How early were the 73 Trucks built?

[esbstuff]

I ran across a 9/72 build date 1973 truck the other day and it got me thinking....

When was the first 73 built? 9/?? would be normal for today, but for the 73 model year was that early?

Thanks in advance, Eric

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by esbstuff

I ran across a 9/72 build date 1973 truck the other day and it got me thinking....

When was the first 73 built? 9/?? would be normal for today, but for the 73 model year was that early?

Thanks in advance, Eric

Sounds like a question for Keith Seymore.

But I would say that is normal, the builds always start just a few months before the model year.

[cadillac_al]

I always thought the new vehicles came out in September, probably built in August or earlier.

[Keith Seymore]

I don't recall anything unusual for the '73 model year.

That would place it as stated above, with changeover/early builds in the August timeframe and system fill for start of regular production in early September.

K

[Hiluxxulih]

I don't know about GM trucks but I had an 86 toyota 4x4 pickup and an 85 toyota 4x4 pickup and the 86 toyota was made a few months before my 85 was .

[S10Fan]

I miss going to the dealerships in September and seeing the "new" cars and trucks. My Dad, brother and I would walk around looking for the differences from the previous year's models. Sad to say, but it's hard these days to tell them apart much less know the model year.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Hiluxxulih

I don't know about GM trucks but I had an 86 toyota 4x4 pickup and an 85 toyota 4x4 pickup and the 86 toyota was made a few months before my 85 was .

Entirely possible.

Usually there is a "lead" plant (the "home" plant) that starts the changeover process early. The learnings from that changeover are fed into the other plants via the launch team, as they travel from plant to plant.

At one time there were 7 vehicle assembly plants building C/K trucks so you can imagine that launch process might take a while.

K

[RandyP]

Keith, I recall the GMT400's (4th Gen) came out in like April of '87 which cut short the production run of the '87 R/V series 1/2 tons. That has always stuck in my head, GM popping out the new body style so early in the year.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Keith, I recall the GMT400's (4th Gen) came out in like April of '87 which cut short the production run of the '87 R/V series 1/2 tons. That has always stuck in my head, GM popping out the new body style so early in the year.

Yes - the program team gets to decide that.

When we introduced the 2002 Cadillac Escalade we did so on January 2nd, 2001 (very early introduction).

The only legal/regulatory requirement was that we couldn't have two January firsts in the same model year (hence the Jan 2nd intro).

K

[Dannyboy1966]

My dad bought the 1973 one ton camper special with the fat fenders on it, he ordered it in October, and all he had to see were artist concept drawings. They didn't even start them on the line till February of 1973, he got his finally the 15th of March. He drove that truck forever, through 3 engines, and a transmission overhaul. Finally traded it in 1989 just before they changed the body style, and finally sold that one in 2003.

[KQQL IT]

Typically August, always a long month for transporters.

[nekkidhillbilly]

hell ford started the 97 f150 in late 95

[Matt Man]

My dad just bought a 2017 impala, it has a build date of 06/16.

[special-K]

Typical was start building in August for September sales, but typical is seeming more a thing of the past these days.

From what I had gathered, the deal with the Fords coming out early, was GM had the first year exclusive on the opening doors on an extended cab for a year...'96, right? So Ford just put them out calling the trucks '97s. My buddy Randy Ridgely was one of those cowboys doing the Chinese fire drill in the first GM ad for the opening doors

[nekkidhillbilly]

im not sure I remember it was only one door that opened for a few years. idk what year both opened. I think though it was that and the mpfi intakes so ford he we got our 97.