The GMC T-Series was the North American name for the Isuzu Forward, sold with GMC and Chevrolet badges from 1998 until 2009. The trucks were cab-over medium-duty models, and the four-digit number after the T showed the weight rating.
GMC T-Series at a glance
| Type | medium-duty cab-over truck |
|---|---|
| Sold as | GMC T-Series and Chevrolet T-Series |
| Original model | Isuzu Forward, fourth generation |
| Years in North America | 1998-2009 |
| Models | T6500, T7500 and T8500 |
| Naming | the number gives the weight rating |
| Cab | cab-over, built complete at the factory |
| Engines | Isuzu 6HH1 8.2 L and 6HK1-TC 7.8 L |
| Gearbox | six-speed manual or Smoother F automatic |
| Isuzu Forward since | 1970 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Isuzu Forward. The photograph shows an Isuzu-badged Forward, the same truck GMC sold as the T-Series.
History of the GMC T-Series
The Isuzu Forward
The Isuzu Forward, also known as the F-Series, is a line of medium-to-heavy commercial vehicles that Isuzu has built since 1970, following the earlier TY model in the same market slot. All F-series trucks are cab-over designs with a cab delivered complete from the factory, and most use diesel engines, though some markets get compressed natural gas versions. The range comes with a variety of cab styles, engines and two- or four-wheel drive depending on the market, and while Isuzu’s main plant is in Japan the trucks are locally assembled from CKD kits in many countries.
The fourth generation
The fourth-generation Forward was released in February 1994 with single-overhead-camshaft engines, starting with the naturally aspirated or turbocharged 6HE1 until 1999 and then moving to the 8.2-litre 6HH1 and the 7.8-litre 6HK1-TC, the latter shared with the American-developed Isuzu H-series. Those engines were mated to a six-speed manual or Isuzu’s Smoother F automatic gearbox, with Power Shift and hill-start assist as standard and ABS and ASR optional. For the Chilean and Peruvian markets the trucks were shipped from Japan as CKD kits to Huechuraba in Chile, where a team of 13 workers could assemble up to two a day.
The North American T-Series
Beginning in 1998 this generation of the Forward was sold in the United States and Canada with Chevrolet and GMC badging. They were called the T-series, followed by a four-digit number indicating the weight rating, and the models included the T6500, T7500 and T8500. The range received an updated 6H engine in 2008, and sales of the model ended in 2009. Confusingly, the smaller Isuzu Elf, the N-series, has also been sold as the GMC Forward in the United States and other markets, so the two Isuzu families have appeared under similar GMC names.
Design and features
- Cab-over layout: a flat-fronted medium-duty truck with the cab above the engine.
- Isuzu engineering: the same truck Isuzu sold worldwide as the Forward.
- Weight-rated names: T6500, T7500 and T8500, with the number showing the rating.
- Two gearboxes: a six-speed manual or the Smoother F automatic.
- Two badges: sold by both Chevrolet and GMC dealers in North America.
GMC T-Series versions
- T6500: the lightest of the three North American models.
- T7500: the mid-range model.
- T8500: the heaviest of the range.
- Chevrolet T-Series: the same trucks sold through Chevrolet dealers.
- GMC Forward: the separate, smaller Isuzu Elf-based truck sold under a similar name.
The T-Series was the heavier relative of the GMC W-Series, and it sat below the GMC TopKick in the medium-duty range. More trucks are in the GMC collection.
Sources
- Isuzu Forward, English Wikipedia: Forward history, fourth generation, North American T-Series
