Back in the late 80's, turbo-wizard Gale Banks added a massive turbo/intercooler package to an unassuming GMC Jimmy pickup and drove the thing out to Bonneville, where it posted an almost-unbelievable two-way top speed average in excess of 190 mph.
Liek, whoa!
The publicity of the Banks run inspired GM to actually build the thing, calling it the GMC Syclone pickup.
That's right. GM built it - and for those of you who may have forgotten, Car and Driver got their hands on a bone-stock 1991 GMC Syclone that ran from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and crossed the 1/4 mile timing lights in 13.1 seconds - faster than a contemporary Ferrari 348, Lotus Esprit Turbo, etc., etc.
Awesome little truck, and the primary reason I bought my own GMC Jimmy (non-turbo, but still AWD) years later.
In any event, Motive Magazine has a great review of the Syclone, including a full road test, conducted pretty near the 20th anniversary of Gale Bank's semi-historic run (photo, below).
CLICK HERE for the Motive article.
EDIT: SAME DAY
I found an old video clip of the original Gale Banks GMC Syclone run - over 210 mph in a compact, V6 pickup! Wild!
CLICK HERE to jump to the Banks video. Enjoy!
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