The CC Effect works at the Cohort too. Just a couple of weeks ago we took a look at the independent front suspension on 1960-1962 Chevrolet and GMC trucks, but the featured truck was a 1966, as a stand-in. And here’s the real thing, posted by John Lloyd, and shot in Oroville, WA. The lower control arms are very visible here. This one is of course also sporting the GMC V6 engine.
Now if any of you Photoshoppers have nothing better to do, what I’ve always wanted to see is a Chevy or GMC truck of this vintage sporting a cab from a ’59 El Camino; maybe even the hood too. These cabs have a bit of a “flying wing’ on the roof, but it’s aimed the wrong direction. And the visibility just isn’t good enough.
Maybe it would be easier in profile?
Those GMC V6’s had a distinct sound and exhaust note to them….The school district that I went to school in bought nothing but GMC buses from the early 1960’s on through the mid 1970’s when they switched over to Internationals..
The GMC’s had either the 305 or 351 GMC V6 in them with 5 speed sticks and the newest ones had Allison automatics.
I love the GMC front end on these! When I was a kid there was a ’60 GMC 1/2 ton step side abandoned on a dirt driveway in my neighborhood. I used to ride my bike to go “visit” it quite often. It had a V6 and it had the big shifter on the floor. Beautiful trucks!
Seriously masculine-looking trucks!
In 1964 while cruising main street in dad’s 1960 GMC 1/2 ton v6 4speed I down shifted from 4th but hit 1st exploding the positrac carrier costing me $125.00 parts and labor to fix.Best thing great riding truck worst was 10 MPG loaded or empty even hauling materials on Hwy 126 over Mount Hood when up hill loaded was 3rd gear slog.
A nice old rig to be sure .
Kinda short looking ~ was this yard goat maybe ? .
I drove a bob tailed 1962 Chevy C/50 with the V6 engine for a year , good truck but it didn’t have this wonderful suspension so it rode like a buckboard not that I minded any .
-Nate
While long gone from the bigger trucks, the current Silverado/Sierra 4×4’s still use a torsion bar IFS setup. The latest addition to the family fleet is a 2000 K2500, purchased at State auction. Looking underneath, the torsion bar layout makes perfect sense as the outer u-joints occupy the space where the coil springs are on the 4×2 models. Height adjustment instructions are on a label attached to the anchoring cross member.
Seriously brawny looking trucks, and I think the “eyebrow” hood works better on the medium-duty models as there’s just more truck to balance it out. Funny how the CC effect even extends to cohort postings!
While Chevy used the torsion bar front suspension on all trucks up to their series 80 heavy duty tandems, GMC only used it on their light and medium duty trucks. The V-6 even spawned a somewhat unsuccessful diesel version known as the Toro-Flow. They really should have known better when they tried doing it to an Olds V-8.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the early 60’s Chevy & GMC (Apache) pickups & the straight axle,tractor trailer with the alligator hood, it’s a shame you don ‘t see them that much anymore, & when I do see one,I make a point of going over & check it out!
Best Regards,Phillip