GMC Syclone


The GMC Syclone is a high-performance version of the GMC Sonoma pickup truck. Produced in 1991 by GMC, the Syclone spawned the similarly powered 1992-1993 GMC Typhoon SUV. Another vehicle, the GMC Sonoma GT, offered less performance but was seen as a companion model.

Product run

At the time it was introduced, the Syclone was the quickest stock pickup truck being produced in the world. Auto magazines compared its acceleration favorably to a variety of sports cars including the Corvette and - in a memorable comparison test in Car and Driver magazine - a Ferrari. It features a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine, all wheel drive and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes.
Both the Syclone and Typhoon trucks feature a Mitsubishi TD06-17C 8 cm² turbocharger and Garrett water/air intercooler attached to a 4.3 L LB4 V6 engine with unique pistons, main caps, head gaskets, intake manifolds, fuel system, exhaust manifolds, and a 48mm twin bore throttle body from the 5.7 L GM Small-Block engine. All Syclones and Typhoons had a 4L60 4-speed automatic transmission. A BorgWarner all wheel drive transfer case splits torque with 35% forward and 65% to the rear wheels. Both trucks featured sport modifications to the standard suspensions. The Syclone was the first production truck to receive a 4-wheel anti-lock braking system. With this engine, the Syclone produces and of torque. The Syclone, when new, was capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and could do a quarter-mile run in 13.4 seconds at according to Car & Driver's comparison test.
In 1991 Syclones were only available in black. 1992 models were to be offered in a wider range of colors before they were canceled. Two thousand, nine hundred and ninety-five Syclones were built in 1991, and three in 1992. One hundred and thirteen were reported as Export Sales including a subset now referred to as the Saudi Syclones — a small number were delivered to Saudi Arabia and modified with a metric dash cluster, leaded fuel chip, and a resonator in place of the catalytic converter.
The Syclone, Typhoon, and Sonoma GT were built for GMC by Production Automotive Services of Troy, Michigan, and sold through dealerships.
The Syclone and Typhoon's gauge cluster is the one used in the Pontiac Sunbird Turbo, which was discontinued in 1990, one year before the Syclone was introduced.
In 2009, a poor-condition GMC Syclone was scrapped under the Car Allowance Rebate System, despite being highly collectible, although it was saved by a group of auto enthusiasts.

Special editions

There were two special-edition 1991 Syclones offered by third parties:

Marlboro Syclone

The special-edition Marlboro Syclone was the grand prize for the ten winners of The Marlboro Racing ‘92 Contest. All ten trucks were provided to American Sunroof Company, by Shinoda Design Associates, Inc., in conjunction with Phillip Morris, Inc. With the help of Larry Shinoda, designer of the Corvette Stingray and Boss Mustang, a transformation of the originally black Syclones took place.
Marlboro Syclone custom features include:
Three Indy Syclones were used at the Indianapolis 500 race on May 24, 1992 with the only modifications being a sticker package. One of these Indy trucks was converted into the PPG Syclone Pace Truck with significant modifications, including a multi-colored silver, magenta, and aqua paint scheme, and a molded in light bar in the roof, a racing fuel cell and fire system.