1991 GMC Typhoon Prototype

1991 GMC Typhoon Prototype Additional Info:

Information on the 1991 GMC Typhoon Prototype VIN 1GKCT18Z3M0521219

This is a 1991 GMC Typhoon Prototype, 1 of only a few built by PAS (Production Automotive Services) who was contracted by GM for the development and production of the GMC Syclones and Typhoons. Production years for the Typhoon were 1992 and 1993 with a total volume of 4,697 combined over the two model years. The Typhoon is often credited with starting the high performance SUV market that is prevalent today, hence making this one of the very first high performance SUVs in existence. This particular Typhoon is very rare and a piece of automotive history.

This truck was used by PAS for emissions development and body cladding fitment. The current owner purchased the truck from the son of the original owner who purchased it directly from PAS. When the truck was purchased from PAS, it did not have any cladding and the paint was all scratched up from the multiple cladding fitment trials. The truck was repainted at some point in the mid ‘90s and fitted with OE cladding shortly after.

Documentation includes a TRC safety card used for coast-down testing at the Ohio Transportation Research Center. The dyno test pipe on the exhaust is also still in place. The front propshaft is not installed on the truck (presumably because some development work was conducted on a single axle dyno).

The truck has several unique features that distinguishes it from production models. PAS used several components from a Syclone to build this prototype (the Syclone was in production for the 1991 model year only):

- Syclone seats (production trucks had a different seat and was covered in leather)

- Syclone steering wheel (production trucks had a different 4-spoke steering wheel)

- Rare Syclone embroidered floor mats (created for the 92 Syclone that didn’t go into production)

- Red GMC in wheel center caps (production trucks had grey lettering)

- Cloth rear seats and door panels (production trucks had leather rear seats and door panels)

- Sliding rear windows (production trucks have single piece fixed rear windows)

- T-4 markings on the rear view mirror and inside gas filler door (identification as Typhoon Prototype #4)

- ECM is in the glove box

This Typhoon was converted from a GMC Jimmy, evident by the 4x4 hood blanket and GVWR sticker in the door jam. It has a rebuilt title which is consistent with other Typhoon prototypes according to SyTyarchives.com. As is the case with most OE manufacturers, vehicles used for testing purposes are typically branded with salvage titles and sent to the crusher. Luckily this truck managed to escape that fate. The title status is due to it’s history as a development vehicle - there is no evidence of prior damage.