The GMC Syclone Was Faster Than Corvettes and Ferraris

The 1991 GMC Syclone defied the laws of physics. The boxy compact pickup out-accelerated Ferraris, Corvettes, and anything else on the market in the early 1990s. One of these limited-edition super trucks is currently for sale on eBay in Columbus, Ohio.

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Sport Truck Heyday

High-performance pickup trucks have existed for decades. Think SS396 El Caminos in the ’60s and the Dodge Li’l Red Express in the ’70s. That trend accelerated in the late ’80s as more pickups were used as personal vehicles rather than work trucks.

General Motors’ 1988 launch of the stylish GMT400 full-size Chevrolet and GMC pickups was perfectly timed. They could be easily modified with lowered suspensions, fat tires and wheels, and aerodynamic body pieces. Suddenly, sport trucks were the hot new thing.

Other automakers jumped in. Chevrolet was an early entry with the big-block-powered 454SS. In response, Ford brought out the original Lightning, an F-150 upgraded by Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations team. Carroll Shelby produced signature hi-po versions of the Dodge Dakota. But none of these matched the performance of GMC’s stealthy Syclone.

Inspired by the Grand National

The end of Buick Grand National and GNX production in 1987 left GM with a performance void. Enterprising engineers wanted to fill the gap, so they turned to scrappy GMC as an outlet.

GMC brass was open to the sport truck trend. In those days, most of the magazine project trucks—many with transplanted Corvette engines—were GMCs, not Chevrolets.

A lowered, monochrome white GMC Sonoma with a turbocharged Buick V-6 and all-wheel drive first hit auto shows in 1989. That Syclone prototype didn’t run, but the intent was clear. Production Syclones swapped the Buick mill for a turbocharged 4.3-liter Vortec V-6. Like the GNX, the trucks were black.

A Mitsubishi turbocharger and water/air intercooler boost the Vortec to 280 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque—numbers higher than a standard 1991 Corvette. Magazines reported mid-four-second zero-to-60 times and quarter-miles in the 13s. At those speeds, Syclone beat the mighty Corvette ZR-1 and even—as Car and Driver magazine famously put on its September 1991 cover—a Ferrari 348.

Bone Stock

GMC built just 2,998 Syclones. Finding an unmolested one today is not easy. The seller describes this Syclone as mechanically bone stock except for a stainless-steel cat-back exhaust. Recent maintenance includes new spark plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets, serpentine belt, and fresh Michelin Pilot Sport tires on refinished stock wheels.

The Syclone’s odometer reads 81,545 miles. The listing photos show the body and interior in excellent condition with just a blemish or two, which is not surprising for the truck’s age and mileage. The $35,000 Buy-It-Now price looks like a good deal compared to recent in-person auction results.

The owner says:

The truck runs very well with no issues. The engine does not smoke, runs cool, and pulls like an ox.

That’s exactly how we remember the Syclone back in the day. Stab the gas pedal, wait a second for the turbo to spool, and hang on.