Broken lights and lenses throughout. A popular model of truck, with COE fans, and with a following and some clubs across North America. Condition. To get out, the trucker had to more or less, back out of the cab door, while hanging onto a railing on the door. We cooperate with some of the industry-leading names that use only premium materials and cutting-edge technologies in the manufacturing of their products. But given their neglected state, it also seems likely that their service lives have come to a close. Great guy I understand hes still working on peddle-boat designs somewhere. I am trying to see if by some chance this trailer is still in existence. It seems like there must be hundreds of RV, boat, etc manufacturers that have shuttered or consolidated in the past 2 decades. Dan is hoping to use this truck in the summer to haul hay. Much different then cars boats are still a little bit in the wild west of manufacturing. Mine was a great truck, simple and reliable. The GMC Astro ceased production after the 1987 model year (coincidentally, two years after Chevrolet launched a van with the same name). To make matters worse this truck was built without power steering! It is a full size cab with a single axel. I had lots of scares over the years but that one was probably the most tense because it took a quite of bit of time to pull this off and get that cab sitting back down on its mounts. 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. It also has a black, white, and red interior. 4 head lights and double bumpers. $20? The trailers, each one brand-new and built to their specifications, were a sort of light-duty lowboy that attached to this odd hitch, upon which the boats could be stacked two high along their entire length of forty-some feet. It had the red and white paint scheme but but was otherwise pretty plain, with cast spoke wheels and painted fuel tanks. 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. 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. After a couple years of testing the idea was dropped due to the turbines poor fuel consumption. Search our large inventory of New/Used GMC ASTRO Cab, Misc Parts for sale. The truck has a 3406 A model cat 13 spd GM air ride. The GMC Astro is a heavy-duty (Class 8) cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors. When backing in to loading docks and winding through heavy traffic, nothing can compare with a cabover truck! It wasnt exactly a dignified end for such a long-lived piece of machinery. The Astro 95 had superior driver visibility. The ultimate custom truck show and big rig event schedule for U.S. and Canada. On the sweeping floors it may be profitable. I got a blue Chevy Titan 90 replacement while big red was in the shop. 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. 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 know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. The extensive use or hauling heavy cargo takes its toll on the state of your vehicle, which means that sooner or later you will need some GMC semi truck accessories and parts. An uncomplicated and clean design, thats what makes a design timeless. relocated to next to the trailer air brake lever itself, as shown. A cabover rig isnt as safe as a long hood rig, in the event of an accident, as there just isnt any protection for the driver. In the seven years I worked for them, however, none of the trucks ever moved. But never when I have my camera with me. GMC Astro 95 Cabover T/A Road Tractor, ; Vin# TGH928V900010, Special Plate- AC122503, Manual Trans.- NO TITLE . Cochran Auctioneers & Associates LTD Boonsboro, Maryland 21713 Phone: (301) 739-0538 Email Seller Video Chat As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. Another future COAL . They all share a few very obvious features that make them stand out, like a small seat in the middle that has a handle, a small door that is made of glass, and a small door that is made of plastic. Find the 9 highest paying truck driver jobs in 2022. The cabover style of truck took full advantage of the trucking industry length laws, in effect at the time. If anyone out there knows of others or information on this truck please contact us. Dan is hoping to use this truck in the summer to haul hay. 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. But as you can imagine, by this time there wasnt much left of them. A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. The model was dubbed the GMC B-Series and stayed in production for three generations. Any way it was big. Please email mewith questions and comments! We had a fair number of Brigadiers with 6-71s in them, not nice to work on. There was a point when the cab would go over center, meaning gravity took over and the hyd system that was lifting the cab was now used to control cab movement by restricting the oil flow. Every time I see one of these old Astros, I think of Food Lion supermarkets fleet back in the 80s. I had wanted to grab the ice cream sundaeas a souvenir, too, but someone else beat me to it. Starting in 1980, the company offered the GMC TopKick. The cabover truck design is outdated for the North American highway infrastructure. The The one thing that cabover interiors are best known for is the way they can camouflage some of their interior panels. Anyway, I drove one when I was 12 years old around the lot, and I will never forget that dashboard of that windshield, or how sharp of a turn it could make. Copyright 2018-2023 TRUCKiD.com. The cabover interiors caboose is a unique design concept that is made possible by the fact that it has black and red interiors. You can connect with him Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1985 Kenworth Cabover, K-100 Kenworth release the first of their cabovers, in 1955. Back in the 70s when I started selling parts I had a few customers that ran the BowTie versions called the Titan and Bruin. 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. My Astro had an 8V71 Detroit and a 13 speed Roadranger. And when I came on in 2006, things werent looking pretty. "Crackerbox" by operators and fans. 118" WB, 104" cab to rear, 184" overall. 1986 GMC Astro cabover day cab. The only GM heavy truck that was built after the merger was the Brigadier, and it lasted until the Pontiac heavy truck plant closed in late 1989. Maneuvering a big trailer was a real workout. 1968 GMC ASTRO For Sale in Madison, Minnesota at TractorHouse.com. Chevy Turbo Titan III. A veteran 40+ years truck driver shares 10 of the all time, tried and true truck driving safety tips ALL professional truckers should know AND follow! You had to jack the front of the cab up to get the valve cover off. and they will be posted! Your email address will not be published. Werent the other two trucks Internationals? Its a working truck, too! Apparently, many was the visitor who attempted to dip their fingers into it! As such, several other trucks will be standing in for it at various points. A practical guide to paid CDL training programs. made it able to slip through wind better than other COEs at the Didnt most of these Astro / Titan trucks use Detroit Diesel power? GMC Astro had a windshield that seemed to come down to knee level! They are very similar at a glance. [1] In 1983, the Aero Astro option package was released, largely as an effort to improve fuel economy. Could be theres more badges these wore. The interior is ruff, Dan is rebuilding the engine so as to keep it orignal. The Kenworth cabover, better known as the bull nose, was built with comfort and driver safety in mind. before, and some were cut as cost-savings. Here are some comments sent in from truckers. I dont recall who won it, but I do remember that they paid $300 for the privilege. 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. Aahhhh yes, I spent many a day in these. When the shop was sold and moved out of town his land lord offered him 300 bucks to clean out the space. Another controversial feature of it was Body Parts Cab Interior Engine Components Transmission Components Suspension Components Electrical Components Vehicles . Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. I can remember seeing many of the Astro tractors around until Kroger closed the Fort Wayne Indiana Distribution warehouse. This gives good access to the motor for maintenance and repair. was a radical departure for GMC-it was completely cab-over engine, and In 1976, another 9 of length was allowed, for a maximum 75 allowance. I always wondered if the design of the original small grille on the Astro 95 was supposed to suggest an air intake rather than a radiator grille. But, unfortunately, its also the one big truck for which Im most starved for pictures. The new model featured better visibility and improved driver ergonomics. 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. The driver would grab the outer rail and swing out and down! Placement of the truck cab over the motor saved some length. The GMC Astro and Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. 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. It was supposedly a big advance in truck design for its time. Truck had more than a few dents! At SMART TRUCKING, were also avid fans of the cabover truck. Add To Cart. They are also becoming wildly popular at truck shows. At the time I was trying to obscure the trucks location to prevent unwelcome tourists (as I commonly did with any roadside pics). 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. sides of the truck. They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. From the second picture on, I knew it would be enjoyable! It had chrome bumpers, a chrome grille, and a single chrome exhaust stack, but the gas tank was steel, as were the wheels. My son and I still drive this truck and trailer every week from San Diego California, to LA. You mean this one Bryce ? It We could only make about 59 mph but I was cool and comfortable as I cruised the highway. The cabover truck is an icon. 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. The neighbor has one Brigadier- a 1979 thats on its last legs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_TK. 615. Heres the (much older and smaller) Bedford TK: In addition to the regular cab, a sleeper cab was available as an option. The new model featured better visibility and improved driver ergonomics. Cabover interiors use a different system from other car interiors in the same way that a car interior uses a different system. This is not one of them. Their heyday may have started in the mid 80s, but those boom years were fading away by the early 00s. 800,000 miles, and a rebuild. 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.". time. Im very familiar with both the Astro and the Transtar. These rigs were once quite commonly seen rolling down the highways. There still seems to be a factory GM radio still installed in that rig, I always thought these had an interesting dash, semi wraparound, isolating the driver in the business section of the cockpit. 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. Radhe Gupta is an Indian business blogger. They have that in common with a great many other big trucks. Recommended Company Sponsored Schools, Requirements, pros + cons, what to expect from company-sponsored cdl training programs. . These trucks were as tough as nails! 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. Im very familiar with TK Bedfords I drove them years ago. 1975 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - AS-IS. I drove a COE for the first ten years or so of my driving career. Owned by Ryan Wichtner, FL. 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. 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. The old semi-cabover A series was replaced by the all-new H 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. Who knows? In the shuffle, Ercoa managed to grab the pontoon business and run with it. As the trucks aged the cab had a tendency to shift to the right as it lifted, older ones would snag the safety hook. The overall length of truck and trailer, back then, could only be a maximum of 65, from 1956 to 1976. As I left the yard that day, I watched as the dilapidated Astrowas being hacked apart by a small herd of torch jockeys. It was hell. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert. This 1974 model was one of the last trucks to travel down the assembly line before the company went bankrupt in late 1974. The plastic type is often found in the back of a truck, but it can be found in a few other areas as well. 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. For over a century, GMC has been offering a wide range of commercial and military grade vehicles, as well as genuine auto parts. 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! 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! The model was discontinued in 1987. What a mess. But they are still the gold standard in Europe, Australia and Japan. Thats probably half the reason I was brought in: I worked cheap, I was willing to horse around with their archaic equipment, and I could manage to keep a sense of humor about it. of these honorable trucks on the road today. What was always fun was tilting any of these cabovers to there full tilt range. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. Some articles may contain affiliate links. One of my most exciting or tense days involved a White Road Commander. I would sleep across the doghouse in my cabover. GMC Astro 95 Cabover T/A Road Tractor, ; Vin# TGH928V900010, Special Plate- AC122503, Manual Trans.- NO TITLE Sold By: J.G. Theirs was an Astro 95, of course; a 1978, if I recall. It also has a black, white, Here we have a 1983 GMC Astro. Planning to exit the medium-duty truck market, General Motors canceled the production in 2009. ASTRO 95. I got to test drive one with a 9L CNG motor and Heil Frontloading refuse body Dec of 2012 and was impressed with it. An Australian truck driver talks about the REAL BAD BOY big rig trucks that run through the Outback of Australia. The white cabooses may be aluminum, but the black caboose is made of metal. Lots of stuff that rattled, fell off or quit working way too early. And 35 years ago no computerized support systems. The Astro died honorably with your own Pins on Pinterest 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. (Powerliner). None of the seventeen-footers were ever completed. As I recall they were much easier to deal with than most boat companies who prefer to use their dealers for all customer support. These gems were a challenge to drive without power steering. It also lacked most of the personalized touches this one hasno fancy clearance lights or custom paint jobs here! Astro featured many things that made it popular and innovative at the You see a LOT of dilapidated Fords smoking their way down the road, somehow still going. I noticed and like the 92 Dark Cherry Metallic Chevy Caprice in the background of the third picture from the bottom. The International was brand new when I got it 1978, had a 290 Cummins and 10 speed Roadranger transmission. The wrap around dash was a natural because it sits on top of the engine. The blue cabooses have interiors that are usually made of plastic. I also lucked out on a few items from their shop, such as this toolbox. Drive Side. The Astro/Titan design is so timeless I think they could be parked next to the newest trucks built today and not look out of place. None were roadworthy, only one was able to be started, and perhaps worst of all, no titles could be produced for any of them. As a result, I finally got a chance to get up close and personal with their fleet of trucks. To ensure long and trouble-free service life of your rig, use only high-quality GMC semi truck parts and accessories offered in our online store. The Astro offered many improvements over the "Crackerbox" trucks. Visit our site at any time to acquire GMC semi truck accessories and parts needed for your restoration or upgrade project. Year. And you see a lot of Brigadiers out here too. You can read the full disclosure policy, which is pretty dull, but here it is. An acquaintance of mine whod recently gone from avid recycler to junkyard owner was also present at the auction, and seemed determined to buy everything in sight. Throughout the entire production run, the trucks were assembled in Pontiac, Michigan by the Pontiac Central Assembly facility. They were indeed good-looking trucks. However, there was a downside that accompanied this accessibility. The next year I was put in a brand new leased 1979 GMC General. 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. $182.00 . These two galsno idea who they aremade frequent appearances in company literature. There are distinct niches in the trucking industry where trucker pay is above the average wages paid. Clean, classy, and very GM. They are all different shapes and sizes, and are also all designed to fit different people. All were late 70s vintage cabovers with sleepers and rooftop air deflectors, painted white, with the obligatorylogo on the door. 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. They were quite safe if they were driven with respect. Updated: Sat, April 10, 2021 5:09 PM Get Shipping Quotes - (Opens in a new tab) Apply for Financing - (Opens in a new tab) No image. The cabover has a smaller seat in the middle, two doors on either side, a small handle in the middle, and a small door on each side. 1 of 11 ever made by General Motors. Most kids wanted to go to the beach, but my favourite thing was to head for a truck stop! Single rear axle. Downtime means lost income. Interior. In the late 1960s, as American truck manufacturers introduced updated designs for cabover trucks, design work began on an all-new Class 8 cabover. Astro model, go see the. Tires are good. The early ones, like the red one at top, are better looking than the later ones. 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. the standards the H series set, yet be more streamlined and beyond. If every driver of EVERY vehicle on the road followed these safety tips, our roads would be SO much safer. Perhaps even these Jeeps were big trucks in a past life. Nine89-2five4-eight20eight Report Last Updated on: February 28, 2023 with 1979 GMC Astro Cabover - $4000 Mechanically sound. Given the paint scheme, it seems fairly likely this tractor and trailer spent at least part of their lives together. upgrade. 1987 GMC Astro 95 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. A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. [1] In 1977, the Cummins KT450 and Caterpillar 3406 became options; the larger engines required the addition of a larger radiator. Isuzu Bedford might be the name down under, the blue one is very clearly a (Euro) Bedford TM. No; the Astro was unique to GMC and Chevrolet (Titan). 1900. 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 drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. Also seem to recall some connection with carnival equipment. Dents and rust throughout, interior dirty and worn. [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]. I am actually the current owner of the truck on this article. Near the end of its run, Astro buyers had the option of several Detroit, Caterpillar and Cummins Diesel engines. Instruction, clear advice, videos and photos for truck driver skills, maneuvers and information for all professional truck drivers. The sleeper provided ample room and comfort, and air conditioning 1982 Marmon COE A 110P, with the rare option of a V-grill and V-bumper, which is known as the VIP package. Also in common with GM products of the day Astros didnt age well, particularly inside the cab. me with questions and comments! It was a nice truck but harder to get into tight spots and I was partial to the cabovers. The truck was still in warranty, the service rep didnt want to replace all the parts we planned on replacing. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. One problem with the big windshield was visibility into the truck. I drove one in 71 for two years, with a V12 Detroit engine. the Astro was now dead. 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. We had to do allot of work to use it in the state of California. 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. 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. Our goal is to support you and your business. 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. However, the conventional long hood vehicle still fairs better in an accident. Left Hand Drive. [1], In a major change from precedent, when introduced in 1969, the Astro/Titan were marketed exclusively with diesel engines. Manytruckers complained that the ride was pretty rough, mostly due to the shortened wheelbase. 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. Its interesting to hear about what happens to these manufacturing companies when they close. Following the launch of the cabover product line in 1969, the GMC Astro quickly exceeded the Chevrolet Titan in sales and market share. Definitely a product of White Motor Company or one of its spin offs. 1974 Diamond Reo Cabover An early model of COE style rig American made. Picture of my Titan 90 north of Portland Maine 1979. (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 Made money. During WWII, GM supplied the US Army with more than 600,000 GMC trucks. The gmc astro cabover features a black interior with a white caboose. Sometimes you needed a prybar to get the rear cab mounts back into there saddles. For the paddleboat, of course. 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. So the length issue wasnt so important anymore. Manufacturer. Tahoe where I used to work had a tough time getting to stuff on our Pete 320 LCFs. Loved it when trucks had real character. Related >Trucker Culture and Professionalism A Salute to the Professionals That Move Us. All rights reserved. So an auction was scheduled, and the companys assets were bagged, tagged, and sold to the highest bidder. They are also usually found on the back of a car, but they can be found in other areas as well. 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. Drove these trucks for years. Truck has dual power windows tilt wheel, extra gages. 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 Astro was also GMs swan song in the big-truck sector, and it never sold in the numbers needed to keep GM truly viable. The Astro 95 was the best-styled truck of its time, and one of the best ever. The Astro could be ordered with standard Detroit Diesel 6 or 8 Cabover trucks, COE (cab over engine), are essentially a style of big rig truck without a hood. Highly inconvenient. 1978 GMC Astro 95 Its great to know so many truckers still appreciate these trucks. $4,000.00 1979 GMC Astro cabover semi tractor Detroit 892v 13 speed 54,276 actual mileage 2,324 hours Starts and runs great. In 1909, GM purchased the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company founded by Max Grabowsky in 1901 that designed some of the first ever commercial vehicles. After its discontinuation, GM exited the heavy-duty truck market. This was also used in the prototype International Cabover A 1974 model, powered by Cummins 400, 13 speed transmission, owned by Mark Johnson.
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