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| GMC Sprint / Caballero | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 1975 GMC Sprint | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | GMC (automobile) |
| Model years | 1971–1977 (GMC Sprint) 1978–1987 (GMC Caballero) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Pickup truck |
| Body style | Coupé utility |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
TheGMC Sprint, renamed to theGMC Caballero in the 1978model year, is acoupé utility /pickup truck produced byGMC from 1971 to 1987.
Therear-wheel-drive car-based pickups were sold by GMC Truck dealers primarily in theUnited States andCanada as the GMC version of theChevrolet El Camino. Trim designations, emblems, and wheel trim differentiate the GMC from theChevrolet. The vehicles were built on theGeneral Motors A platform through 1981; for 1982, it was re-designated theG platform as the A platform switched tofront-wheel drive.
| First generation Sprint | |
|---|---|
 1971 GMC Sprint | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1970–1972 |
| Model years | 1971–1972 |
| Assembly | Baltimore, Maryland, United States, (Baltimore Assembly) Fremont, California, United States, (Fremont Assembly) Leeds,Kansas City, Missouri, United States, (Leeds Assembly) Van Nuys, California, United States, (Van Nuys Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | A-body |
| Related | Chevrolet El Camino Chevrolet Chevelle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.1 L (250 cu in)Turbo-ThriftI6 4.1 L (250 cu in)Small-BlockV8 5.7 L (350 cu in)Small-Block V8 6.5 L (396 cu in)Big-Block V8 7.4 L (454 cu in)Big-Block V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speedautomatic 3-speedmanual 4-speed manual |
In 1971GMC began producing the Sprint, their version of theChevrolet El Camino. This light-duty pickup truck was identical to the El Camino except for the name, and the chassis for both cars was based on theChevrolet Chevelle station wagon/4-door sedan wheelbase. The Sprint's first year was also the first year for mandated lower-octane unleaded fuel which necessitated a reduction in engine compression; GM's A.I.R. system, a "smog pump", was added to control tailpipe emissions. 1972 was the last year for the third generation El Camino, resulting in a two-year generation for Sprint. For 1972, little changed but for lower power outputs. Engine offerings for 1971–72 included the 250 cubic-inchOHVinline six, small block V8s of 307 and 350 cubic inches; and big blockV8s of 402 and 454 cubic-inch displacements. Horsepower ratings of those engines for 1971 ranged from 145 for the six to 365 for the 454—all in gross figures. For 1972, horsepower measurements were switched to the "net" figures as installed in a vehicle with all accessories and emission controllers hooked up—this change brought the horsepower ratings for 1972 down to a range from 110 horsepower (82 kW) for the six to 270 for the 454 V8. The Sprint shared exterior and interior trims with the Chevelle Malibu and El Camino including cloth and vinyl or all-vinyl bench seats and deep twist carpeting. All-vinyl Strato bucket seats and center console were optional.
Both the El Camino and Sprint shared the same body styling as the Chevelle from the cowl to the front bumper. The 1971 models featured the Chevelle's twin parking light lenses, dual "high intensity" headlights and horizontally-divided front grille. A large "GMC" badge replaced the Chevy bowtie and for models with optional engines, engine badges (depicting cubic inch size), identical to those of the counterpart Chevrolet, were placed just below the divider bar on the left side of the grille. Both years featured rear end styling taken from the Chevelle station wagon (and were shared with El Camino).
For 1972, the Sprint was given the updated Chevelle front end styling, retaining the "GMC" and optional engine badges in their 1971 locations.
The Sprint has the same design, features, and equipment as the El Camino, with some renamed. It was offered as "Standard" or "Custom". The inline six was only available on the "Standard". Like the Chevelle and El Camino, the GMC Sprint could be ordered with a standard 3-speed Synchro-Meshmanual transmission, an optional four-speed Synchro-Mesh manual, or the Turbo Hydra-Matic three-speedautomatic transmission. Luxury options, such as air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, and power locks, were also available at extra cost.
The SP package, only offered on the Sprint Custom, was GMC's own equivalent of the Chevrolet SS package. It included the same features as the Chevrolet. The Sprint SP was an option package, RPO YE7, rather than a distinct model. Engines were an L48 350 4 barrel, LS3 400 (402) big block, and the LS5 454 365 hp big block.
| Second generation Sprint | |
|---|---|
 1974 GMC Sprint | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1972–1977 |
| Model years | 1973–1977 |
| Assembly | Arlington, Texas, United States, (Arlington Assembly) Baltimore, Maryland, United States, (Baltimore Assembly) Doraville, Georgia, United States, (Doraville Assembly) Fremont, California, United States, (Fremont Assembly) Leeds,Kansas City, Missouri, United States, (Leeds Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | A-body |
| Related | Chevrolet El Camino Chevrolet Chevelle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.1 L (250 cu in)Turbo-Thrift I6 5.0 L (305 cu in)Small-Block V8 4.1 L (250 cu in)Small-Block V8 6.6 L (400 cu in)Big-Block V8 7.4 L (454 cu in)Big-Block V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 116 in (2,946 mm) |
For 1973, all GM A-body vehicles were redesigned. It was the largest generation of the Sprint, but thanks to lighter construction, it weighed less than the previous generation. Engine offerings during this period included a 250 cubic-inch inline six, as well as a variety of V8s, including the 305, 350 and 400 cubic-inch versions of the Chevy small-blockV8, plus the 454 Turbo-Jet big block through 1975. GMC carried over the "Standard" and "Custom" Sprint designations. The inline six was still only available on the "Standard". Catalytic converters were added to all engines beginning with the 1975 model. Other than annual grill revisions and a switch to quad-stacked, rectangular headlights in 1976, the Sprint remained relatively unchanged through 1977, when the "Sprint" name was replaced with "Caballero" for 1978.
The Chevelle SS was dropped after 1973, but the El Camino was one of the few Chevrolet models to retain an SS package. Following suit, GMC continued to offer the Sprint with an SP package, though it was still only available on the Sprint Custom. It no longer included the two fat hood stripes, and the 454 Turbo-Jet big block V8 was discontinued after 1975.
| GMC Caballero | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 1980 GMC Caballero | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1977–1987 |
| Model years | 1978–1987 |
| Assembly | Arlington, Texas, United States, (Arlington Assembly: 1978–1984) Doraville, Georgia, United States, (Doraville Assembly: 1978–1981) Fremont, California, United States, (Fremont Assembly: 1978–1981) Leeds,Kansas City, Missouri, United States, (Leeds Assembly: 1978–1980) Ramos Arizpe,Coahuila, Mexico, (Ramos Arizpe Assembly: 1985–1987) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | A-body (1978–1981) G-body (1982–1987) |
| Related | Chevrolet El Camino Chevrolet Malibu |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.8 L (229 cu in)Chevrolet V6 3.8 L (231 cu in)Buick V6 4.3 L (262 cu in)Chevrolet V6 4.4 L (267 cu in)Small-Block V8 5.0 L (305 cu in)Small-Block V8 5.7 L (350 cu in)Small-Block V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed Saginaw manual 4-speed manual 3-speedTHM200 automatic 3-speedTHM350 automatic 4-speedTHM200-4R automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 117 in (2,972 mm) |
The Caballero and thefifth generation El Camino shared their mechanical parts with theChevrolet Malibu series, but rode on a 9-inch longerwheelbase.Exterior appearance remained largely the same over the truck's nine-year lifespan, with the biggest changes through the years coming mostly in the form ofgrille design. From 1978 through 1981, this consisted of either "eggcrate" style (1978), horizontal bars (1979 and 1981) or vertical bars (1980). Then for 1982, the front end was changed to a full-width grille design housing four headlights and a four-rowcrosshatch pattern; this persisted through the vehicle's demise in 1987.
Caballero interiors featured abench seat in standard models, though an upgrade tobucket seats with a center console and floor-mounted shifter was available. Most models with automatic transmission carried the shifter on thesteering column.Cloth orvinylupholstery choices were offered in a variety of colors. The instrument panel originally featured a "strip" style ofspeedometer, with the needle making a long sweep across a horizontal line of numbers to indicate speed. This was changed for 1981 to a more conventional round dial format, with some further minor tweaks for 1986. The 1987 model year was the end of the line for GM's North American coupe utilities, which included 420 leftover El Caminos and 325 Cabelleros that were reported first sold in 1988.
Offered from 1978 until 1980 only, the Laredo was a Caballero equivalent to the El Camino's luxurious Conquista package. Equipment included two-tone paint in various color combinations and a "Laredo" decal on the tailgate.
For 1981, the Laredo became known as the Amarillo, and this name would continue through 1987. With the exception of the different name decal on the tailgate, the package was substantially the same. GMC changed this package's name at about the same time asJeep began using the "Laredo" name (as a trim level with the 1980 CJ-7) for a variety of special models in their own line - later evolving into a trim package with its XJ Cherokee and the midlevel (later base) trim level with the Grand Cherokee.
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The sporty Diablo package began in 1978 as an equivalent to the El Camino's Black Knight (1978)/Royal Knight (post-1978) package (which was, in turn, an upgrade from the long-running Super Sport package). Both the Royal Knight and the Diablo carried a hood graphic not unlike that featured on thePontiac Trans Am; the Diablo's was in asymmetrical flame pattern that resembled ademon. Besides the hood accents, Diablo also came with lower-body accent paint, body-color mirrors, black-trimmed window frames, a frontair dam, color-matched "Rally" steel wheels with trim rings, and a large "Diablo" decal on the tailgate.
When Chevrolet dropped the Royal Knight option from the El Camino option list for 1982, GMC's Diablo remained but was now analogous to the "normal" Super Sport model. This meant that the flame decal was gone, but little else changed. However, when the El Camino Super Sport gained a new dealer optioned aerodynamic front end from Choo Choo Customs for 1984, the Diablo stuck with the same front end it had carried since the final factory front clip revision (for the Malibus, El Caminos and Caballeros) from 1982. The Diablo was offered through the end of the Caballero line in 1987.
Available Engines: •200 CID 2bbl V6 (1978-1979)•229 CID 2bbl V6 (1980-1981)•231 CID 2bbl Buick V6 (1978-1981)- for California cars only•267 CID 2bbl V8 (1979-1981)•305 CID 2bbl V8 (1978 only)•305 CID 4bbl V8 (1979-1981)•350 CID 4bbl V8 (1978-1979)
The word "Caballero" is from theSpanish language. Its most common definition today in the Americas is "gentleman", though its technical definition is "horseman" (caballo meaning horse) or "knight".[1] These are, in turn, related to the English "cowboy" (though the more appropriate Spanish equivalent of "cowboy" would bevaquero, based on "vaca" for "cow"). The Caballero name was previously used as a top trim level on thehardtopBuick Centurystation wagon.[2]
GMC's use of a Spanish-derived name was perhaps a response to the El Camino's own borrowing from Spanish colonial history (via the assumed reference to El Camino Real, the "King's Road", lit. "Regal Road"). Until 1979, Ford offered a similar vehicle, theFord Ranchero, also with a Spanish name ("Rancher").[citation needed] GMC also offered special trim packages for the Caballero under other Spanish names: Diablo, Laredo, Amarillo. As for the car's old nameplate, GM would later revive the Sprint name for a rebadgedSuzuki Cultus sold under the Chevrolet banner.
General Motors executiveRobert Lutz announced in January 2008[3] that the division was to display a GMC-badged version of theHolden Crewman, a four-door version of the standardHolden Ute, at the New York Auto Show in March. Ultimately, the intended show vehicle eventuated was quite different, in theGMC Denali XTconcept, designed byHolden upon theZeta platform, but bearing no resemblance to existing Holden product. It debuted at the 2008Chicago Auto Show, but plans for production based upon theunibody concept were subsequently cancelled circa September 2009.
In 1974, GMC's sister division,Pontiac, reportedly took an El Camino body, grafted the urethane-nose front end from its Grand Am series, added the Grand Am's instrument panel, Strato bucket seats with recliners and adjustable lumbar support, along with Pontiac's Rally II wheels as a styling exercise for a possible Pontiac version of the El Camino/Sprint. The concept however never reached production. Another show car version was also created in the late 1970s but never left the concept stage.
