We had to do allot of work to use it in the state of California. As a mechanic, I spent a lot of time working on this style of truck. For a typical dealership, this meant dedicating profitable space that would have otherwise gone to selling passenger cars. (Bedford being a GM division.). I was only supposed to keep the Titan until the Astro was fixed but I couldnt go back to that noisy sweat box now. "Crackerbox" by operators and fans. Box Truck - Straight Truck,Cabover Truck - COE Trucks For Sale in Provo, UT: 38 Box Truck - Straight Truck,Cabover Truck - COE Trucks Near You - Find Box Truck - Straight Truck,Cabover Truck - COE Trucks on Commercial Truck Trader. From the second picture on, I knew it would be enjoyable! The white cabooses weve seen are made of metal. They were legal and they got the job done. It was a family business dad, son, and grandson could all be found down the same hallway. A wide range of engines, which could be easily modified for alternative fuels such as propane or compressed natural gas, made the model popular in the school bus and police bus industry. To get in the sleeper bunk the driver of the rig must crawl through a hole. me with questions and comments! We had a fair number of Brigadiers with 6-71s in them, not nice to work on. I love my truck and it will be around for a long time to come. The Astro 95 had superior driver visibility. A larger cab provided more interior space and greater comfort for the driver, and larger windows allowed for better driver visibility. 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. A collection of trucker tips from million milers and experienced drivers. A walk-in version was added in 1985. 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. The GMC Astro and Chevrolet Titan are Class 8 cabover-engine (COE) trucks, sold in both single and tandem rear axle configurations. However, there was a downside that accompanied this accessibility. Condition. Complete details for 1900 GMC ASTRO 95 For Sale In Boonsboro, . This meant that there were less gauges on the wraparound part than The red caboose is made of metal too. Near the end of its run, Astro buyers had the option of several Detroit, Caterpillar and Cummins Diesel engines. I might have even worked on this one. This merger formed the basis of the General Motors Truck Company giving the GMC brand name for their trucks. 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.". I thought the truck fit me perfectly and I became a part of it whenever we were on the road. Its great to know so many truckers still appreciate these trucks. Visit our site at any time to acquire GMC semi truck accessories and parts needed for your restoration or upgrade project. before, and some were cut as cost-savings. But, theyre almost all sitting in the weeds, done forever. Postal Code: 7 LOT #: 10062 Save 1986 GMC ASTRO Sleeper Trucks Buyer's premium included in price USD $120.00 GMC COE single axle. Speaking of aluminum, perhaps the strangest item offered for bids was the right to sweep the floorswhich the auctioneer claimed would yield barrels worth of aluminum shavings if done correctly. On our channel we upload daily, our original, walkaround videos of Trucks, Busses and Commercial Vehicles. Not surprising, given that it came from GM, although its predecessor, the Crackerbox (attached) certainly couldnt have spent much time in the Design Center. White trailers with a big Food Lion graphic. I drove many 10s of thousands of miles in the late 70s. with Rudkin-Wiley Airshield. It was like driving a bus! grille, chromed accessories, deluxe interior levels fog lights, and The Kenworths had dog houses big enough to sleep on. Isuzu Bedford might be the name down under, the blue one is very clearly a (Euro) Bedford TM. This truck is very rare as we are finding out. 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. Guess which one I was most interested in? For over a century, GMC has been offering a wide range of commercial and military grade vehicles, as well as genuine auto parts. 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. Depending on when it was made its Road Expeditor II, an Autocar or a Western Star. 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. If every driver of EVERY vehicle on the road followed these safety tips, our roads would be SO much safer. After a short stint as an OTR driver and still holding my Class A CDL Id like to find a worthy GMC truck just to drive to one of the big truck shows. USD $3,300 . 118" WB, 104" cab to rear, 184" overall. Nothing on earth sounds as good to me as a screamin Jimmy Diesel. I know the mechanics at the garbage company in Truckee/N. -If you have any, please send them to me, Heres the (much older and smaller) Bedford TK: The different cabooses are designed to look different colors and to be able to transition from one color to another. 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_TK. Cabover interiors are all essentially the same but they all have a few differences. All were late 70s vintage cabovers with sleepers and rooftop air deflectors, painted white, with the obligatorylogo on the door. Our goal is to support you and your business. With their squared-off styling and strange proportions, GMC's aluminum cabover trucks of 1959-68 quickly earned the nickname "Crackerbox.". made it able to slip through wind better than other COEs at the Theres something very nostalgic about seeing these rigs on the road today. Copyright 2018-2023 TRUCKiD.com. The wrap around dash was a natural because it sits on top of the engine. 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 also lucked out on a few items from their shop, such as this toolbox. The See that guy at the helm, in the pink shirt? They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. In addition to the regular cab, a sleeper cab was available as an option. Unless some ambitious individual comes along, chances are their next trip out will be their last. Of course, being a cabover it tilted forward for access to that huge Detroit Diesel mill. You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. Gauges for the trailer air supply and pressure were At SMART TRUCKING, were also avid fans of the cabover truck. I cant say I have a soft spot for Brigadiers. The plastic type is often found in the back of a truck, but it can be found in a few other areas as well. Never tripped across one that didnt rattle! Noisy. 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. In the late 1960s, as American truck manufacturers introduced updated designs for cabover trucks, design work began on an all-new Class 8 cabover. The cabover is one of the most unique interiors weve found. So the length issue wasnt so important anymore. 1972 GMC Astro Cabover Truck - Walkaround Exterior Interior Tour - 2021 Clifford Truck Show TruckTube 3.9K views 8 months ago Cabover Peterbilt With Completely Full Trailer FSC Trucking. 8 model, until 1959, when the all-new H model was introduced. It was supposedly a big advance in truck design for its time. For the paddleboat, of course. 1950s. The simple fact that these big rigs didnt have a hood, created better visibility for the driver. Find the 9 highest paying truck driver jobs in 2022. Apparently, many was the visitor who attempted to dip their fingers into it! Hes the one that hired me. (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 time. 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. It was the oldest design GMC had at the time, and still They are all different shapes and sizes, and are also all designed to fit different people. Drivers didnt worry about head on collisions. awkward shapes, it did not receive good aerodynamic ratings, and cut fuel Upgrades to the truck's suspension improved its handling and ride, as well. Now for those of you who have seen dbl bunk Astro's yes there were some after market dbl bunk conversions. The cabover truck is an icon. Changing a clutch was always fun since the rear engine mounts were attached to the transmission instead of the engine. Title applied for. This is because they are usually made of steel, and they are also available in other materials, such as plastic. I believe that a gas turbine was optional in limited quantities, yet Ever since those got retired (replaced by conventional White-GMC or Volvo-White rigs) I've seen few to no Astros. My good friend and photography mentor loves them. ASTRO 95. My client roster once included a manufacturing firm called Ercoa. I got to test drive one with a 9L CNG motor and Heil Frontloading refuse body Dec of 2012 and was impressed with it. These two galsno idea who they aremade frequent appearances in company literature. . so has very low miles. wide panoramic glass provided excellent vision to the front and the I dont think Id ever consider trying to restore one. What was always fun was tilting any of these cabovers to there full tilt range. The H model was a redesign of the semi-cabover design, with a more rounded look as the GMCs at the Owned by Ryan Wichtner, FL. EnterpriseVander Haags Inc Sp Spencer IA. Cabovers had great visibility and they had the look of highway trucks, due to their sheer height. Also in common with GM products of the day Astros didnt age well, particularly inside the cab. The Astro died honorably with You can connect with him Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They were mostly Astros, these older small-grille versions, in dark blue. Perhaps even these Jeeps were big trucks in a past life. The GMC Astro is a heavy-duty (Class 8) cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors. Any way it was big. But every end is merely a new beginning. The cabooses are all designed with different colors, textures, and materials. Old Dutch plant located in Minneapolis. 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. Or perhaps some do-gooder finally threw it away. 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 . Resale on these still seems to be excellent! Radhe also tries different gadgets every now and then to give their reviews online. 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. There were approximately seven built, all told; they were prototypes for a new line that never got off the ground. So, in 1987, GMC sold the heavy duty operation to Volvo, and $4,000.00 1979 GMC Astro cabover semi tractor Detroit 892v 13 speed 54,276 actual mileage 2,324 hours Starts and runs great. And so came the companys latest investment, circa 1987: a fleet of new-to-them tractors with brand-new trailers. $20? What a mess. Manufacturer. As of current production, GM has not marketed another Class 8 cabover truck (as the configuration has effectively ended production in North America). Ive spent my whole life in the marine industry and its amazing that I still find new boat companies all the time. 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. 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. 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. was a radical departure for GMC-it was completely cab-over engine, and I am partial to the old 2 stroke Detroits. To get out, the trucker had to more or less, back out of the cab door, while hanging onto a railing on the door. Even upon close investigation, it looked just like an ice cream sundae that had been forgotten and was melting all over the desk! Ive had the pleasure to drive an LTL-9000, and the misfortune to drive a Brigadier. They are also typically found on the rear of a car, but they can be found in other areas. The new model has replaced the line of C/M 90/9500 trucks. Get to know the CB lingo used by truckers, so you can get in on the conversation, cmon. They are also usually found on the back of a car, but they can be found in other areas as well. Given the paint scheme, it seems fairly likely this tractor and trailer spent at least part of their lives together. Sleeper Cab. Following the 1980 model year, Chevrolet exited the heavy-truck segment; thereafter, alongside the Brigadier and General conventionals, the Astro was marketed solely under the GMC brand. But as you can imagine, by this time there wasnt much left of them. Especially love the old Kenworth K100E Aerodyne. later dropped from the lineup. Werent the other two trucks Internationals? Thanks for the pics of the Astro interior, forgot how nice the dash was. Description. the styling-the highly boxy shape made it commonly referred to as the My first impression? Mine was a great truck, simple and reliable. Discover (and save!) (Ever the penny-pinchers, they opted to apply the same logo stickers to the trucks as they did to their boats.). ), But they couldnt just let the boats pile upthey had to get them out to the dealers somehow. Thats actually not an Astro. An Australian truck driver talks about the REAL BAD BOY big rig trucks that run through the Outback of Australia. Broken lights and lenses throughout. But somewhere down the line (perhaps in the early eighties) they acquired another line of business: building pontoon boats. Tires are good. In 1986, Volvo AB entered into a joint venture with General Motors in heavy-truck production, with Volvo taking an 85% stake. 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 new model featured better visibility and improved driver ergonomics. Some articles may contain affiliate links. 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. When it comes to clutter, some say its nothing more than postponed decisions. 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! You could get Cummins and later the 3406 Cat, but the vast majority had 71 and 92 series Jimmys in them. From some of the old Overdrive magazines Ive seen, Ford was even worse for HD parts and service to the point they refused Fords advertising for years over it. 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. Previews will consist of visual inspection, and vehicle can be started. Many RVs even up to today use the same glass. The GMC Astro 95 was introduced the rest of the GMC heavy duty line in 1987. They had great visibility though. 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. Ive never run a General, but the Brigadiers dont seem to hold up nearly as well as the Fords.