GMC Light-Duty Trucks

There are few things more American than a pickup truck, unless one counts enormous breakfasts, interstate highways and the conviction that any mechanical problem can be solved by installing a considerably larger engine. And among the great names of American commercial motoring, GMC has long occupied a distinguished position, producing vehicles designed to work hard, carry substantial loads and make the average European delivery van look like an apologetic household appliance.

In GMC Light-Duty Trucks (2007), James K. Wagner celebrates the history and development of GMC’s lighter commercial vehicles, exploring the machines that helped build the American reputation for rugged, practical and magnificently uncompromising transportation. Published by Iconografix, this illustrated volume offers an engaging look at the trucks that became familiar sights on farms, construction sites, highways and suburban driveways across the United States.

The term ’light-duty’ is, of course, a splendid example of American automotive understatement. Many of these vehicles would appear positively enormous beside their European counterparts, with engines capable of consuming quantities of petrol that might cause a British motorist to faint at the filling station. Nevertheless, their purpose was entirely practical: moving people, equipment and materials reliably across a country where distances are considerable and nobody particularly wants to make two journeys when one enormous truck will suffice.

Wagner’s book explores the changing designs, engineering developments and distinctive character of GMC trucks, recalling an era when commercial vehicles combined genuine working ability with increasingly attractive styling. From straightforward utility machines to more comfortable and sophisticated pickups, these vehicles reflected the evolution of American industry, agriculture and everyday transportation.

There is something wonderfully appealing about the honesty of a traditional pickup truck. It possesses an engine at the front, a cab in the middle and an enormous open space at the back into which its owner can place almost anything, including building materials, agricultural equipment and purchases from the hardware store that were never strictly necessary.

Over time, the humble working truck became something of a cultural institution. What began as practical transport for farmers and tradesmen gradually acquired a following among enthusiasts who appreciated its styling, mechanical simplicity and considerable road presence. Eventually, even people with no intention of transporting anything heavier than a bag of groceries began buying pickups, proving that automotive aspiration is rarely constrained by practical necessity.

Condition: Very Good. This is a previously owned copy dating from 2007, displaying only modest signs of age and handling. Unlike a hardworking American pickup of similar vintage, it should require no replacement suspension components, expensive servicing or investigation into mysterious noises coming from the rear axle.

Published by Iconografix in 2007. ISBN: 9781583881910.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we admire the magnificent excesses of American automotive engineering, particularly when they can be appreciated without having to purchase several gallons of fuel.

An excellent addition to any collection of American truck history, commercial vehicle literature or classic motoring books. Particularly recommended for GMC enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a vehicle capable of carrying half a building while somehow still being described as ’light-duty’.

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