RoadwayR

Those 'Ram 6500' trucks were cobbled up by Chrysler Mexico around 1996. They were not much more than the then-new 'BR' Ram cab stuck on the old 1974 D-600 chassis. The 70's era D medium duty trucks went out of production in the U.S. at the end of 1977, but continued to be built in Mexico due to their popularity in that market. There was some talk about bringing the big Ram to the U.S., but I think taxes and the lack of Chrysler dealers equipped to handle commercial trucks ended the idea. No matter, the medium duty Rams were dropped in 1999. Daimler didn't want Dodge competing with Freightliner.

You forgot the scooters. I am really curious to see where this GM/Navistar thing leads. I think there's potentially enough business for them to make both sides happy. But, it's going to come at the expense of some other players in the field........... I went to the L.A. Auto Show today, and Chevy had a 6500HD crew cab 2 yd. dump on display. Yes, it does appear to be aimed squarely at the low profile F-650. Looking at the frame and suspension components, it's clearly more truck than an F-550 or Ram 5500. Ram also had a nice 5500 4X4 crew cab flatbed there. Ford didn't bring any commercial vehicles, but in their defense it really isn't the venue for work trucks.

Well, if you want to get technical..... The current Allison 1000 series transmission was developed by Allison when it was still owned by GM. When GM spun off Allison, GM kept the 1000 series transmission, rights to the Allison name, and the Baltimore plant it was produced in. So, was the 1000 still really an Allison? You decide. This new heavy duty 10 speed is something of a mystery. I do not believe it is the 10 speed light duty transmission that was co-developed by GM and Ford (and is now in some versions of the F-150). Adding to the mystery is reports that Ford will also have an all new heavy duty 10 speed in the Super Duty next year replacing the current Torq-Shift 6. That bit of news caught me by surprise, I thought the Torq-Shift 6 was a great transmission and has only been around 8 or so years. Question: Is GM's new 'Allison branded' 10 speed going to be related to Ford's new 10 speed?

Makes sense. I was figuring maybe NAV was unloading their defense business in order to facilitate a merge with Traton. I remember when Renault's ownership of AMC reached a certain percentage they had to divest AMGeneral.

Why? Unless: I seem to remember there are certain DOD regulations regarding foreign ownership of defense contractors........

Doesn't look any worse than some of the late model Lexus cars and SUV's! You what is really crazy? Between the Tundra and the class 3-4 Hino Toyota doesn't offer any class 3 conventional trucks. No 3/4 or 1 ton pickups, no chassis-cabs. Why?

I was trying to think where/when I saw the last stand-alone commercial truck GMC dealer in Southern California. The was the old 'factory' store that was once near downtown that moved to Santa Fe Springs, but they closed around 1996. They was a small one in Van Nuys, but they went to selling Isuzu after GM quit medium duty. As far as the 'big' commercial truck dealers are/were concerned, seems to me that most that were selling GMC's also had one or two other brands (Freightliner, ect.). Are any of the 8 remaining GMC-only dealers exclusively commercial truck? No question a lot of GM dealers got burned when GM exited the commercial medium duty market. Just like Sterling, UD, Iveco, Dodge, Brockway, and Diamond Reo dealers. A few GMC commercial truck dealers lost the franchises when GM heavy truck merged with Volvo/White. And some Ford dealers didn't get Sterling franchises either. BTW- Somewhere I have a copy of an old 'GMC News' issue that extols the virtues of selling pickups and other light trucks for private use to GMC dealers. It's dated 1966.........

GMC division is making FAR more money building expensive light trucks and SUV's than they ever did with commercial trucks, that's why. Ain't no boat to miss.

I think both the 2020 Ram HD and the upcoming GM heavy duty pickups and medium duty chassis-cabs are going to significantly eat into Ford's market share. I also noted in the GM news that one of the plants slated for closure is the Baltimore transmission plant. That plant was the part of Allison that GM kept, and for the last several years has manufactured the 1000 series transmission for GM trucks along with some of the 2000 series transmissions for other OEM's. I wonder if production of those transmissions will transfer to another GM plant or move to an Allison facility.

First Emeryville. Came in both cabover and conventional, aluminum cab, Cummins H or Hall-Scott gasoline power, maybe a few had Buda's. Rare truck.

Yes, but I was referring to introducing 4 cylinder diesels to the U.S. medium market. Detroit 4-53 not withstanding!

Isuzu really started something, didn't they? I am starting to see a lot of FTR's around L.A. too.

Bye-bye diesel, hello CNG?

New class 4/5, courtesy of their JV with GM: https://cumberland-companies.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CV-SpecSheet-04.pdf

Rumors are swirling that the F-650 and 750 will be axed in 2020, but Ford officially states they remain committed to medium duty.

Oh boy. The company I work for had a few back in the day, and I did get a chance to drive one on occasion. I thought it was ugly, the side-opening hood was a PITA, the old early-60's vintage International cab was an ergonomic nightmare and rusted like crazy. Steering wheel was too big and at a goofy angle. Heat/defrost/temp. knobs got stuck all the time. And I loved it! It was one of the last ones built (had the 'Binder' nameplate on the hood), 345 2bbl. with a 5 speed (maybe a Clark?), 12' flatbed. For all it's vices it never let us down.

Just like those Ford Ecoboost engines. I guess the emissions are better.

Oh there it is. Sorry for the duplicate topic. Isuzu has been offering CNG and LNG for some time in Asia. I have a feeling gaseous fuel will be a big part of this collaboration.

I missed this from the other day. Sounds interesting: https://www.truckinginfo.com/315019/cummins-and-isuzu-agree-to-evaluate-global-partnership-opportunities

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-unit-ipo-banks/volkswagen-set-to-hire-four-banks-for-truck-unit-ipo-sources-idUSKCN1MI20Z

Think GM will make a move on AM General? Fits nicely in their plans, but AMG doesn't appear to have much future at the moment. HMMWV is winding down (though they got a big contract for ambulances recently), not much else on the horizon. Maybe that postal vehicle? Maybe together GM and AMG could develop a fuel cell powered autonomous 2.5 ton 6X6 successor to the CCKW and M-35!

It seems to me that from Dearborn's standpoint, Otosan-Ford isn't much more than the source of the Transit Connect. Beyond that there seems to be no interest in anything Otosan does. Case in point, the new award-winning Otosan heavy truck didn't so much as rate a mention in any of Ford's domestic media.

Nope, like it didn't even happen. But, great things happening with that train station!

New product might be the International version of the GM JV medium duty truck.

Will the new Ford be sold in Western Europe? If so, by whom?