the Astro was now dead. The early COE trucks were also very cold, as they werent well insulated. The GMC Astro ceased production after the 1987 model year (coincidentally, two years after Chevrolet launched a van with the same name). It is a medium-duty truck commonly used as a basis for dump trucks, cargo haulers, and other commercial or industrial purposes. I love the old KW100E. The new model has replaced the line of C/M 90/9500 trucks. In 1987, GM ended the production of the GMC General. !, and please SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT, hit the NOTIFICATION BELL, and have a look at our other channels:https://www.youtube.com/automototube - AutoMotoTube - Car and Motorcycle walkaround videoshttps://www.youtube.com/c/motorcycletube - MotorCycleTube - Motorcycle walkaround videoshttps://www.youtube.com/c/BoatTube - BoatTube - Motor and Sailing yachts walkaround videoshttps://www.youtube.com/c/Bicycletube - BicycleTube - Bicycle walkaround videoshttps://www.youtube.com/c/atvtube - ATVTube - All Terrain Vehicle walkaround videos American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Big Truck Outtake: GMC Astro 95 It Makes Me Want To Go Boating. . The cabover style of truck took full advantage of the trucking industry length laws, in effect at the time. Not running. Ive spent my whole life in the marine industry and its amazing that I still find new boat companies all the time. And so came the companys latest investment, circa 1987: a fleet of new-to-them tractors with brand-new trailers. And so it went. Thats a nice one! However, the conventional long hood vehicle still fairs better in an accident. The best trucks ever. Cabovers had great visibility and they had the look of highway trucks, due to their sheer height. Its a FACTORY double bunk. Heck, it reminds me of the good old days when there were way less laws and regs. Astro featured many things that made it popular and innovative at the
Placement of the truck cab over the motor saved some length. GMC Astro 95 Cabover T/A Road Tractor, ; Vin# TGH928V900010, Special Plate- AC122503, Manual Trans.- NO TITLE Sold By: J.G. The Astro could be ordered with standard Detroit Diesel 6 or 8
convenince and comfort, and safety for operators. The vehicles were mostly fitted with school bus bodies. Easily find what you need from 2,312,977 parts available. Sleeper Cab. The cabover interiors are usually made with a black finish that makes them look like they have some kind of black paint on them. One legacy of the Astro is the windshields. To get in the sleeper bunk the driver of the rig must crawl through a hole. They were OK trucks in their day, not bad to work on generally. They are all different shapes and sizes, and are also all designed to fit different people. 1975 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - AS-IS. The base engine was the Detroit Diesel 6-71N, with the Detroit 8V71 and Cummins N-Series diesel engines as options. 8 model, until 1959, when the all-new H model was introduced. (Wonder how many other people can say they own not one, butthree brand-new, never-used, 1991 model year boats?). That picture is pretty much a more modern version of what they were running. In stark contrast to the boxy Crackerbox, the exterior of the Astro/Titan featured rounded body corners and wraparound windshield glass. Hes the one that hired me. Even the old freight shaker cabovers! Today, it is one of the most recognizable marques in the industry. Nothing else you could do there anyway. 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
Drivers didnt worry about head on collisions. As a mechanic, I spent a lot of time working on this style of truck. the standards the H series set, yet be more streamlined and beyond. He ran one as an O/O for a few years in the mid 1970s and then again as a company driver for Thrifty-Payless Drug stores in the early-mid 80s. 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. (c) 2000, Evan McCausland. Generals were actually a pretty good truck, at least competitive with the Transtar 4200/4300 and better than the various Loiusvilles from Ford. The Titan had a 290 Cummins and 10 speed Roadranger and the A/C worked! 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. Radhe Gupta is an Indian business blogger. In addition to the regular cab, a sleeper cab was available as an option. Shopping with us, you get parts and accessories that work hard just like you, built tough just like your vehicle. To draw attention to the brand, GMC launched the promotional campaign using several country cross-overs. The gmc astro cabover features a black interior with a white caboose. MN. 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. Autocar will still sell you a new truck. The GMC Astro is a heavy-duty (Class 8) cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors. What can I do, I have diesel in my veins and Detroits in my heart. As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. 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. Perhaps even these Jeeps were big trucks in a past life. So the length issue wasnt so important anymore. 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. I know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. I vaguely recall it being at/near a T intersection. 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. Heres a few pics of its predecessors. International Cabover A 1974 model, powered by Cummins 400, 13 speed transmission, owned by Mark Johnson. 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. The driver would be the first guy at the scene of a head on accident. Too bad they were unable to weather the recession. The Freightliners could be as cold as the Arctic, even with the heaters on full! All rights reserved. Visibility. Didnt most of these Astro / Titan trucks use Detroit Diesel power? As the trucks aged the cab had a tendency to shift to the right as it lifted, older ones would snag the safety hook. None were roadworthy, only one was able to be started, and perhaps worst of all, no titles could be produced for any of them. I can remember the day we got in a shipment of tools and manuals for the 91 Syclone. The simple fact that these big rigs didnt have a hood, created better visibility for the driver. Theres a bit more thought put into them now but wrap around dashboards are still the norm, the fake wood is still with us though the 2011 International I was driving was covered in the stuff. The Astro 95 is my first big truck of the week, and also the biggest truck in my files. model in the middle of 1949. A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. The different cabooses are designed to look different colors and to be able to transition from one color to another. Gmc Astro Cabover Trucks For Sale Become a Partner 1995 Oshkosh Refrigerated Van Price : CALL Has Airconditioning, Steel Wheels, 225/70R/19.5 Tires Carrier Ultima Reefer This is a Cream Of Weber milk Van Rear length 14' Width 6'6" Door Width 3' Swing door 190 HP Diesel Engine 3-speed Automatic 6-cyclinder Turbo Salt Lake Salt Lake City Left Hand Drive. We could only make about 59 mph but I was cool and comfortable as I cruised the highway. No wonder they were called Freightshakers! Want to learn the language of the truck driver? Our goal is to support you and your business. The location makes sense. The other cabovers weve seen have white cabooses. the rest of the GMC heavy duty line in 1987. Six Easy Ways To Keep Your Truck Cab Organized On The Road. My extended family has owned and used that exact model of paddleboat on various lakes in Minnesota for close to four decades. The trucks, however, were not so lucky. Succeeding the F/D-series "Crackerbox" cabovers, the Astro was marketed by Chevrolet as the Titan, serving as the largest cabover trucks ever produced by 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. The truck had plenty of power and did a good job on the New England highways that I drove on. images may be used without permission except for personal viewing. Thanks for visiting my page! You mean this one Bryce ? there is no reaching into the sleeper to grab something, when sitting in the drivers seat! Buyer's premium included in price USD $458. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. So an auction was scheduled, and the companys assets were bagged, tagged, and sold to the highest bidder. They were once very common, particularly in fleet service. Chevy Turbo Titan III. Mainly, they were
All were late 70s vintage cabovers with sleepers and rooftop air deflectors, painted white, with the obligatorylogo on the door. Not surprising, given that it came from GM, although its predecessor, the Crackerbox (attached) certainly couldnt have spent much time in the Design Center. The white cabooses weve seen are made of metal. 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. Cabover Truck - COE Trucks For Sale in Provo, UT: 0 Cabover Truck - COE Trucks Near You - Find Cabover Truck - COE Trucks on Commercial Truck Trader. 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. 1986 GMC Astro cabover day cab. This gives good access to the motor for maintenance and repair. I drove a COE for the first ten years or so of my driving career. Here are some comments sent in from truckers. The GMC Astro 95 (1969-1987) For more information on the last new Astro model, go see the Other Astro Pictures -If you have any, please send them to me, and they will be posted! A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The sleeper was scaled like the cab and was roomy and comfortable. 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. I wish I had shop space for those kind of projects, my wife gets annoyed when I leave a boat on our property for more than a few weeks. 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. 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. She carries weight between 93-105,000+lb loads. This retro truck style is rising to the surface once again for particular working applications. The yard owner and I were talking at the time, and I congratulated him on his win. These two galsno idea who they aremade frequent appearances in company literature. Great guy I understand hes still working on peddle-boat designs somewhere. A popular model of truck, with COE fans, and with a following and some clubs across North America. They have a special look. 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 . We had to do allot of work to use it in the state of California. me with questions and comments! (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 What was always fun was tilting any of these cabovers to there full tilt range. The Astro 95 was the best-styled truck of its time, and one of the best ever. These Astro cabs had (exterior) styling far ahead of their time, especially the ones with the smaller grille. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. Previews will consist of visual inspection, and vehicle can be started. Can anyone tell me where this picture was taken. Guess I did a better job than necessary, in this case! Feed Body, model unknown cabover 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. If anyone knows about these powerplants in
ASTRO 95. Related > The Clifford Truck Show Best Cabover Collection EVER. 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. [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. 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. They had great visibility though. At the time I was trying to obscure the trucks location to prevent unwelcome tourists (as I commonly did with any roadside pics). Also, by the end of the 1970s, Astro's dashboard had been slightly
I might have even worked on this one. My son and I still drive this truck and trailer every week from San Diego California, to LA. There are folks who thought the Astro was a rip off of a Mack design from the early 60s. Model. Save $2,894 right now on a Chevrolet Astro on CarGurus. Some of the time in a cabover International and the rest in an Astro 95 then a Chevy Titan 90. In the shuffle, Ercoa managed to grab the pontoon business and run with it. The Internationals were good solid trucks. After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. (c) 2000, Evan McCausland. I drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. None of the seventeen-footers were ever completed. trucks or the Turbo Titan III program, please
Another controversial feature of it was
But they are still the gold standard in Europe, Australia and Japan. 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. All Rights Reserved. A cabover interior is a very useful tool in that it can make sure that the contents of the car is hidden to anyone who might be looking. Cabover trucks, COE (cab over engine), are essentially a style of big rig truck without a hood. It
In the seven years I worked for them, however, none of the trucks ever moved. If I recall correctly, there were a few of these made with GMC badges on them when White and GMC merged their heavy truck operations in the late 80s. 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. wide panoramic glass provided excellent vision to the front and the
the styling-the highly boxy shape made it commonly referred to as the
$20? 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. Its powered by an NTC 400 Cummins, 15 speed, 433 ratio with dual air breathers. 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.". The red caboose is made of metal too. Cabover interiors are all essentially the same but they all have a few differences. It was truly a great truck. 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!! The neighbor has one Brigadier- a 1979 thats on its last legs. As far as I know this is a Bedford KM, the heavy-duty TK. They also all open in a certain way (although they differ in this area). The truck only racked up 85,000 miles in that entire time and the engine only has 2,500 hours on it. My boss arranged to swap out the General with an older model 1975 Astro 95. What a mess. We can order those things? This model was designed to have a higher cab, bigger rad, and a larger engine, than its predecessor. 1 of 11 ever made by General Motors. and they will be posted! You are visitor number to this page! The nose of the semi is flat and the truck cab sits on top of the diesel engine and steering axle. Definitely a product of White Motor Company or one of its spin offs. Somewhere on the back roads near Pine City, MN, as I recall cant give more detail than that without actually retracing my steps. The trucker literally must stand up on the seat of the truck and crawl over theengine, which is positioned between the seats! Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. Truck manufacturers in these countries still make this body style as their lengths laws are still quite rigid, and the cabover style allows for trailer length to be maxed out. On the sweeping floors it may be profitable. IHC dealers usually at least understood that an out-of-service truck meant someone wasnt making their wages. Your email address will not be published. For a typical dealership, this meant dedicating profitable space that would have otherwise gone to selling passenger cars. Its a working truck, too! Just like this big Bedford and the Astro. Unless some ambitious individual comes along, chances are their next trip out will be their last. -If you have any, please send them to me,
The Pete 362 cabover launched in 1981 featured cab suspension as well as a wraparound dash that I worked on, which may have been subliminally inspired by the GMC. The Ercoa advertisement featuring the paddleboat and bikini-clad women was exactly what I was hoping to see! I sold off the shop manuals years ago on the internet. I would bet my paycheck that the truck and trailer were originally owner by Old Dutch Potato Chip Company. I was really taken with the Astro cab. at the Hollywood Park Truck Show in Ingleside, CA in 1969. 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. From the second picture on, I knew it would be enjoyable! One of the other farms runs a fleet thats all GMC on the older stuff. The black caboose is one that is used for a single person and the red caboose is used for a couple of people. Astro model, go see the. the cab was made of aluminum. The cabovers were nice for doing a lot of repairs although I hated pulling radiators. 94, with LT1 power, velour seating, and a trunk rack. I also have a soft spot for the Astro along with the Brigadeir and General. The TM had 4 head lights and double bumpers to differentiate it and they had larger more powerfull engines than the TK range but the cab was shared. COEs have been the standard in Europe since many decades, a conventional truck is rare. GM engineers began working on a new truck that would meet
The GMC Astro 95 was introduced
Thanks for the history of the company. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert. Drive Side. Numbers 1 and 2 could be done from the engine compartment. In 1976, another 9 of length was allowed, for a maximum 75 allowance. NO
On our channel we upload daily, our original, walkaround videos of Trucks, Busses and Commercial Vehicles. 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. This merger formed the basis of the General Motors Truck Company giving the GMC brand name for their trucks. Modern cabovers are built with more structural safety features to protect the driver in the event of a crash. EnterpriseVander Haags Inc Sp Spencer IA. 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. Yes! 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. This interior is one of the highlights of my apartment. It also lacked most of the personalized touches this one hasno fancy clearance lights or custom paint jobs here! When he used to be their mechanic, he claimed that they were always in the shop for something. And when I came on in 2006, things werent looking pretty. The GMC Astro and Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. The faster you repair your semi-truck, the faster it gets on the road and keeps on moving your business forward. Tires are good. Copyright 2018-2023 TRUCKiD.com. Oh man, how I love those old cabovers and the other rigs, especially the Petes. The cabover is one of the most unique interiors weve found. Near the end of its run, Astro buyers had the option of several Detroit, Caterpillar and Cummins Diesel engines. The cabover has black, red, and white interiors. All three are currently relaxing behind the shop until my project backlog is a bit shorter. 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. However, due to it's
Related >Trucker Culture and Professionalism A Salute to the Professionals That Move Us. Following the launch of the cabover product line in 1969, the GMC Astro quickly exceeded the Chevrolet Titan in sales and market share. One of my old neighbors was one of the mechanics that worked there until retiring shortly before the warehouse closed.. (I think the warehouse closed during the early 1990s) If I remember right, he told me most of the ones at Fort Wayne were Detroit powered, although there was some Cummins powered as well, with 7 speeds. your own Pins on Pinterest The shortened wheelbase allows for this tight turning radius. (The folks in their marketing department had a thing for using staff, friends, and family in their promotional photos. cylinder engines, and Cummins power was available. The Astro was available as a 58 in BBC Day Cab, and a 86 in BBC
I cant speak to what other people have done for or against the GMC Astro 95s but I still have mine and it is the only one that I have seen anywhere. But somewhere down the line (perhaps in the early eighties) they acquired another line of business: building pontoon boats. The cabover interiors caboose is a unique design concept that is made possible by the fact that it has black and red interiors. made it able to slip through wind better than other COEs at the
Ever since those got retired (replaced by conventional White-GMC or Volvo-White rigs) Ive seen few to no Astros. Any way it was big. 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. When the truck manufacturers decided to increase driver comfort in these trucks, their price increased as well. He told me that when he purchased one in the mid 70s he test drove a Pete 352 (COE) and got the impression that it had inferior build quality to the Astro. So they let me keep the Titan 90 and I drove it till fall when I decided driving full time wasnt for me and I went back to being a mechanic.