Chevrolet Titan
| GMC Astro Chevrolet Titan |
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|---|---|
1980-1987 GMC Astro
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| Overview | |
| Type | Truck |
| Manufacturer | GMC Truck and Coach Division (General Motors) |
| Model years | 1969-1987 |
| Assembly | United States: Pontiac, Michigan (Pontiac (East) Assembly Center) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Class 8 Truck |
| Layout | FR layout, 4x2 (F9500), 6x4 (D9500) |
| Platform | GMC F/D 9500 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Caterpillar 3406 Cummins N Cummins K Detroit Diesel 6-71 Detroit Diesel 8V71 Detroit Diesel 12V71 Detroit Diesel 6V92 Detroit Diesel 8V92 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | GMC F/D "Crackerbox" |
| Successor | WhiteGMC WHS/WHL (unofficial) |
The Chevrolet Titan and GMC Astro are heavy-duty (Class 8) cabover trucks that were manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors. The largest cabover trucks ever produced by GM, the Titan (and more common Astro) were introduced for 1969, replacing the 1960-1968 GMC "Crackerbox" COEs. The Astro and Titan would become the final trucks of the type assembled and marketed by General Motors, following the 1981 exit of Chevrolet from heavy truck sales and the 1986 creation of the Volvo GM joint venture.
The Chevrolet Titan and GMC Astro were assembled at Pontiac Truck & Coach/Truck & Bus (Pontiac East Assembly) in Pontiac, Michigan, with the final GMC Astro produced in 1987.
In 1959, GMC introduced its Class 8 cabover trucks, replacing the previous "Cannonball" fixed-cab COEs. Distinguished by its boxy appearance, it became nicknamed the "Crackerbox". Available in a 48-inch BBC (bumper to back of cab) length, the truck was produced with an all-aluminum fully tilting cab. Alongside a 702 cubic-inch GMC V12 gasoline engine, the truck was available with Detroit Diesel 6V71 and 8V71 diesels. Along with single or tandem axle configurations, the GMC "Crackerbox" was available with a sleeper cab.
In the late 1960s, as American truck manufacturers introduced updated designs for cabover trucks, design work began on an all-new Class 8 cabover. Expanding the product line to the Chevrolet brand, the replacement for the GMC Crackerbox sought to expand interior space, visibility, and driver ergonomics. For the 1969 model year, the GMC F was replaced by the GMC Astro alongside the Chevrolet Titan.
The GMC Astro/Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. 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. In what would be a distinguishing feature of the vehicle, the Astro/Titan was produced with a wraparound dashboard; 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.
In stark contrast to the boxy Crackerbox, the exterior of the Astro/Titan featured rounded body corners and wraparound windshield glass. In 1975, GMC introduced a Dragfoiler roof spoiler as an option. In an option that became standard a year later, in 1979, GMC and Chevrolet offered the SS (Special Series) package. 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. In 1983, the Aero Astro option package was released, largely as an effort to improve fuel economy. 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.
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Wikipedia