GMC T6500 I gallery (1997–2009)

The GMC T6500 medium-duty truck was introduced for the 1997 model year as part of a joint commercial vehicle venture between General Motors and Isuzu, succeeding the earlier Forward cabover lineup. Positioned firmly in Class 6 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), the T-Series utilized an Isuzu F-Series heavy-duty platform adapted for North American fleet operations. The cab-over-engine (COE) design delivered superior forward visibility, outstanding maneuverability in congested urban environments, and maximized cargo body length relative to overall vehicle footprint. Powertrain offerings originally included the Isuzu 6HE1 7.1-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel and Caterpillar 3116/3126 engines. In later production years, the T6500 received the modernized Isuzu 6HK1-TC 7.8-liter clean-diesel engine with common-rail high-pressure injection producing between 200 and 275 horsepower, as well as the Caterpillar C7 diesel engine. These powerplants were paired with either robust Eaton Fuller manual transmissions or heavy-duty Allison 2000/3000 series automatic transmissions. The versatile bare chassis accommodated dry freight vans, refrigerated boxes, flatbeds, and various municipal utility configurations. Production of the T-Series ended in mid-2009 when General Motors wound down its medium-duty truck operations and closed the Janesville, Wisconsin assembly plant.