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1961 Corvair Pickup

by | Mar 25, 2021 | 0 comments

1961 Corvair Pickup
The 1961 Corvair 95 Rampside.

The 1961 Corvair 95 Rampside. (Chevrolet archives)

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

Although there had been a number of small pickups prior to the 1960s, the compact car boom that kicked off the decade brought with it a new crop of the so-called “forward control” body style.

Among the offerings was the Corvair 95. With its unitized body structure and rear-mounted engine, the 95 offered a lot of cargo space in a compact maneuverable package.

The Rampside model offered a side gate on the right side of the vehicle. The placement allowed easy access to the low load floor at the front of the bed.

According to the Corvair enthusiast site Corvair.org, Corvair 95s were named for their 95-inch wheelbase. GM  referred to the body style as “Light Duty-Forward Control (L.D.F.C.)” vehicles.

Marketed from 1961 to 1965, The line consisted initially of two vans and two pickups:

  • Corvan panel delivery, model R-1205
  • Greenbrier station wagon, model R-1206
  • Loadside pickup, model R-1244
  • Rampside pickup, model R-1254

Forward control referred to the positioning of the steering mechanism forward of the front axle and engendered the “Corvair FC” moniker for the line.

Although clever in design, the Corvair 95 never caught on in the showroom, and in the final model year of 1964, only 851 were sold.

1928 GMC T-11 Canopy Express

by | Jun 2, 2020 | 0 comments

1928 GMC T-11 Canopy Express
a 1928 GMC Canopy Express

The 1928 GMC Canopy Express used a Pontiac six-cylinder engine. (GM PR archives)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Beginning in 1920, GMC and Chevrolet trucks became largely similar, built as variants of the same platform, sharing much the same body sheet work, except for nameplates and grilles — though their differences, especially engines, have varied over the years, according to Wikipedia.

GMC advertising marketed its trucks to commercial buyers and businesses, whereas Chevrolet’s advertising was directed toward private owners.

Beginning in 1928, GMCs used Pontiac’s 186 cubic-inch six-cylinder engines in their lighter trucks. Medium-duty trucks relied on Buick engines, while the heaviest trucks used GMC’s own “standard Big Brute” engine.

From 1939 to 1974 GMC had its own line of six-cylinder engines, first the inline sixes known as “Jimmy’s” from 1939 to 1959, and then their own V-6 from 1960 until 1974, of which a V-8 and a V-12 version also existed. Additionally, from 1955 through 1959, the less than 2-ton, domestic GMC gasoline trucks were equipped with Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile V-8s — whereas the Canadian models used Chevrolet engines.

Learn more about GMC truck history here.