2009 GMC Acadia

While it is possible to create the GMC acronym from the company name Grabowsky Motor Vehicle Company, the current name of GM’s truck division was not introduced until 1913, 11 years after the company was founded. No, when Max and Morris Grabowsky went into the truck building business in 1902, they named their new company the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company due to their vehicles’ ability to quickly reach 10 mph.

In 1908, General Motors decided it needed a truck division in its portfolio and began buying up Rapid stock. It officially brought Rapid into the GM fold in 1909, along with another truck builder, the Reliance Motor Company. The two truck companies continued to produce trucks separately under the GM banner until GM merged them in 1913 into the General Motors Truck Company. At this point, the company actually became GMC.

Initial offerings form GMC were hulking beasts built for carrying heavy loads; they made a reputation for themselves during World War I. But in 1918, Chevrolet-built light duty truck was introduced, and it was followed by a light duty truck built by Pontiac. Rather than have three different truck companies competing for the same market, GM rebadged the Pontiac-built half-ton pickup as a GMC model. This was GMC’s entry into the light duty truck market. In 1937 GMC introduced a vehicle that many consider to be the first SUV, the Suburban Carryall.

With the outbreak of World War II, GM once again geared up for military duty by producing six-wheeled 2-1/2-ton trucks that were affectionately known as “Jimmys.” The trucks were so successful that GMC brought the name back in 1970 with a new full-size SUV that competed with the Ford Bronco and International Scout. The Jimmy name would be used again on a smaller version of the truck known as the S-15 Jimmy.

GMC still continues to produce a line of full- and mid-size trucks and SUVs. Most carry heavier duty components or higher trim packages than their Chevy counterparts, backing up GMC’s marketing of its trucks as “Professional Grade.”