Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

As I'm sure many of you have already seen by now, over the last few months I've been collecting, organizing, and posting development and concept photos for several generations of GM pickup trucks. At this point, some of these threads are starting to get lost, so I thought it would be a good idea to start a master thread so everyone could more readily find all the individual threads. I will keep this thread up to date with any new posts that I make relevant to this topic. I hope you enjoy these threads!


Photo links to Development/Concept photos:


https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2852/3...84bd1ccb_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2898/3...01fe04d8_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2919/3...b2a2cbea_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3695/3...d2ede3e3_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2897/3...e78c0036_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2894/3...0bcee390_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3848/3...f62aae9f_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3710/3...a4fecb0b_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3948/3...0b71f90f_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3944/3...3585bf65_z.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2816/3...79f1b458_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3727/3...4390eb1e_z.jpg

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Interesting stuff, Thanks for posting it. I see a lot of things that I wish had made it into production, and others that I'm glad didn't.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

You're welcome! I really enjoyed putting all these together and I am glad I was able to share this on the forum.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

I like all the concept threads. Thanks!

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

The earlier pictures up to the 60-66 GMC look like production photos. Does anyone see anything different? I guess they are "final" concept pictures. The 60-66 GMC has the tube grille and I never saw that 2-tone scheme. They had the white above the crease in the bed. How about that Tempo? I guess a prototype of what became the LUV?

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

You are right, almost all of the Advanced Design and Task Force photos are production ready versions of the trucks. I sourced my photos from the same place I got all the 60-66 and 67-72 photos, and there just weren't that many development photos for the earlier trucks. Probably a combination of fewer concepts making it to mockup stage due to budgetary restrictions, and a lack of emphasis on photographic documentation.

There are, however, several slight variations that you can spot throughout that didn't make it to production. My favorites for the Advanced Design trucks are the proposed tailgate designs and the funky hood on the GMC.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/521/32...98334e1f_c.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/560/32...e65f2885_c.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2839/3...e8003ffa_c.jpg

For the Task Force trucks, I really liked the proposed GMC 100 Series Deluxe that had many subtle custom modifications.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/480/32...a8e8f19a_c.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/582/32...3e8e2196_c.jpg

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Do me a favor and never show that 73-87 Chevy pic again

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

What's wrong, you don't like the early '73 concept? It's a good thing GM didn't either!

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

That prototype bowtie tailgate got copied by the aftermarket decades later. Looks like those were changes considered later in the Advanced Design series, judging by the cars that came out after these trucks. That Task Master is pure perfection... absolutely gorgeous! Looks as good as or better than any car from one of the most stylish eras.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

I thought the same thing about that tailgate when I first saw it. I wondered if someone saw that concept and thought it would be a cool custom touch, or if it was a coincidence that it was so similar in design.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

It's definitely an iterative process.

K

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

the early '73 concept looks like the dodge boys hacked the concept. lol

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Bumping this back to the top since we've had quite a few new members since I last updated this. I tried to get this added as a sticky, but I guess it doesn't qualify. I can't think of any other way to keep this from getting buried and lost forever for those just casually browsing the boards and don't think to search for historical information like this.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

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Great thread, thanks!

.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Bump for new members.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

I was thinking the Ford boys... resembles a '67-'72 Fiord... scary...

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Have looked at these before but always interesting to do so again. Just now noticed the "Temp" concept has what appears to be the COPO Nova, Camaro, Chevelle hubcaps that were actually the el cheapo low end caps before they became so sought after. Hard to tell for sure but do look very much like them.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

I like the bow tie and the Chevrolet script on the AD concepts.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

x2

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Wow these are pretty awesome. I just spent some time reading through them.

I wonder what happened to all the grilles they were experimenting with? Some would be pretty cool to hang up as garage art lol.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Very cool.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

It's been a couple years since this master thread has been resurfaced. Just bringing it back up for those who haven't seen it yet.

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Don't remember looking at these before, and I haven't commented here yet, so...there are some really cool features, and some revolting, but there you go. I'm loving some of the early iron, a lot. Thanks for posting it!

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

:chevy:

Re: Development/Concept Photos Master Thread
 

Very cool. Thanks for posting this.
Seeing the old Fords in some of the pics, it would be cool to see Ford and Dodge development photos to see if they were ripping GM off too.:lol: