EARLY DEVELOPMENT
Before the production of the GMC Syclone and Typhoon, several prototypes and concepts were created for testing components and fitting parts. Many of these early trucks were existing S-series trucks that GM and PAS had converted. As a result, most prototypes and concepts do not fall within the production years of the SyTys and retain their original production VINs and platform model insignia. Below is a list of known prototypes.
GMC SYCLONE PROTOTYPES & CONCEPTS
1989 GMC Syclone Concept Trucks
1990 4.3SS Chevy Syclone Prototype
1989 S15 Lil' Red Truck Concept
During the Syclone's development, there was a debate to introduce it as an S10 version. Chevy wanted it while GMC refused it since GMC was responsible for the concept and platform. Before the idea was completely squashed, the development team assembled a S15 complete with custom 16" steel wheels with correct offsets to accommodate the Safari AWD driveline. They installed a full Syclone drivetrain. The truck had a bench seat, manual windows, and a column shift. The last known whereabouts of this truck was in VA in 1999 with around 222k miles.
Chuck Mountain's Personal Truck. 3.8 liter engine and special hard tonneau cover custom made by Leer Corp. Stolen, recovered and then scrapped in 1992.
1991-92 GMC Syclone Pilot Truck - Owned by Chuck Mountain, Sold on BAT 7/28/2022
Prototype #003 - Totaled into a wall on 696 Highway
Prototype #008 - Pre-production Syclone owned by the now late Mike Poccobello. Used on his horse farm as a work truck and had a production appearance. Sold privately in 2002.
Prototype #009 - Codename Old #9, Sierra Classic s10, grey with no cladding. N/A 4.3L CPI with column shifter. AWD with Sy rims.
Prototype #010 - Totaled into a wall on 696 Highway
Prototype #015 - Syclone Engineering Truck
Prototype #018 - Code name: "Queen Bee". Production appearance. #1 Full Production Syclone, Charcoal with Black Cladding. Used in all Dimensional work, suspension work/testing, and to fit all prototype parts. Never left the block, only driven around GM grounds.
Prototype #019 - GMC Syclone magazine test truck. Maintained by Jim Stokes. Had a fiberglass air duct and fiberglass cladding.
Prototype #020 - GMC Syclone Marketing Show Truck. Later converted to one of the Syclone Challenge Trucks
Buick S10 "Syclone" - Built by Buick engineer Mike Christiansen. Was NOT officially part of the Syclone program.
1992 GMC SYCLONE TRUCKS
1992 Pre-production GMC Syclone #4855 - Originally white/gray, repainted red/red by PAS executive. Privately owned, located in Ohio.
1992 Pre-production GMC Syclone #113 - Black/Gray. Privately owned, located in South Carolina.
1992 GMC Syclone #0001
Used for DOT Crash Testing. Truck has a production 1992 VIN. Located in New York (junkyard). Purchased by Maldaver for $600 when PAS closed. Never Registered. No VIN # stamped on the frame.
GMC SONOMA GT PROTOTYPES
1991 GMC Sonoma GT Prototype
1992 GMC Sonoma GT Extended Cab 4x4
1992 GMC Sonoma GTX Sportside Concept
GMC TYPHOON PROTOTYPES & CONCEPTS
1991 GMC Typhoon Aspen Prototype
1991 GMC Typhoon (T4 / Prototype #4)
Black/Black, Slider Rear Windows, Syclone Seats - 1GKCT18Z3M0521219. Listed for sale on Mecum 2019
1991 GMC Typhoon "Shamu" - Black/White, 1GKCT18Z7M0521319
1991 GMC 4-door Typhoon (Blue-Purple)
Listed on Ebay, 2016 - “Buy it Now” price of $8,995. Black Firewall. Drivetrain test mule, 92 Ty seats with no embroidery. Production Automotive Services (PAS) used what started off in life as a run-of-the-mill GMC Jimmy 4-door as a rolling test bed to develop the the drivetrain, electronics and streetabilty of the production vehicles. It served double duty as a way to show the bean counters, corporate execs and so on, what could be a potential Oldsmobile or Caddy version, utilizing the 4-doors and possibly implementing it with their respective marques styling quest.
1992 GMC Typhoon Pilot Truck 1GDCT18Z7N050009
1992 GMC Typhoon Pilot Truck 1GDCT18Z3N050010
1992 GMC Typhoon Pilot Truck 1GDCT18Z5N050010 - Owned by Chuck Mountain of PAS. Currently located in FL
1992 Chevy Typhoon - Full typhoon pkg, with Corvette center caps. Used to market test the Typhoon pkg in Europe where GMC had no license at the time.
1992 GMC 4-door Typhoon (Maroon)
1993 GMC Jimmy Z-84 Prototype - noted as "All Typhoon, no cladding" (94 Typhoon) 1GKCT18W4P0518422
PENDING TO DO / CLEANUP LIST
- The information below is uncategorized and may be incorrect!
Unknown Syclone. Wrecked in testing.
Pre-production Syclone. Production appearance. 1992 style mirrors. Sold privately in 2002.
Codename Queen Bee. #1 Full Production Syclone, Charcoal with Black Cladding. Used in all Dimensional work, Suspension work/testing and to fit all prototype parts. Never Left the Block, only driven around GM grounds.
Concept Typhoon. The name "Typhoon" hadn't even been authored at the time of this drawing, so "Syclone" was used.
Typhoon Clay Model. All the fascias and cladding were made of clay. The front turn signals and fog/driving lamps were made from paper and just colored or rendered to appear real. Rear Spoiler and 1991 Syclone mirrors.
1991 Prototype Typhoon. No cladding, Jimmy interior.
All Prototype 4 door Typhoons
