[Repost Inspired by Zoidberg] On the Relative Rarity of GM360 Platform Trucks

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/07/2016 at 14:45 • Filed to: Isuzu Ascender, Useless Information

GM is known, perhaps better than any other automaker, for spawning nearly uncountable models from a single platform - including several badge-engineered versions of each. The GMT360 ladder-frame SUV platform created 8 models across 6 marques, produced from 2002-2009. Unlike other platforms, however, the model history indicates that the original plan was for fewer variants. For instance, when Oldsmobile was killed off, the Bravada went along with it after just 3 model years. The Buick Rainier was then put into service for the latter half of GMT360 prodution to replace it. The Saab 9-7X also started production later in the GMT360 life-cycle, possibly as a last-gasp attempt to breath some sales life into the dying brand. There was also an Isuzu version that almost everyone forgets about. What all of this means is that some of these trucklets and rarer than others. Seeing a nearly mint Ascender in a parking lot at work the other day got me thinking: is the Ascender the rarest GMT360 truck in the USA? I see fewer of them than Saab 9-7X’s... but the Ascender started and ended production earlier (2003-2007 vs. 2005-2009) so maybe more of them are already in junkyards. I did some digging to find out, using left-lane.com as my primary tool. I believe their sales totals are well-researched, but caveat emptor. Also, these are US-only sales here.

The delightfully clean Ascender that I spotted at work the other day, pictured between a filthy H2 (this is a good thing actually) and my Forester.

Left-Lane news lists sales by year. That makes finding out sales totals trickier for the model name that was used for both the GMT330 and 360 platforms: the Bravada. Also, the Envoy and Envoy XUV are lumped together despite technically being variations on the platform (the XUV platform is code-named GMT305). So let’s start with the models that were GMT360-only. I am going to lump the long-wheelbase GMT370 variants in with their parent models.

Chevrolet TrailBlazer: 1,547,020 (26,411 of which were SS models with the LS2 motor essentially pulled from the Corvette)

GMC Envoy (including XUV): 684,329

Buick Rainier: 61,833

Isuzu Ascender: 28,530

Chevrolet SSR: 23,479

Saab 9-7X: 11,237

Just from these four, there is a lot to chew on. First, I rarely see Rainiers (though I did see a pink-wrapped on recently), but they actually aren’t all that rare. The Ascender is also less-rare than I thought. I don’t know where they are hiding, but there are almost 30,000 of them out there. I did know that the 9-7X sold in low numbers, but the fact that there were twice as many SSR’s sold is pretty amazing. Also, that’s a ton of TrailBlazers/Envoys compared to everything else - almost makes me wonder why they even bothered making other models than those two from the platform. Interestingly, there are almost as many 6.0L LS2-powered SS Trailblazers running around at Ascenders. Another way to think of that is there are almost as many SSR’s and Trailblazer SS’s, which is interesting to me because I think of the SSR as a much rarer bird, possibly because they are all in garages while the TrailBlazers are out there being used as fast, fuel-inefficient grocery-getters.

Yes, this pink Buick Rainier exists.

Now for some deeper-digging. According to Automotive News, the XUV was produced for just 18 months and 27,200 were made (despite initial predictions of 30,000/year). This makes the non-XUV sales 657,129. Despite quite a bit of searching, I couldn’t find GMT360-specific sales for the Bravada. I tried looking into recalls, but didn’t find anything that didn’t also include the Envoy. So the best I can do is estimate the 2001 sales mix (the 2002 Bravada hit dealers in February 2001). Based on the number of other GMT360 trucks that were sold in years after production ended, the mix could be anywhere from 10 to 40% of leftover 2001 models mixed in with the new GMT360 2002 models. Let’s just say 25% of the 23,867 sold in 2001 were 2001 models and the rest were 2002's. That puts the GMT360 Bravada sales at an estimated 42,608. Despite that fact that I can’t remember the last time I saw one, this makes it the 4th most popular of the 8 models. So the “final” table is:

TrailBlazer: 1,547,020

Envoy (non-XUV): 657,129

Rainier: 61,833

Bravada: 42,608

Ascender: 28,530

XUV: 27,200

SSR 23,479

9-7X: 11,237

Most astounding here is that the 2nd-place Envoy sold basically 10x as many as the next-closest platform mate. For fun, I decided to make some graphs that show the sales mix.

When we graph all 8 models, those other than the TrailBlazer and Envoy barely register.

Even when all 6 of the other models are lumped together, they still sit far behind the big two.

Things get more interesting down in the lowest-produced 6 models. The Rainier and Bravada both were produced in high-enough numbers to not really be collectible and the Ascender and XUV aren’t far behind. Most interesting to me is that the SSR was produced in enough numbers that there really is no need to hoard them like it seemed they were being for a while. The 9-7X is what I would officially call rare at just over 11,000 units in the USA. But despite moving the ignition to the center console and making the dash look like the 9-3, I don’t think it is special enough to really be a collector’s item.

We could do some more here like lump the Bravada and Rainier together, since the Rainier was basically the Bravada successor using the same bodyshell, but it wouldn’t make a huge difference on any of the graphs. So what are big takeaways here? The Ascender is rare, but not as rare as I thought. Also, my neighbor used to have an XUV and I kind of want one some day. They are weird in a useful sort of way. They don’t command much more than $5,000 right now, but are rare enough that finding a good one at a good price may pose a challenge as time goes on for other people into weird bits of GM history.

One last thing - I didn’t expect to see nearly 2.4 million total GMT360 US sales - the platform was more popular than I realized.

DISCUSSION (31)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 14:51

Funny, I see a fair few XUV’s.

And while the idea is awesome, the styling necessary to the execution SUUUUUUUUUUCKS.

Boxer_4 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 15:00

A very interesting piece.

Another interesting angle would be to look at sales by body shell. If I remember correctly, there were five main body shells produced (this is excluding the XUV and SSR): Trailblazer, Envoy/Ascender, Trailblazer LWB, Envoy/Ascender LWB, and Bravada/Rainer/9-7x.

Margin Of Error > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 15:04

You may be interested in that masterpiece :

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-gmc-envoy-…

DanimalHouse > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 15:06

Lol, the BROvada

Kinja'd!!!

(Yes, I know this isn’t the GMT360)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Boxer_4
09/07/2016 at 15:11

Thanks! And correct, 5 body shells. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really find anything on the LWB versions separate from the standard wheelbase.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
09/07/2016 at 15:15

I’ve never actually played with the cargo area on one, but from what I’ve heard you’re right - it is a pain to work with and the cargo area was too small to really be all that useful even when opened up.

E90M3 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 15:32

Kinja'd!!!

Saw this 9-7X pulling into that HEB on Blanco and 1604 back in June.

AfromanGTO > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 15:36

You left out how many of these unicorns were built on the chassis!

The 9-7X Aero deserves love too!

Kinja'd!!!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > AfromanGTO
09/07/2016 at 17:07

I think only like 600, right? Very rare model/motor configuration.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > E90M3
09/07/2016 at 17:09

They are around - I’ve seen a black one several times on TX16... the thing is that the owners probably don’t know or care that they are so rare. It’s just a utility vehicle to them. So you’ll see them out and about.

Schaefft > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 17:29

I am actually surprised how many Ascenders were sold as well, I totally forgot about it. I expected the number to be way below the SSR. Also, even though its a rough guess, Im surprised the Bravada sold so well too, considering Oldsmobile was pretty much dead when it was released. Excluding the SSR and other high performance versions, its the most interesting variant of them all to me.

AfromanGTO > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 17:51

I honestly don’t know. I am not familiar with production numbers of the SS Trailblazer and Aero 9-7X.

shop-teacher > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 19:56

A friend of mine owns a clean ‘05 Ranier. They really did just pry off the Olds badges and stick on some Buick ones, it’s remarkable.

Quadradeuce > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 21:03

9-7x owner here. Got it cheap because people think tend to think that Saabs are hard to maintain because Saab is history. Even my local Chevy dealer won’t order parts for me because they say “it’s a Saab, we don’t handle those parts”. Idiots.

They are super easy and super cheap to work on. The engine is an aluminum block 5.3 paired to a 4 speed. Should have been a 5 speed. Mpgs suck. Otherwise it’s a great truck for the money.

Liam Farrell > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 22:41

My dad has a 97x, and it’s a total POS. Never buy one, it might seem cool to get a big Saab, but that gets quickly overwhelmed with the awfulness of it.

boxrocket > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/07/2016 at 23:17

Yet not many seem to be on the road anymore, and most seem to be suffering the most severe neglect/abuse.

InFierority Complex > AfromanGTO
06/03/2017 at 20:10

https://www.esaabparts.com/saab/production/data/9-7x_2005_2009.php

554 9-7X Aeros. Looks like they all came in black aside from 21 silvers produced in 09.

eta: Responded to a year old comment that just got reposted to the front page. Oops.

Milky > InFierority Complex
06/03/2017 at 20:12

This is the info I came to this post for.

Nobi > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/03/2017 at 20:33

Is it true that the Bravada and Rainier are the only non LS2 equipped GMT360 variants to have the short wheelbase and a V8?

punkgoose17 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/03/2017 at 21:12

The number I found is 554. https://www.esaabparts.com/saab/production/data/9-7x_2005_2009.php

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > punkgoose17
06/03/2017 at 22:58

This is good Oppo.

David Baker > AfromanGTO
06/04/2017 at 01:50

Here is a clean supercharged 08 Aero. Not cheap but, supercharged LS.

http://m.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=443764814&zip=19047&endYear=2018&pageLayout=list&sortBy=distanceASC&startYear=1981&searchRadius=500&mmt=%5BSAAB%5B97X%5B97X%7CAero%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Nobi
06/04/2017 at 01:50

Oddly specific question and not quite actually. The Bravada never had a V8. The Rainier got the LH6 5.3L small block. You could also get an Envoy Denali with that motor. The others, as you’ve said were either long wheelbase or LS2.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Schaefft
06/04/2017 at 03:49

I thought I was the only one who actually likes the Bravada. Pretty sure there’s one in my town but that might just be an Envoy.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nobi
06/04/2017 at 04:13

No. You could get the Trailblazer with the 5.3L and the standard wheelbase. I see that FTTOHG has responded, and not mentioned this. I have driven, and know for a fact that the TB was available this way. Also I have driven the 9-7x 5.3i which is exactly as it sounds.
He is correct that the Rainier was available with the 5.3L, and that the Envoy Denali had the 5.3L as standard. The 9-7x also had the 5.3L available. I hadn’t realized that the Bravada didn’t have the V8 available but I also have never seen one, so that makes sense to me, especially considering the years that the Olds was available.

Source: Used to work at a Chevrolet dealer back in the day, and also a Buick-GMC-Cadillac dealer’s car wash. Seen all of these in person, and also driven them all personally (used and/or manager’s vehicles).

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/04/2017 at 04:14

Not quite correct.

Nobi > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
06/04/2017 at 07:29

I thought those were only available as a long wheelbase. I remember reading somewhere that the Buick was the only one you could get as a short wheelbase and the 5.3.

AfromanGTO > InFierority Complex
06/04/2017 at 12:48

Hey thanks for the info. I was wondering why something from so long ago got responded to. lol

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nobi
06/04/2017 at 18:53

Maybe that was the case at the start? Not sure. I do know, positively, that the 5.3L was available pretty universally.

Nobi > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
06/04/2017 at 19:53

Only reason I ask is a Trailblazer SS isn’t too common, and a 9-7x Aero is even rarer. Imagine a pedestrian looking short wheelbase GMT360, say the Buick, with its 5.3 breathed on a bit. It’d make the Saab look flashy by comparison.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nobi
06/04/2017 at 22:48

And , with that method, you can have a standard 4wd setup. 2wd fun when you want, and 4wd traction when you need it. The awd SS/9-7x have a history of eating transmissions when you get on them hard a lot. I’ve thought of this before, too.