Did GMC make a 5 window truck?
Yes. GMC produced pickups with a five-window cab configuration during the 1930s, though this design was not a standardized, year-by-year GMC trademark and is best understood as a shared GM-era cab style that appeared on some models in certain years. The term “five-window” is used by collectors to describe the cab’s window layout rather than a formal GMC model name.
To understand what this means, here’s a closer look at the historical context, the evidence from catalogs and advertisements, and how enthusiasts identify such cabs today.
What is a "five-window" truck?
A five-window cab refers to a specific window configuration on a pickup cab: two side doors with their front windows, plus two smaller rear side windows (quarter windows), and the windshield, totaling roughly five windows visible from the side. This style contrasts with earlier two-window or three-window cabs and is often discussed in relation to GM trucks from the 1930s–1940s that shared body design across Chevrolet and GMC offerings.
Historical evidence and scope
The evidence for a GMC five-window pickup primarily comes from vintage dealer literature, period photographs, and later collector catalogs. These sources show that some GMC trucks in the 1930s used a cab layout with more glass than the earliest two- or three-window designs. Because GM often shared bodies across brands (Chevrolet, GMC, and others), the same basic cab could appear under different badges in different markets.
Not every GMC truck from the era had a five-window cab, and exact year-by-year production figures are difficult to confirm in public record archives. The designation is thus often used by enthusiasts when judging a vehicle’s body style rather than citing an official GMC model name.
Key sources cited by historians and collectors
Before diving into the details, it helps to know what kinds of documentation support the existence of five-window GMC pickups.
- GM Heritage Center catalogs and period product literature
- Contemporary dealer adverts and press photos featuring GMC pickups
- Photographs and memoirs from collectors and restorers who discuss cab configurations
- Contemporary road tests and motor journals that describe body styles
These sources collectively indicate that the five-window cab was part of the GM family’s early truck vocabulary, though not a formal, standalone GMC model line with a single year range.
How to recognize a GMC five-window cab today
For collectors and restorers, identifying a five-window GMC pickup involves looking for specific cues consistent with the era's design language and badge placement, while noting that some GMC models shared their cabs with Chevrolet counterparts.
- Window arrangement: two main door windows and two smaller rear (quarter) windows on each side, along with the windshield
- Badge and trim cues: GMC scripts or emblems in the grille area and on the doors, which may match Chevrolet trucks of the same era in some markets
- Cab proportions: a slightly taller cab with a "softer" pillar line compared with earlier two- or three-window designs
Because variations existed by year and market, verify with original dealer literature, build sheets if available, and cross-reference with period photography or GM historical archives.
Conclusion
In short, there is historical support for GMC trucks built with a five-window cab during the early GM era, though these were not the basis for a dedicated GMC model line. The five-window designation is a descriptive label used by collectors to describe a cab style that GMC shared with Chevrolet in some years. For precise model-year verification, consult GM Heritage materials and period catalogs.
Summary: The five-window cab is a vintage feature seen in some GMC pickups from the 1930s, linked to shared GM cab designs with Chevrolet. It is not a standalone GMC model name, and identification relies on period sources and careful visual inspection.
