![]() Upper-class trim levels also used acoustic deadening materials for quieter ride comfort. Custom Vinyl vinyl or soft Custom Cloth cloth and velour seating surfaces were used along with fabric headliners, door inserts, and plush carpeting, depending on the trim level. Subtle-grained interior panels and bright metal work were used on the inside with high-quality materials also used on the outside, like chrome, aluminum, and polished stainless steel, particularly on top-of-the-line luxury Silverado or Sierra Classic trim levels. Soft-touch materials were used throughout the passenger cabin, such as the dashboard, doors (arm rests), steering wheel, and shift levers. The Rounded-Line generation ultimately ran for a lengthy 15 model years (1973–1987) with the exception of the Crew Cab, Blazer, Jimmy, and Suburban versions, which continued up until the 1991 model year. ![]() 1980 was the first year that a cassette tape player could be purchased, along with a CB radio. The fuel tank was moved from the cab to the outside of the frame, and a dual tank option was available which brought fuel capacity to 40 US gallons. Crew Cabs were available in two versions: a “3+3” which seated up to six occupants and a “bonus cab” which deleted the rear seat and added rear lockable storage in its place. A new dual rear wheel option called “Big Dooley” was introduced on one-ton pickups, along with a new Crew Caboption on the 164.5 in (4,178 mm) wheelbase. The wheelbase length was extended to 117.5 in (2985 mm) for the short-wheelbase pickups, and 131.5 in (3340 mm) for the long-wheelbase pickups. Initially, only wood floors were available. The second type, called Stepside by Chevrolet and Fenderside by GMC, was a narrow-width pickup box featuring steps and exposed fenders with standalone tail lamps. Both steel and wood floors were available. The first type, called Fleetside by Chevrolet and Wideside by GMC, was a “double-wall” constructed full-width pickup box and featured a flared secondary beltline to complement the cab in addition to new wraparound tail lamps. There were two types of pickup boxes to choose from. Third-generation design traits include “double-wall” construction, sleek sculpted bodywork, flared secondary beltline, and an aerodynamic cab that featured rounded doors cutting high into the roof and a steeply raked windshield featuring an available hidden radio antenna embedded into the glass. GM’s design engineers fashioned the “Rounded-Line” exterior in an effort to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, using wind tunnel technology to help them sculpt the body. ![]() Some people may refer to them as “square bodies”, given that the trucks appear square-like when compared to more modern automotive design standards. As a result, the third-generation trucks are officially known as the “Rounded-Line” generation. Aside from being near twins, the Chevrolet and GMC pickups looked like nothing else on the road. The redesign was revolutionary in appearance at the time, particularly the cab, departing from typical American pickup truck designs of the era. Development of the new third-generation trucks began in 1968, four years prior to production in 1972, with vehicle components undergoing simulated testing on computers before the first prototype pickups were even built for real-world testing. An all-new clean-sheet redesign of General Motors’ Chevrolet and GMC brand C/K-Series pickups débuted in 1972 for the 1973 model year. ![]()
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