GMC's Aero Astro

[kscarbel]

After speaking about the advanced Preston Trucking Aero Brigadier from 1981, I should mention that GMC engineers in 1982 did a nice job with the Aero Astro, taking a lackluster and aging (1969 vintage) COE cab and giving it a new lease on life with a modern new appearance embodying a high efficiency aerodynamic design (7.14mpg). GMC sold about 500 units in 1983-1984.

Features:

• Collapsible accordion-fold roof air deflector (7' wide x 8' long) with red "GMC AERO" graphics
• Side cab fairings
• (Optional) Urethane fender skirts with cab-entry steps (required the battery box to be mounted between the frame rails and dual 100 gallon, 24" diameter steel or aluminum fuel tanks)
• Urethane grille
• Rectangular halogen headlights
• Urethane front bumper end caps and air dam
• Five Trucklite flush-mounted rectangular roof marker lamps

[Timothy Maikshilo]

Interesting to know that some ideas were being looked at for fuel savings. The Jimmy with a Detroit and an accordion on the roof can second as a on truck band!

[kscarbel2]

[RoadwayR]

To a certain extent as a follow on, GMC introduced a General conventional with a more aerodynamic hood/fender and a set-back front axle.  Not sure how many were built, seems they were all built in 1987, last year of General production.  I remember seeing a new one in Southern California in late 1987, belonged to a United Van Lines agent.  

[Hayseed]

That Collapsible Aero Kit's a Great Idea..

 

Nice Looking Truck...

[TS7]

Roadway a contractor I worked for in 1994 rented a General SBA tractor for a month from Ryder to haul concrete pipe. They gave us the oldest (wore out) truck they had in the area, because we were going to use it to go off road to unload. We learned a lot about why highway spec. tractor's are no good in off road use. It ran fine on the road, but off road, use less. We ended up hauling the pipe trailer from the road with a old 1965 DM-800, it got the job done.  

[kscarbel2]

6 hours ago, RoadwayR said:

To a certain extent as a follow on, GMC introduced a General conventional with a more aerodynamic hood/fender and a set-back front axle.  Not sure how many were built, seems they were all built in 1987, last year of General production.  I remember seeing a new one in Southern California in late 1987, belonged to a United Van Lines agent.  

The all-new aerodynamic conventional cab (bonnetted) prototype suggests a radical leap forward for GMC Trucks. I certainly hope those trucks are preserved at the GM Heritage center.

.