Ultra-Rare Prototype GMC Typhoon Surfaces for Sale on Hemmings
GMC’s Typhoon might have been the first performance SUV. This might be the oldest surviving example.
While not LS1 powered, or even V8 powered, the GMC Typhoon holds a special place in GM’s history. As one of the first – if not the first – performance SUVs, it paved the way for trucks like the Trailblazer SS, which was LS-powered.
The Typhoon was an SUV variant of the GMC Syclone, based off of the Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy, itself based off of the Chevrolet S10 and GMC S15. If you know your ’90s performance cars, you know that this was more than an appearance package.
With 280 turbocharged, rampaging horses on tap, the Typhoon was no slouch. Thanks to its all-wheel drive drivetrain, it could get the jump on most cars, and it had the juice to stay in front. Many an exotic piece of machinery drove away embarrassed after tangling with a Typhoon.
With just 4,697 produced in 1992 and 1993, the GMC Typhoon is a rare machine indeed. However, this example, found on Hemmings, is even rarer. That’s because this is a 1991 GMC Typhoon pre-production prototype. These prototypes were typically crushed after testing, but somehow, this one escaped its fate. Now, we can see the differences, big and small, between this truck and the production version.
According to the ad, it was built for GM by PAS, Production Automotive Services. This truck was used to test the fitment of the body cladding as well as emissions equipment. PAS also built the production trucks for GM. So, the truck features Syclone seats and a Syclone steering wheel. It also has Syclone floor mats that never made it to production. The rear seats and trim are cloth; production trucks had leather.
The most noticeable difference is the rear sliding windows, which were fixed on all production Typhoons. There are smaller differences, too, like the red GMC center caps. Production trucks used center caps with grey lettering instead.
Various markings denote this as the fourth Typhoon prototype. It may be the only one to survive. If you’d like to own this impressive piece of GM history, it can be yours for just under $30,000.
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