Here’s a short and sweet video from the GM Heritage Center that harks back to 1960 and the introduction of GMCs new heavy duty truck models. The main star of the show is a Viking cab-over truck that is used to tout a new torsion bar lift system for the cab. At the time some cabs had a motor and some had a hydraulic jack to lift them up but GMC simplified the process by adding the torsion bar and a simple latch. As you will see, the driver can unhook the latch and lift the whole cab with one hand. Also touted is the fact that many of the cab controls stay put so there is nothing that needs to be unhooked before lifting. As a guy who has driven my fair share of cab over trucks and checked engine oil on them a million times, this does not account for the stuff you leave on the seat, drinks you forget to remove or other crap that makes a mess when it is in the cab and you pull the ol’ presto-flippo trick.
Moving on, the other truck that is highlighted in this video is the famed GMC “Crackerbox” which is also known as a “slab cab” in some circles because of the square and tiny dimensions of the cab itself. Measuring 48″ from the front bumper to the back glass, this was not a roomy situation by any means but the result was that trucks could haul a longer trailer and stay within length laws and that meant more money for the trucking companies. GMC sold lots of these trucks over the years and there are still drivers out there with (not so) fond memories of living within the tight confines of these guys on a day to day basis. It is hilarious to look at here in the video and listen to the amped up announcer talk about the truck like it is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
There are prisons more comfortable than those things.
For five summers while in college I “bailed ” garbage for our resort driven township. Most of the trucks were these COEs….they were miserable to drive and ride in. I’d rather ride on the back than in the cab.
That slab cab looks like a death trap in an accident.
You missed the 6 for cab was 409 powered. The cracker box was a detroit diesel.