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Filed under: Classics, Truck, Etc., GMC, Design/Style




Ever wondered how the GMC Sierra 1500 got is name? Or why a 1/2-ton pickup can carry almost a 2,000 pound payload? General Motors sets the record straight.

For starters, the Sierra name was first used to denote upscale trim packages in the 1970s and '80s. In 1989, the name was applied to all GMC full-size pickups. No big mystery there.

Then there's the 1500 moniker. GMC began using the numbers 1500, 2500 and 3500 in 1967. While the digits do indicate hauling capabilities, they aren't the trucks' actual cargo limits. In fact, they refer to the "first segment of vehicle identification numbers," GM says. Since then, all American automakers use 15, 25 and 35 in their trucks' names to indicate their abilities.

Then there's the 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton and 1-ton indicators. Back in 1912, the numbers meant what they said. A 1/2-ton truck's hauling prowess maxed out at a 1/2 ton. But no more...

"The payload-based naming convention for pickups existed right from the beginning," said General Motors Heritage Center Manager Greg Wallace. "The ½-ton, ¾-ton, and 1-ton models became most popular with retail customers over a few decades, not just for GMC but all manufacturers. While payload capacities have grown since, those three names stuck."

So there you go, a 1/2-ton of mysteries solved. Read the official press release below.Continue reading GMC dissects the names of its own pickups

GMC dissects the names of its own pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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