GMC Syclone History
A turbocharged all-wheel-drive Sonoma — the fastest production pickup of 1991, and a cult performance icon.
Photo: “GMC Syclone (1991)” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0
History
The GMC Syclone was a high-performance version of the compact Sonoma pickup, built for the 1991 model year by GMC with Production Automotive Services (PAS). It paired a turbocharged, intercooled 4.3-liter V6 producing 280 hp with all-wheel drive — making it the fastest production truck of its day, quicker to 60 mph than a contemporary Ferrari 348.
Only 2,998 Syclones were built (plus three carryover 1992 cars), and the 1991 truck was offered only in black. Its scarcity and giant-killing performance turned it into a sought-after collectible, and it directly spawned the SUV-bodied Typhoon.
Generations
Single model year · Syclone
Photo: “GMC Syclone (1991)” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0
Turbocharged, intercooled 4.3-liter V6 (280 hp) with all-wheel drive, built on the compact Sonoma; 2,998 produced for 1991, offered only in black.
1991 Photo: “GMC Syclone (1991)” by Charles from Port Chester, New York / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0
Body styles
- Regular cab pickup
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the GMC Syclone
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.