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The Proud History of GMC | Clinton Twp, MI

The almost 120-year-old roots of the GMC brand date back to 1902, when Max Grabowski founded what was then known as the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company. After several years of moderate success in truck sales, William Durant – the co-founder of Chevrolet – purchased the company in 1908. The rest, as they say, is history.
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History of GMC - Clinton Twp, MI

1910s

GMC maintained its original name for a few more years, but big changes were on the horizon. In 1911, GM folded the truck manufacturer into the broader General Motors Truck Company, and in 1912, the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company officially became known as GMC.

    1920s-1940s

    From the 1920s to the 1940s, GMC saw exponential growth, success, and innovation. In 1925, a GMC truck drove from coast to coast in just over five days, a feat that had taken an entire month back in 1916. Over the course of three decades, GMC acquired new businesses, made incredible strides in automotive technology, and would produce more than 600,000 trucks for the war effort during World War II.

      1950s-1990s

      GMC vehicles were a beacon of post-war American luxury and wealth in the 1950s and 1960s. The company produced leisure vehicles, including family vans and off-roaders, that reflected the increased free time families found themselves with.

      GMC continued to innovate over the following decades, introducing its first SUV, the sedan-truck hybrid Sprint, compact pickups, and more. The 1990s saw a focus on design for better aerodynamics and more powerful performance.

        2000s-Present

        After a change in leadership in 1999, GMC started the new millennium fresh, becoming the official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic team and celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2002. Over the next few years, the company introduced now-iconic vehicles like the Acadia and Terrain, both SUVs.

        The 2010s were a decade of refinement and class. Though the Denali moniker had been around since 1999, the 2010s saw the name become synonymous with luxury. Today, the company produces highly-specialized premium vehicles like the Denali trim and the AT4 off-roader trim, combining high performance with extravagance for the latest generation of GMC drivers.

        After nearly 120 years, GMC continues to make history. Be a part of that history when you drive off the lot of Jim Causley Buick GMC Truck in your new GMC vehicle.

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