Rare 1991 GMC Syclone For Sale Is One Of The Coolest Trucks Ever Built

This Ferrari-beating truck shocked the world in 1991

Back when compact, two-door pickup trucks were still around in the early 1990s, GMC had the wild idea to create a performance version of its Sonoma. Called the GMC Syclone, the pickup’s combination of small size, incredible turbocharged V6 power, and rarity have turned it into a proper cult classic.

With under 3,000 examples of the Syclone ever produced between 1991 and 1992, it’s a big deal when one comes up for sale, especially when it has a famous previous owner and low miles, like the one you see here. 

Related: Which of these high-powered pickup classics would you choose?

Originally Purchased By Ted Nugent

Finished in black like all other Syclones, this 1991 example—listed for sale on Cars & Bids—was originally purchased by Ted Nugent in May 1991. He was clearly too preoccupied with his music career to do much driving, as the fiery little truck has only covered 37,200 miles in its lifetime.

The Syclone was a revelation when launched, with performance that could destroy a number of high-end sports cars at the time. Its 4.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine delivers 280 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, and the all-wheel-drive system could direct up to 65 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. In a famous Car and Driver drag race between the Syclone and Ferrari 348ts, the pickup outsprinted the Italian exotic, clearing the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds—four-tenths quicker than the Ferrari. The Syclone also rattled off a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, and you’d need a new GMC Sierra EV to keep up with it.

Only a four-speed automatic transmission was available, and this was also the first production trick with four-wheel anti-lock brakes. 

Accident-Free and Almost Completely Unmodified

This 1991 GMC Syclone has a hood deflector, but that’s the only modification and can easily be removed by the new owner. It comes with 16-inch wheels, a tonneau cover, sports seats, air conditioning, and a Kenwood subwoofer amp.

Known flaws are few, such as some pitting on the wheels, old tires, and a faulty lumbar support adjustor for the driver’s seat. The engine oil and filter were recently changed, but the vehicle’s history report does have a few gaps. No accidents have been reported, though, and the low mileage suggests it should be mechanically fine.

How Much Should You Pay?

At the time of writing, the high bid for this pickup stood at $29,000, but that number is expected to rise over the next two or so days. It’s difficult to put a price on a rare gem like this Syclone, given its desirability and the great condition of this example.

Back in 1991, a new Syclone cost around $26k, but such is its appeal that a 6k-mile example recently sold for $81,000. In May, another one with 380 miles sold for a jaw-dropping $130,000, and on Bring A Trailer, we spotted multiple other examples that have sold for over $50k. 

Assuming it’s driven sparingly and meticulously maintained, the original example sold here could be a great investment for anything under $50k, as these trucks are only going to become harder to find.