO much safer. No wonder they were called Freightshakers! The white cabooses may be aluminum, but the black caboose is made of metal. The GMC Astro 95 - members.tripod.com I drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. And when I came on in 2006, things werent looking pretty. I cant say I have a soft spot for Brigadiers. Placement of the truck cab over the motor saved some length. !. Because of the regulations for length, this style of rig was very popular in it's day. When it comes to clutter, some say its nothing more than postponed decisions. of these honorable trucks on the road today. 1968 GMC ASTRO For Sale in Madison, Minnesota Mine was a great truck, simple and reliable. your own Pins on Pinterest In addition to the regular cab, a sleeper cab was available as an option. I spotted this rig several weeks ago while taking a shortcut I rarely use, coming back from picking up a load of equipment bound for the office. Alongside a 702 cubic-inch GMC V12 gasoline engine, the truck was available with the Detroit Diesel 6V71 and 8V71 engines. Dealer service was the biggest issue with the GMC, not unlike any GM product of the day. And so it went. Lots of stuff that rattled, fell off or quit working way too early. Needless to say, everyone there knew their products VERY well. GMC ASTRO Heavy Duty Trucks Auction Results A popular model of truck, with COE fans, and with a following and some clubs across North America. There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. [1] Featuring a (much) larger radiator grille, improvements to exterior and interior trim, the SS package was meant to market the Astro/Titan towards owner-operators. ), But they couldnt just let the boats pile upthey had to get them out to the dealers somehow. 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. (Wonder how many other people can say they own not one, butthree brand-new, never-used, 1991 model year boats?). The Astro was available as a 58 in BBC Day Cab, and a 86 in BBC 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 dealer I worked at had a large rural customer base. Maneuverability. They are truly special trucks, and I think were going to see many more of them on the road, as truckers restore them to drive, to relive some of the past. (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 One problem with the big windshield was visibility into the truck. The Internationals were good solid trucks. The Titan was a very rare bird even when new. 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. Want to learn the language of the truck driver? Cabovers had great visibility and they had the look of highway trucks, due to their sheer height. Maintenance and Repair A cabover is repaired by tilting the entire cab forward. The truck and trailer were plainly visible from the road. For a typical dealership, this meant dedicating profitable space that would have otherwise gone to selling passenger cars. A few fleet delivery customers but mostly farmers who only used the trucks come harvest time. - YouTube 0:00 / 0:53 1986 GMC Astro cabover day cab. He believes that Content and Social Media Marketing are the strongest forms of marketing nowadays. The Road Commander cab has certainly outlived the Astro, granted only tangentially as the White/WhiteGMC/Volvo/Autocar/etc Xpeditor, further modified as the modern day Autocar ACX.