1998 T-Series

[Bob B.]

Yes, came out in 1997 and were built at Janesville. Good trucks, the first couple of years they were available with 6.0L TBI gas V-8's or Caterpillar 3116's, in 1999 the gas engine option was dropped and the HEUI equipped 3126 diesels became an option. The tandem axle 8500 was new, tandems were never offered on the predecessor Forward/Tiltmaster Isuzu built trucks. Also offered tractor equipment in both single and tandem configurations.

Story was Truck And Bus had wanted to build a cabover companion to the GMT-530 TopKick and Kodiak in 1990 to replace the larger Isuzu cabovers, but couldn't justify the expense. Using the new Isuzu cab on a modified GMT-530 chassis was viable, so the T series made it into production for the '97 MY. What was interesting was that the cabover 530 truck also replaced the imported Isuzu F series mediums sold by Isuzu truck dealers in the U.S.. The 1997 F series used the Isuzu cab on a 530 chassis just like the GM T series, but came with an Isuzu 6 cylinder diesel. In turn the Isuzu 6 cylinder diesels became optional in the GM T-series and the later GMT-560 TopKick and Kodiak.