Current Chevy/GMC Ads- No love to the 73-87 trucks

[Zoomad75]

Anybody else notice this. I'm watching the Rockies game (go ROX BTW!) and they have shown the latest chevy truck commercial a couple times already. you know the one with the fly on the wall view with engineers putting together various generations of Chevy trucks. GMC's got something similar with the different generations of trucks running through a brick wall.

Funny thing is they skipped over the 73-87 trucks. Skipping from 67-72 to the 88-99's in both of them.

My question is what gives? I love all generations of GM trucks, but am partial the 73-87 trucks. That generation certainly isn't lacking for any significance. The design was good enough to keep them competitive for 18 years (when you include the 88-91 1 tons/subs/k5's). They were the first for fuel injection in the history of GM trucks. There's plenty of other milestones.

Anybody else notice this oversight? I know you can only jam so many images into a 30-45 sec spot, but you know nobody on the ad team knows one truck from another. It just seems silly to miss an entire generation (18 years) worth of trucks.

Just an observation....

[Rc 415]

Yeah I was disappointed that they skipped the square body's too

[BaddBusa2005]

i have noticed that in alot of the gm truck adds. bastards....

EDIT, and i think the newer gm truck definately resemble the box style more than any generation....

[Pyrotechnic]

I think they looked back on the 67-72 design for the 88-98 trucks. Noticed the body lines, and how a 88-98 stepside bed matches up with the lower cab of a 67-72 almost perfectly ? Look at the hood profile on the 99-02 trucks, you will see some resemblance to the 67-72 trucks. Infact, the 99-02 trucks remind me of 67-72's very much.

I thought the same thing about the GMT900 trucks. They might just be the next 73-87. Lets put it this way, it certainly isn't pulling much from the 67-72 design like the other trucks. The grill and headlights bring to mind the 81-87 trucks.

[Zoomad75]

I read somewhere some GM press release that stated they were actually using the 73-87 as design insperation for the new trucks. The grill and squared off wheel openings were main features they were looking at. So if it's a design focus, why leave it out?

Truck advertising is nutty to begin with.

[87 STEPPER]

Yeah i noticed that the first time i saw the commercial and i was gonna post the subject here but iv'e been outta town and away from a puter and by that time i forgot about it.

But Yeah i think GM has blown off alot of people that own thies trucks 73-87 and if thay want them to buy a new Chevy truck this is not the way to go about it.

[old Rusty C10]

yeah i was a little miffed about that i figured it had to do with the impact controcersery they were trying to distance themselves from but i love the other one they show with the different generations of the trucks when they close the tailgate of the one truck starts in like the thirties and goes to present there was a gorgeous 50 something in a light blue and the gold chevy 67-72
but in actuality i like the one where they honor Cal Ripken too not exactly hawking chevy trucks but i do think Cal is a great pitcher and perhaps one of the best athlete role models for our kids especially in recent memory

[ChaseDale3and8]

Might as well face it guys. We are the ugly redheaded stepchild of GM trucks no matter how good our trucks are or how long GM made them. I have to think that the bad rap GM got over the side saddle tanks has something to do with our trucks being left out of the new GM ads.

GM wishes that they had never made this generation of truck now and it seems that they don't even want to acknowledge that it even existed by the way their new ads are. You can definately see that they kind of retroed the 80's in the new body style though. Bet they wouldn't even admit that's where the inspiration for the new body style comes from if you asked them though. ...Joe

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

... but i do think Cal is a great pitcher and perhaps one of the best athlete role models for our kids especially in recent memory

By pitcher do you mean "pitch man" for the company? If not wasn't he a shortstop or second baseman?

Back on topic.
I saw that the other day.
I pointed it out to my girlfriend.
I could tell she was just as concerned as I was by the way she went back to her People magazine without even acknowledging I said anything...

[Pyrotechnic]

Maybe they don't want people to make that connection, that the newer trucks were inspired by the 73-87's ? The design is definitely inspired, but not directly throw back retro like a new camaro is.

Then again, the 73-87 really seemed to be a leap of faith as far as style. When it came out in 73, it was so different than the previous generation. It wasn't based on any heritage in GM styling, but somehow it just worked. Might be that the design was so unique to the 70's and 80's.

I somehow have a feeling that the GMT900 trucks aren't going to have a 14 year run though.

[Zoomad75]

Might as well face it guys. We are the ugly redheaded stepchild of GM trucks no matter how good our trucks are or how long GM made them. I have to think that the bad rap GM got over the side saddle tanks has something to do with our trucks being left out of the new GM ads.

That was looming in the back of my mind. Sad part is, most of the controversy on the tanks were overhyped from Dateline NBC setting explosives off to get the desired effect they wanted for TV. I still won't watch that show because of it.

GM is probably too spooked to show any images of that genereation for fear of stirring that pot up again.

[Malo83]

Oh The Drama!!! yeah but look at all the trucks that you see on TV, Rockford Files, 10 mil $ man etc. and all the current Classic Truck mags are showing more and more of them

[ChaseDale3and8]

The new truck has the stacked headlight and wide center bar grille that makes you think 85-87 when you look at it though. At least that's what I immidiately think when I look at them. I really like the front end of them a lot because of this. However if you run up on one from the rear, they resemble 2002 and up Dodge if you ask me. Just take a good look at the tail lights next time you pull up behind one. ...Joe

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

That was looming in the back of my mind. Sad part is, most of the controversy on the tanks were overhyped from Dateline NBC setting explosives off to get the desired effect they wanted for TV. I still won't watch that show because of it.

GM is probably too spooked to show any images of that genereation for fear of stirring that pot up again.

That's exactly what I think too! ...Joe

[ChaseDale3and8]

Originally Posted by Malo83

Oh The Drama!!! yeah but look at all the trucks that you see on TV, Rockford Files, 10 mil $ man etc. and all the current Classic Truck mags are showing more and more of them

Drama???What drama??? LOL Just doesnt feel good being left sitting on the bench while the other trucks get to play! ...Joe

[BLE 'BURBAN]

It's my belief that NBC was responible for the creation of the ads and that the only footage of the '73-'87 model trucks they had WAS OF THEM LAUNCHING ROCKETS INTO THE SADDLE TANKS before an accident!!!!

[Malo83]

Oh I don't know, it looks like they are getting more and more popular than ever compared to all the newer Cookie cutter trucks that are out there now

[Zoomad75]

What sucks is once you put that image out there of a truck blowing up, it's tough to take that image back. I know GM beat up NBC over it, but it can't take that back.

Kind of like the Suzuki Samarui and Consumer Reports. Sure Suzuki won the court battle a couple of years back, but it don't make up for what damage it did to Suzuki's image.

[ChaseDale3and8]

The really sad thing about it is that GM originally moved the tanks to outside the framerails for safety reasons. They felt that it was a much safer place for the gas tank, rather than in the cab with the occupants which I can't argue with.

It is ironic that it came back to bite them many years later, after the trucks were already out of production. I don't think that GM wants to open that can of worms again, therefore they just leave our trucks out of the new truck ads like they never existed....Joe

[wedgemon]

I noticed this on several ads. But, I don't purchase things based on commercials. I resent anybody taking 30 seconds and trying to separate me from my limited money.

Viva La Square Body!!

- Dave

[old Rusty C10]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

By pitcher do you mean "pitch man" for the company? If not wasn't he a shortstop or second baseman?

Back on topic.
I saw that the other day.
I pointed it out to my girlfriend.
I could tell she was just as concerned as I was by the way she went back to her People magazine without even acknowledging I said anything...

mea culpa youre right he was an infielder im getting senile at 42

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by wedgemon

I noticed this on several ads. But, I don't purchase things based on commercials. I resent anybody taking 30 seconds and trying to separate me from my limited money.

Viva La Square Body!!

- Dave

Excellent point. I don't buy based on just ads either. But seeing Square bodies in current advertising is a validation to show our trucks are gaining in popularity. Last one that I know of is when they used a red/white mid 80's k5 parked near the beach. That was a 2 second blip on a 30 second spot, but most of us here noticed it.

I guess to see square bodies on my TV I'm going to have to wait for 80's tv shows to start coming out on DVD. Fall Guy and CHiPs were two that had killer trucks on them.

[KMK454]

I saw this right away and was pretty mad that they left out the best generation... ha. Once again those played out 67-72s get the love but nobody cares about the 73 - 87. I think I'll write them and send pics of some trucks from the forum and tell them to contact us and use the square bodies in the next ad!!!

[bobbo]

Just face it guys, we are the best kept secret of GM! They are afraid to show our style trucks because they are gaining in popularity. 73-87 RULES! Seriously, I did notice that as well and commented to my wife about it. The gas tank thing was all I could come up with as well for them not including it. We should petition them to remake the commercial and include all of our trucks on there!

[Restrorob]

I think these new trucks are ugly as sin and WAAAY over priced !!!

I'd be willing to bet 20/30 years from now there will be more 73/87's still on the road than these new tin/plastic crap trucks.

73/87's FOREVER......