By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
Pickup trucks and SUVs have always been the work horses of the automotive world. Getting the most cargo and the most passengers from point A to point B was the main emphasis when the SUV segment exploded in the early 1990s.
Before GMC referred to itself as “professional grade,” the company existed only as slightly rebadged Chevrolet trucks, SUVs and vans. To become a more distinguishable company, GMC looked to create its own segment of vehicle and from 1991 through 1993 GMC created two performance vehicles that could compete with the most iconic sports cars.
With the introduction of the Syclone in 1991 and the Typhoon in 1992, GMC transformed its smallest vehicles into quick and nimble performance trucks. The one-two punch of the Typhoon and Syclone could accelerate like a Corvette and handle a road course like a Ferrari. The combination of pavement-shredding acceleration and curve-hugging handling made the duo an instant success for GMC and 15 years later they continue to be highly sought after.
The predecessor to the Syclone was the 1990 Chevrolet 454SS. This full-size pickup came equipped with the 454 cubic inch engine and its blacked-out paint job was accentuated by red Chevrolet emblems as well as the “”454SS” emblems which the truck proudly wore on the rear flanks of the cargo bed. The problem with the 454SS is the fact that the truck weighed too much and the 454 only put out a meager 255 horsepower.
With no specific market and no true competition, GMC did a little tinkering to its Sonoma pickup and ended up with the 1991 GMC Syclone. The Syclone’s turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 was rated at 280 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. Throw in an all-wheel drive system and a sport-tuned suspension and this was more than enough to propel the 3,500 pound compact pickup truck of 0-60 MPH times in less than five seconds and the ability to run a quarter mile in the low 13-second range bone stock. A modified Syclone became the World’s Fastest Truck in 1991 and held the land-speed record for a solid decade at 204 MPH.
In addition to continuing the blacked-out paint scheme of the 454SS, the Syclone sat lower than a stock GMC Sonoma while ground effects and a rear roll pan were added to give a very aggressive stance. Wide, 16-inch, Syclone-specific, six-spoke aluminum wheels were used to give the Syclone a bigger footprint to ensure that as much power could hit the asphalt as possible. The same wheels were later used on the Typhoon, too.
The Syclone was primarily produced for the 1991 model year. Only three 1992 models were ever built for a combined total of fewer than 3,000 Syclones ever reaching production. A limited number of knock-off Syclones, called the Sonoma GT, were produced for the 1992 model year. The Sonoma GT had the same general appearance as a Syclone but was rear-wheel drive and had a naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V6.
After the Syclone was axed, GMC did the same tinkering on the Jimmy, which was a Sonoma-based, two-door SUV. The Typhoon had very similar performance to the Syclone but an additional 300 pounds worth of steel proved to be enough to make the pickup a little faster than the SUV. The Typhoon ran 0-60 MPH 5.3 seconds and finished a quarter-mile run in just a tick over 14 seconds. Full leather, embroidered interiors gave this road rocket a touch of luxurious comfort.
Fewer than 5,000 Typhoons were produced during the 1992 and 1993 model years. Unlike the Syclone, the GMC Typhoon came in a variety of colors – Black and Frost White were available both years; Aspen Blue, Teal and Red were available only in 1992; Apple Red, Garnet Red, Forest Green Metallic and Royal Blue Metallic were available only in 1993.
The Syclone and Typhoon started a trend that continues to be popular. In 1993, Ford joined in the truck fun by introducing the legendary Lightning and more recently DaimlerChrysler has created a similar duo in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 and the Dodge Ram SRT-10.