GMC SYCLONE PILOT TRUCK #001
This excerpt was taken from Bring-A-Trailer auction site for the sale of the 1991-92 GMC Syclone Pilot Truck 001 :
This 1991-92 GMC Syclone Pilot Truck #001 was reportedly sent to PAS, Inc. when new and remained in the company’s possession until Chuck Mountain, former PAS president purchased it in January 1994.
A turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 sends power to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The truck is finished in black over black velour upholstery, and additional equipment includes a limited-slip rear differential, 16″ alloy wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, a tonneau cover, and a Delco cassette stereo. This Syclone pickup is now offered on dealer consignment in Massachusetts with PAS correspondence, audio and video tapes, Syclone memorabilia, Syclone clothing accessories, manufacturer’s literature, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Florida title in the name of the late owner’s spouse.
The truck is finished in black with a color-coordinated Syclone aerodynamic package, and features include red badging, integrated front fog lights, a tonneau cover, and dual exhaust outlets. The selling dealer notes evidence of paintwork on the hood, including traces of red paint on the underside.
Six-spoke 16″ aluminum wheels feature GMC-branded center caps and are wrapped with 245/50 BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 tires. The truck is equipped with power steering, a sport-tuned suspension, and front disc brakes with ABS.
The cabin features manually adjustable bucket seats covered in black velour with red piping and embroidered headrests. The carpeting is protected by Syclone-branded floor mats, and additional equipment includes cruise control, air conditioning, a Delco cassette stereo, and power windows and locks.
The leather-wrapped four-spoke steering wheel frames a 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer with an inset boost gauge, and auxiliary gauges. The six-digit odometer shows 18k miles. The turbocharged and intercooled 4.3-liter V6 was rated at 280 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque when new.
Power is sent to all four wheels through a four-speed 4L60 automatic transmission, a BorgWarner transfer case, and a limited-slip rear differential. Rust holes in the mufflers are depicted in the gallery below.
Documentation included with the truck includes a Car and Driver poster board, boxes of Betamax and VHS tapes from PAS, marketing videos, dealer videos, audio recordings, manuals, books, models, brochures, and articles. Paperwork concerning emission standards is also included along with floppy discs marked for ECU calibration and turbo mapping. Other documentation and correspondence between PAS, Inc. and GM addressing funding, marketing, and safety ratings are displayed in the gallery. Memorabilia including jackets, hats, pins, and other clothing will also accompany the truck.
The headliner fabric was reportedly replaced in preparation for the sale, and markings including “Syclone” and “Pilot” were photographed on the backing board. A number “1” decal is located in the driver-side door jamb, and the inside the fuel fill cap shows “P-01” as well as “P-1” and “S-1” decals.
The cowl VIN tag and the sticker on the inside of the left-rear door pillar indicate VIN 1GDCT14Z8M8530111, which corresponds with a 1991 GMC and is the number listed on the current Florida title. The “Camper Loading Information” sticker on the rear of the driver’s door shows VIN 1GTDT14Z2N8500001, which corresponds with a 1992 GMC.
The Carfax report for VIN 1GDCT14Z8M8530111 shows no accidents or other damage and lists one entry in Florida in 2021. A Carfax report for VIN 1GTDT14Z2N8500001 is provided in the gallery and shows one entry in Massachusetts in April 2022.
FROM THE SELLER:
Hello to all and we are happy to have our 1991 GMC Syclone live and for sale at No-reserve! Throughout the week we will be providing history about this particular truck and owner in the comment section, so keep an eye on it.
We would like to start out with addressing the history of the owner of the 111th GMC Syclone built. This particular truck was owned by Charles “Chuck” Mountain, the President of PAS Inc. during the construction of the GMC Syclone and Typhoon.
From the very beginning, Charles life was steeped in the automotive world. After receiving a degree in Industrial Engineering, Charles would go on to work at Ford’s Scientific Lab and Research Group in the early 1960s, focusing on vehicle dynamics and suspension.
After finding success with Ford, Charles was nominated to move to Italy and handle the Ford-Ferrari merger once Ford purchased Ferrari, but as we all know, that didn’t happen. When plans fell through, Charles took over the GT program and began working with the Ford Design Center and Lola, commuting overseas. Between Charles and Ed Hull, they would generate the basic Ford GT design from Eric Broadleys GT-6 car.
With Charles heavy involvement with the GT program, he was asked to bring together a group of engineers, designers and technicians to start the Kar-Kraft operation, developing the GT 40 into a much more advanced race car, including the Mk II and Mk IV. Kar-Kraft would go on to design a multitude of other racing and prototype cars along with the Boss Mustang, the Mickey Thompson Bonneville Challenger and the Cyclone and Torino prototypes.
After Kar-Kraft closed its doors in 1970, Charles would continue to build prototype vehicles for Ford and GM until 1989 when he became the President of PAS Inc. PAS Inc. would oversee the design and production of the GMC Syclone and Typhoon in Shreveport, LA. (TBC)
This particular Syclone is chassis 1GDCT14Z8M8530111, is the 111th truck built in 1991 and the Pilot truck for the 1992 Syclone that was never built. Charles is the original owner of the truck, with the title only passing hands to his widow in the past year.
Truck 111 was sold to Charles from PAS Inc. (by Charles Mountain) for $4,476.00 on January 7th, 1994 when PAS Inc. no longer had the contract for the Syclone or Typhoon (Original Bill of Sale is included and shown in the photos).
When inspecting the car closely, we find multiple signs of it being the Pilot truck as indicated with the #1 on the door jamb, P1 and S1 on the fill cap, Syclone in wax marker on the firewall and the word Pilot on the underside of the headliner (a new one was recently installed in our shop).
Included in the sale is a plethora of information pertaining to PAS Inc., GM, marketing, distribution, sales and statistics on the truck. Documents that show the opening of the Shreveport plant and communications with GM about operations. European distribution documents that outline the potential European market for the Syclone and Typhoon.
A binder full of advertisements, articles and photos. Safety tests, emission standards, sales numbers and quotas, sales analysis and many confidential documents that have never seen the public eye. In the photo file that was passed along you will see the enormous amount of Betamax, VHS and sound reels that recorded sales, marketing and distribution videos. Production videos inside the Shreveport plant are also included. Original floppy discs with the Turbo files and Calibration files along with chips and readers.
Additional jackets, hats, shirts, pins and thank you notes to customers have been retained. Three manuals, one in its original plastic binding, original decals and the original poster from Car and Driver that featured a truck on the cover for the first time ever.
