Posted by Todd on July 26, 2009, 18:13:25
24.225.101.205
Hey guys. I stumbled into this a few days ago.It was announced in June but I just saw it lately. What an utter crying shame. The old C50/C60(Topkicks and Kodiaks the last decade or so) class five and six trucks were grand old warhorses. I don't know how may wreckers and single axle dumptrucks I have seen made on those chassis. Now Government Motors has eleminated them along with Hummer and other marquees. I laughed at the government stooge er....I mean CEO of GM saying they were a one truck company in a multi truck market. Thanks again to bad management. I hate to see the old girls go. This now leaves the big three with NO medium duty trucks in their lines. I don't count the F650/750s. They are made by International in Mexico with a Ford badge on them.
But back to the article. A one truck company? Whose fault was that? Didn't they see the HUGE infusion of Isuzu cab forwards these last two decades? What was going on? Part of it was stupidly marketing the last generation of the 4500/5500 to upscale "civilian" buyers who envisionded them as horse trailer and fifth wheel camper pullers. This sort of upscale outfitted truck was a gamble at best.Of course their sales dropped like rocks when the gas/economy stuff hit a couple of years ago. I remember a time not too long ago when you could have bought a C60 with a Cat disel, Allison auto, and A/C for about ten grand more than a one ton diesel truck. I saw manhy of these last generation trucks stickering in the upper 60K to 80k range. Imagine the sales dropping on these luxury appointed liners? They were historically aimed at small businesses and government agencies who needed a medium duty truck that was WAY heavier duty than a one ton but not in a price range of a local hauler tractor. They managed to mess that up and now the whole line is gone. They tried to sell it off to Navistar and Isuzu but they weren't having it. What do you want to wager they were just waiting for he buzzards to circle so they can pick up the marquee for pennnies on the dollar? Thanks again Detroit management.
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