Of the three trucks in the fleet, there were two Internationals and one GMC. Never tripped across one that didnt rattle! Super-detailed engine, chassis and interior; CB radio and dual antennas; Astro . Those old White Freightliners would just rattle all the time. Dan is hoping to use this truck in the summer to haul hay. Cab is up in the air, a crack noise followed by some crunching sounds. A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. I love the old KW100E. 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. The yard owner and I were talking at the time, and I congratulated him on his win. It wasnt exactly a dignified end for such a long-lived piece of machinery. Enjoy our hassle-free online checkout or call to speak to an expert. These trucks were as tough as nails! Cabover interiors are all essentially the same but they all have a few differences. Autocar will still sell you a new truck. There are a few reasons this might happen: To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page. wide panoramic glass provided excellent vision to the front and the 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. Special Series. It was a family business dad, son, and grandson could all be found down the same hallway. so has very low miles. Most kids wanted to go to the beach, but my favourite thing was to head for a truck stop! Mechanically sound. William C. Durant established General Motors (GM) as the holding company for Buick on September 16, 1908. The only parts in stock were routine maintainence and some high wear items. This interior is one of the highlights of my apartment. The interior was designed for optimal Upgrades to the truck's suspension improved its handling and ride, as well. In 1976, another 9 of length was allowed, for a maximum 75 allowance. Cochran Auctioneers & Associates LTD Boonsboro, Maryland. Some of the time in a cabover International and the rest in an Astro 95 then a Chevy Titan 90. Its interesting to hear about what happens to these manufacturing companies when they close. For example, if you were going to hide your wallet in the back seat of your car and dont want anyone to see it, you can create an interior that has a large panel that covers it up. 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.". 615. Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. Its a working truck, too! A lot of the later Astro 95s were Cummins powered. As I left the yard that day, I watched as the dilapidated Astrowas being hacked apart by a small herd of torch jockeys. The interior is ruff, Dan is rebuilding the engine so as to keep it orignal. The truck and trailer were plainly visible from the road. None were roadworthy, only one was able to be started, and perhaps worst of all, no titles could be produced for any of them. ), But they couldnt just let the boats pile upthey had to get them out to the dealers somehow. It was truly a great truck. Comfort is a big issue especially for long haul trucking. Buyer's premium included in price USD $458. 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. Im very familiar with TK Bedfords I drove them years ago. They were once very common, particularly in fleet service. The plastic type is often found in the back of a truck, but it can be found in a few other areas as well. (Powerliner). The Astro 95 is my first big truck of the week, and also the biggest truck in my files. In 1959, GMC introduced its Class 8 cabover trucks, replacing the previous "Cannonball" fixed-cab cabovers. -If you have any, please send them to me, The Astro could be ordered with standard Detroit Diesel 6 or 8 A walk-in version was added in 1985. Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Yugo When Was The Last Time You Saw One? Related > Classic TrucksFrom the Golden Years of Trucking. Copyright 2011 - 2023 Curbside Classics. Nothing else you could do there anyway. It also lacked most of the personalized touches this one hasno fancy clearance lights or custom paint jobs here! They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. We have large over head hoists and we can slip a second trolley hoist onto the beam from the next hoist over. ASTRO 95. Its powered by an NTC 400 Cummins, 15 speed, 433 ratio with dual air breathers. 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. Our mechanic seems to look at the Brigadiers the way you do. With their squared-off styling and strange proportions, GMC's aluminum cabover trucks of 1959-68 quickly earned the nickname "Crackerbox.". Title applied for. sides of the truck. Ford made a big cabover on air bag suspension that leaned in the corners and felt like it was going to tip over sideways when the driver climbed in or out. 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. Your email address will not be published. In North America its the other way around. In stark contrast to the boxy Crackerbox, the exterior of the Astro/Titan featured rounded body corners and wraparound windshield glass. Downtime means lost income. The cabover is made of metal and the interior is black. 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. From what I have seen, The Ercoa staff were good friendly folks. I may well have been the only guy in the Yellow Pages who knew what they meant by thickwire.. My son and I still drive this truck and trailer every week from San Diego California, to LA. For more information on the last new It is neither inferred nor implied that any item sold by TRUCKiD.com is a product authorized by or in any way connected with any vehicle manufacturers displayed on this page. 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 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. The neighbor has one Brigadier- a 1979 thats on its last legs. You mean this one Bryce ? They look like something out of the 90s rather than the 60s. Im very familiar with both the Astro and the Transtar. [1] In 1983, the Aero Astro option package was released, largely as an effort to improve fuel economy. On our channel we upload daily, our original, walkaround videos of Trucks, Busses and Commercial Vehicles. 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. In 1987, GM ended the production of the GMC General. If every driver of EVERY vehicle on the road followed these safety tips, our roads would be SO much safer. Drive Side. I know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. The truck was still in warranty, the service rep didnt want to replace all the parts we planned on replacing. In 1981, General Motors ended sales of heavy trucks by the Chevrolet Division, leading to the cancellation of the Chevrolet Bruin, Bison, and Titan. In fact they were as cold as hell! was loved by owners and operators alike. 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. An Australian truck driver talks about the REAL BAD BOY big rig trucks that run through the Outback of Australia. To get out, the trucker had to more or less, back out of the cab door, while hanging onto a railing on the door. Clean, classy, and very GM. with Rudkin-Wiley Airshield. 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. Not a bad days work. The cabover is one of the most unique interiors weve found. USD $1,018 . The wrap around dash and placement of the controls and instruments was perfect. 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 Sleeper Bunk. 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. For a typical dealership, this meant dedicating profitable space that would have otherwise gone to selling passenger cars. The one weak area for the Astro was the cab tilt mechanics. I cant say I have a soft spot for Brigadiers. For some reason most of the few I saw were rag-tag owner-ops out of Quebec. Broken lights and lenses throughout. NO A practical guide to paid CDL training programs. Vehicle runs, drives, stops. The overall length of truck and trailer, back then, could only be a maximum of 65, from 1956 to 1976. Save $2,894 right now on a Chevrolet Astro on CarGurus. 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. Anytime the driver wants anything from the bunk, the process is the same. The blue cabooses have interiors that are usually made of plastic. The base engine was the Detroit Diesel 6-71N, with the Detroit 8V71 and Cummins N-Series diesel engines as options. Didnt most of these Astro / Titan trucks use Detroit Diesel power? 1985 Kenworth Cabover, K-100 Kenworth release the first of their cabovers, in 1955. USED - Door side vent, Does not include interior trim, Needs seal, Cab over. It is a full size cab with a single axel. The cabover interior is unique because it is the only one that has a caboose. Oddly enough they still use what cabovers are left for boat transport. 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. Changing a clutch was always fun since the rear engine mounts were attached to the transmission instead of the engine. The total length of the cab was a mere 48 . The GMC Astro and Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. At SMART TRUCKING, were also avid fans of the cabover truck. The payments on bulldozers and other such equipment are pretty high, and they have to be working to keep the cash coming in. I drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. What a mess. Mine was a great truck, simple and reliable. The new model featured better visibility and improved driver ergonomics. The cabovers black interior is also the most unique. 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 cabover interiors caboose is a unique design concept that is made possible by the fact that it has black and red interiors. Nothing on earth sounds as good to me as a screamin Jimmy Diesel. It was supposedly a big advance in truck design for its time. In contrast to other GM brands, a key requirement of GMC franchisees of the time was the ability to sell and service the entire GMC product line. That picture is pretty much a more modern version of what they were running. Wild dashboard, what a shame that there isnt really any use for these old beasts once they get on in years . It also has a black, white, You can read the full disclosure policy, which is pretty dull, but here it is. Thanks for the history of the company. the cab was made of aluminum. I also lucked out on a few items from their shop, such as this toolbox. images may be used without permission except for personal viewing. the rest of the GMC heavy duty line in 1987. 1978 GMC Astro 95 Item:24627543 Spencer, IA $242.00. A truly excellent truck! At the time I was trying to obscure the trucks location to prevent unwelcome tourists (as I commonly did with any roadside pics). As a result, I finally got a chance to get up close and personal with their fleet of trucks. Six Easy Ways To Keep Your Truck Cab Organized On The Road. With that in mind, we have gathered high-quality GMC parts and accessories that work the first time, every time. Guess I did a better job than necessary, in this case! But given their neglected state, it also seems likely that their service lives have come to a close. Apparently, many was the visitor who attempted to dip their fingers into it! Model. However, the conventional long hood vehicle still fairs better in an accident. 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. I got a blue Chevy Titan 90 replacement while big red was in the shop. Every downturn claims some, Boats and RVs are big discrentionary extras subject to consumer confidence. Depending on when it was made its Road Expeditor II, an Autocar or a Western Star. I might have even worked on this one. 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. 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. 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. No wonder they were called Freightshakers! Description. 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. Radhe Gupta is an Indian business blogger. The trucks, however, were not so lucky. the past 3 years. Class 8 cabover highway trucks are still manufactured at a plant in North Carolina. Highly inconvenient. . The shortened wheelbase allows for this tight turning radius. The GMC Astro was offered in single or double rear axle configurations. 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. The white cabooses have interiors that are usually made of glass. I am trying to see if by some chance this trailer is still in existence. Ive spent my whole life in the marine industry and its amazing that I still find new boat companies all the time. Much different then cars boats are still a little bit in the wild west of manufacturing. You see a LOT of dilapidated Fords smoking their way down the road, somehow still going. I was assigned a 81 model with a 63 as a backup spare truck The trucker literally must stand up on the seat of the truck and crawl over theengine, which is positioned between the seats! Astro featured many things that made it popular and innovative at the My Astro had an 8V71 Detroit and a 13 speed Roadranger. 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. To draw attention to the brand, GMC launched the promotional campaign using several country cross-overs. 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. On various occasions, I walked in to find the President working a welder and the VP forming sheets of aluminum ahead of him! 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. The wrap around dash was a natural because it sits on top of the engine. Manytruckers complained that the ride was pretty rough, mostly due to the shortened wheelbase. Copyright 2018-2023 TRUCKiD.com. When backing in to loading docks and winding through heavy traffic, nothing can compare with a cabover truck! They have that in common with a great many other big trucks. A major factor leading to the cancellation was lack of support for heavy-duty trucks by Chevrolet dealers. the styling-the highly boxy shape made it commonly referred to as the made it able to slip through wind better than other COEs at the Visit our site at any time to acquire GMC semi truck accessories and parts needed for your restoration or upgrade project. The Astro died honorably with The truck only racked up 85,000 miles in that entire time and the engine only has 2,500 hours on it. We had a fair number of Brigadiers with 6-71s in them, not nice to work on. 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!! Orders went through Ma Bell. The different cabooses are designed to look different colors and to be able to transition from one color to another. It used a single hyd cylinder on the right hand side of the frame. They are also becoming wildly popular at truck shows. (Bedford being a GM division.). 1982 Marmon COE A 110P, with the rare option of a V-grill and V-bumper, which is known as the VIP package. By the way nice buy on the boats. email me. Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. It was pretty tiring crawling in and out of it and having to lie down to get dressed! And when I came on in 2006, things werent looking pretty. Its design was cleaner and slicker than the Transtar. 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. I got to test drive one with a 9L CNG motor and Heil Frontloading refuse body Dec of 2012 and was impressed with it. Parts Side Vent W/ Inside Cover, Needs Seal, Cab Over. IHC dealers usually at least understood that an out-of-service truck meant someone wasnt making their wages. Out here, the farmers still run Brigadiers, Generals, and Ford Louisvilles. These gems were a challenge to drive without power steering. Another future COAL . Clifford, ON, comes alive on the Canada Day long weekend. before, and some were cut as cost-savings. The model was dubbed the GMC B-Series and stayed in production for three generations. 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! All orignal. And so came the companys latest investment, circa 1987: a fleet of new-to-them tractors with brand-new trailers. As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. Ever since those got retired (replaced by conventional White-GMC or Volvo-White rigs) Ive seen few to no Astros. I can remember seeing many of the Astro tractors around until Kroger closed the Fort Wayne Indiana Distribution warehouse. In addition to the regular cab, a sleeper cab was available as an option. This model was designed to have a higher cab, bigger rad, and a larger engine, than its predecessor. This went on after the HD line was sold off. convenince and comfort, and safety for operators. Throughout the entire production run, the trucks were assembled in Pontiac, Michigan by the Pontiac Central Assembly facility. 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. Yes! Related >Trucker Culture and Professionalism A Salute to the Professionals That Move Us. Cabovers werent necessary dangerously. and they will be posted! This included special paint, a larger chromed front The truck has a 3406 A model cat 13 spd GM air ride. 1995 Freightliner C.O.E. 1974 Diamond Reo Cabover An early model of COE style rig American made. It was a nice truck but harder to get into tight spots and I was partial to the cabovers. The white cabooses weve seen are made of metal. Learn how your comment data is processed. Related > What It Was Like to Drive the Older Model Rigs. 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. He believes that Content and Social Media Marketing are the strongest forms of marketing nowadays. GMC Astro had a windshield that seemed to come down to knee level! After completing the CAPTCHA below, you will immediately regain access to the site again. Restoration completed recently. We/I cant go anywhere without people coming out with cameras and cell phones to take pictures of my truck. The Internationals were good solid trucks. All three are currently relaxing behind the shop until my project backlog is a bit shorter. Shopping with us, you get parts and accessories that work hard just like you, built tough just like your vehicle. Back in the 70s when I started selling parts I had a few customers that ran the BowTie versions called the Titan and Bruin. 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. Interior. The cabover interiors are usually made with a black finish that makes them look like they have some kind of black paint on them. Gauges for the trailer air supply and pressure were Maneuvering a big trailer was a real workout. Its interior became much more spacious due to an optional sleeper cab. Because of the regulations for length, this style of rig was very popular in its day. [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 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 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. 94, with LT1 power, velour seating, and a trunk rack. 1983 Freightliner COE Rig This gorgeous rig was on display at the Clifford Truck Show. Find the 9 highest paying truck driver jobs in 2022. Radhe also tries different gadgets every now and then to give their reviews online. So an auction was scheduled, and the companys assets were bagged, tagged, and sold to the highest bidder. GMC's Astro story originally begins in the early It is a medium-duty truck commonly used as a basis for dump trucks, cargo haulers, and other commercial or industrial purposes. 1986 GMC Astro cabover day cab. Sleeper Type: CAB OVER: Part Info (877)238-5030 Request Info. - YouTube 0:00 / 0:53 1986 GMC Astro cabover day cab. The location makes sense. In fact, this picture was used to create a cut-out on foamcore, which sat atop their reception desk when it was unstaffed. "Crackerbox" by operators and fans. i have being looking for a astro or titan would you be interested in selling one. Astro model, go see the. 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. Condition. Easily find what you need from 2,312,977 parts available. Cab won't release to tilt. The other cabovers weve seen have white cabooses. We had to do allot of work to use it in the state of California. Also seem to recall some connection with carnival equipment. 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. Required fields are marked *. It was easy for the younger drivers, but not quite so easy for the older truckers! Maneuverability. The early ones, like the red one at top, are better looking than the later ones. Thats code word for farmers. Interestingly enough, the people in the front office werent just strategizers and makers of budgets and blueprints. Body Parts Cab Interior Engine Components Transmission Components Suspension Components Electrical Components Vehicles . The others weve seen feature yellow and blue interiors. In the shuffle, Ercoa managed to grab the pontoon business and run with it. Near the end of its run, Astro buyers had the option of several Detroit, Caterpillar and Cummins Diesel engines. time were adopting. The big windshields and door glass gave a full view of the road. They also all open in a certain way (although they differ in this area). Still, he remained hopeful that the tons (literally) of aluminum pontoon parts hed also bought would make up for it.
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