Laying the Platforms Straight

I'm usually not one for semantics, but the work of the late senator S.I. Hayakawa does interest me.

Perhaps his most-cited theory is that of the Rhetoric Triangle. Effectively, it attempts to impart how humans communicate their ideas, passions, and experiences to one another. It can be analyzed to no end, but perhaps the biggest factor in communication failures lies within a lack of contextual simularities. If the audience doesn't understand the relationship of a speakers ideas - or worse yet, understand his vocabulary, the information imparted is fractured, inaccurate, or miniscule, at best.

Now, before I lose you completely, his principles hold true to the GMTBlog. While the general public may refer to a pickup as a 'Sierra', its nomenclature varies. Effectively, GM gives each vehicle platform/project a code number, and strips it of its name. While this helps employees quickly identify product, it can possibly confuse the uninitiated.

The following is a brief run-down of GM Truck related platform codes, in an attempt to clarify any potential confusion.

In the past, most platforms were given a letter designation. These not only referenced their relative size, but their drivetrain as well.

• C: 2wd Fullsize pickups/SUV’s
• K: 4wd full-size pickups/SUV’s
• S: 2wd compact pickups/SUV’s
• T: 4wd compact pickups/SUV’s
• E: 2wd Electric S10 (Chevrolet Only)
• G: 2wd full-size van
• H: AWD full-size van (610 only)
• M: 2wd mid-size van
• L: AWD mid-size van
• U: FWD minivan/SUV’s
• V: AWD minivan/SUV’s
• B: Medium Duty Bus Chassis/Cowl Conventional
• C: Medium Duty Conventional
• T: Medium Duty Tilt-Cab
• W: Light/Medium Duty Tilt Cab (Partially/Completely built by Isuzu)
• P: Forward Control Chassis (Sold to Workhorse/UCBC in 1999)
• R: 2WD Fullsize Truck *
• V: 4WD Fullsize Truck *

* In 1988, GM launched it's all new line of GMT 400 C/K pickups, but certain variants - namely the 2-and-4 door utilities, and crew cab pickups - were not yet available. Thus, the prior C/K series' lifespan was continued as a stop-gap measure, and their chassis designations changed to R and V, respectively. This ended in 1991 when their 400-based replacements were launched.

Within the last decade, GM has made the switch from letter-based codes, to those with numbers - and even more recently, Greek letters. While GMX ### signifies a car-based platform, here are the relevant GMT truck platforms.

• GMT 009: 2006 Chevrolet HHR
• GMT 200: Previous Gen U-Van (Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Tran Sport/Montana, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Opel/Vauxhall Sintra)
• GMT 265: Cadillac SRX
• GMT 315: Theta SUVs (Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn VUE)
• GMT 325: Chevrolet S10, GMC Sonoma, Isuzu Hombre
• GMT 330: Chevrolet Blazer/ Trailblazer (1st gen), GMC Jimmy/Envoy (1st gen), Oldsmobile Bravada, Opel Blazer
• GMT 355: Chevrolet Colorado (North American Version), GMC Canyon, Isuzu I-Series
• GMT 360: Chevrolet Trailblazer (2nd gen), GMC Envoy (2nd gen), Oldsmobile Bravada (2nd gen), Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender (5-passenger), Saab 9-7x
• GMT 365: GMC Envoy XUV
• GMT 368: Chevrolet SSR
• GMT 370: Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, Isuzu Ascender (7-passenger)
• GMT 400: Chevrolet C/K Pickup, GMC Sierra (1988-1999)
• GMT 410: Chevrolet Blazer/Tahoe (2-door), GMC Yukon (2-door) (through 1999)
• GMT 420: Chevrolet Tahoe (4-door), GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon Denali, Cadillac Escalade (through 1999)
• GMT 430: Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Suburban
• GMT 530: Chevrolet Kodiak/C-Series; GMC TopKick/C-Series
• GMT 540: Chevrolet T-Series, GMC T-Series, Isuzu F-Series (North American version)
• GMT 560: Chevrolet Kodiak/C-Series, GMC TopKick/C-Series, Isuzu H-Series
• GMT 560T: Chevrolet T-Series, GMC T-Series, Isuzu F-Series (North American version) (2004 onwards)
• GMT 600: Chevrolet Express, GMC Savanna
• GMT 610: Chevrolet Express, GMC Savanna
• GMT 800: Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra
• GMT 805: Chevrolet Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade EXT
• GMT 820: Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade
• GMT 830: Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade ESV
• GMT 880: Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, GMC Sierra Crew Cab
• GMT 900: All-New C/K platform to debut 2006/2007.
  

I won't be the least bit offended if this only confused everyone more - but for the most part, I hope this serves to be reference for future conversations.