Re: GM Semis
 

It looks like a demo, instruction session, or management stepping in. I say that because the guy with controls in bell bottoms seems to be stepping in on the two regulars wearing overalls, one standing back with hands in pockets

Re: GM Semis
 

During much of the 80's the Brigadier was the best selling short conventional in the U.S., beating the Ford LN, International S2400, and Mack U series. Large national fleets had a lot to do with this, the Brigadier was very popular with Yellow, Ryder, ABF, and others. A GM engineer once told me the Brigadier with an L10 Cummins and 9 speed Fuller had the lowest cost-of-ownership of any class 8 tractor at the time, and that just happened to be Yellow's typical spec.. When GM merged their heavy truck line with Volvo/White the Brigadier stayed in production at Pontiac West until 1990, only change was a 'WhiteGMC' emblem replacing the 'GMC' one on the hood.

Re: GM Semis
 

Great info, and I believe it by recalling seeing so many the Brigadiers on the hiways back then. Ryder was one, but car carrier fleets were mostly Brigadiers, too. What I don't recall is ever seeing (noticing) one with the White-Volvo marque. I found one picture that showed the emblem up front, but it was too small to post.

This seems to be a fleet from way down south, or that's an equivalent to a DOT number. I see some are Volvos. Super Brigadiers

Re: GM Semis
 

We had a few White/GMC Brigadier tractors in the Car Carrier Division of Ryder. They had a blue logo on the front.

Re: GM Semis
 

I also remember those days as being the end of the Detroit. Some where around the time Volvo/White bought them out, they were down to just one available and soon after that one was gone too. Although now that I think of it, that may had been in California at the time (don't have any books that new to prove it, lol). Anyway, Detroit kept making them though and I believe the Military was their best customer. They knew the value of a great engine and were not pinned down to the EPA regulations.

By the way, I sure hated to see GM sell out back then. I had just ordered a Parts Catalog and got a phone call telling me that they were no longer available from them and to contact Volvo/White for it. I never bothered. Also hated that "White/GMC" emblem that I well remember.

Re: GM Semis
 

When we had the White/GMC units, they were all 6V92s. Not the most powerful engine but very smooth. You never had to worry about your mirrors vibrating when you were backing up. As they got older, they had an addiction to oil. They had a tank under the hood to keep a spare gallon of oil. It had a valve that you open to drain it into the crankcase.

Re: GM Semis
 

They weren't leakers, that was the automatic Oil Changer, lol.

Kept the oil nice and fresh.

Reminds me of a Flat Bed Trailer I saw once from Canada. The Headboard was a secondary Fuel Tank. When the truck needed re-fueling, he just hitched up the hoses, opened the valve and filled up.

Re: GM Semis
 

Maybe I can waive my magic wand and get you a new '81 Brigadier.

Re: GM Semis
 

Saw quite a few 8000 series Brigadiers with 3208 Caterpillars in them but most were pre-1980 models. In 1980 GM released the first TopKick/Kodiak trucks, basically beefed up versions of the C series mediums with high mounted cabs offering the 3208 as well. The TopKick/Kodiak was priced a bit under the Brigadier 8000 and could be spec'ed almost identically.

I think the later Brigadiers were about the last trucks built in any numbers that had the 2 stroke Detroit in them (6-71T and 6V-92). Saw a few with Detroit 60's in them as well.

Re: GM Semis
 

I used to deliver to Bean and Conquest. Last of the downtown dealerships in Bangor.
We didn't have any Series 60 Detroits in the Brigadiers, they came in the next gen Volvo GMCs. Not saying they weren't in the Brigadiers, we didn't have any. I had a Bruin for a few years. Being a Chevy guy, I thought it was cool having the last of the big ones.

Re: GM Semis
 

Heavy wreckers

The red one is/was from Baltimore, MD. Ted's is probably the biggest heavy recovery outfit in the Baltimore area

Re: GM Semis
 

Seeing 3406's in any GM truck was rare, even though they were available in the Brig., Astro 95, and General.

Re: GM Semis
 

I drove an 81 like this for a couple of years. It had a 3208 Cat with a 10 speed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...cbrigadier.jpg

Re: GM Semis
 

Fb grab

Re: GM Semis
 

Cool deal there. I like how it is set up. Here's one I have saved.

Re: GM Semis
 

Merc sleeper too

Re: GM Semis
 

Another FB

Re: GM Semis
 

It must have been fun trying to lift that nose to check the oil.

Re: GM Semis
 

You're not kidding.

When I drove my 9500 Short Nose with the Fiberglass Tilt, it was like nothing to open it. But when I went to Salem, VA to check out the '72 Long Nose that I took pictures of that got posted on here, I sure got a surprise. Dang thing was heavy.

Re: GM Semis
 

Fb grabs

Re: GM Semis
 

Here is a 71 GMC at auction in NE.
I think it has a 2 cycle Detroit in it. There is a video of it running in the listing.
https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/1971GMC...TATruckTractor

Re: GM Semis
 

Bekins Moving and Storage was big in the Los Angeles area. In later years, they had a lot of '73-'89 6500 series single axle gas tractors pulling vans around.

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It's ether a 6 or 8v92 Detroit. Wish I had a reason to throw money at it. And the money.

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I bet it won't bring a lot.
The shipping would be a killer to MA!

Greg

Re: GM Semis
 

And I bet I'd end up in divorce court!