Americans have been crazy for cars since the first horseless carriage was displayed. On Car Collector Appreciation Day this July 12th, we look at some of the most unique classic GMC trucks to date! Which ones are your favorites?
The GMC 150
Early pickup trucks started out as modified cars, but post-World War II, they evolved into larger and more robust models. These vehicles were designed to handle heavier loads, serving the needs of suburban and rural communities as well as recreational activities such as camping. The stylish trucks were equipped with an 85 horsepower, 228 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine, a four-speed manual transmission, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes, making them ideal for tough tasks.
The 1949 GMC 150 was not just a workhorse; it also boasted shining chrome front and rear bumpers, a heater/defroster, and optional eye-catching two-tone paint schemes, combining functionality with style. Today, it remains a favorite among car collectors, offering a significant return on investment for restoration enthusiasts.
1991 GMC Syclone
At the time of its production debut, the 1991 GMC Syclone was named the fastest stock pickup truck in the world, boasting a 0 to 60 of 4.3 seconds. With a 4.3L turbocharged V6 engine, automatic transmission, and an AWD driveline, the Syclone was made for speed. It was also the first production truck to receive a 4-wheel anti-lock braking system. Only 2,998 Syclones were ever built, making this scarce jewel incredibly rare to collectors everywhere. This fine vehicle is a great example of a high-performance vehicle that set new standards in speed, power, and driving experience.
1991 GMC Sierra 2500
“Everything you want in a full-size pickup and a whole lot more”. The 1991 GMC Sierra 2500 was a rugged vehicle with impressive features for the time. Power door locks and windows, a striking luxurious custom vinyl seat in garnet among other colors, and dual-zone climate control were much coveted features not yet widely available. Under the hood, the truck offered a base engine putting out 200 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The biggest of three available gasoline units, a 6.0-liter V8 growled at 300 hp and 355 lb-ft. of torque.
Its striking side-line design and power make the 1991 GMC Sierra 2500 a collector’s must-have in 2024. Just like the new 2025 Sierra 2500HD will continue to push the envelope of pickup truck power and further the legacy of the classic GMC truck.
From Car Collector Must-Haves to Contemporary Power
GMC has been one of the leading pickup truck automakers from the beginning, creating models that incorporate power, luxury, and design for drivers who work hard and play harder. As we celebrate car collectors this month with their exquisite taste, we look to GMC’s current offerings of trucks that make everyday life easier and are sure to win their places in the history books of the future.
At Casa Buick GMC, we can help you find the vehicle that’s right for you. Whether you’re looking for a pre-owned classic or a brand-new vehicle that fits your schedule during work and leisure. Take on the world in style with our powerful pickup trucks today! Visit our El Paso dealership for a test drive and get yourself a piece of GMC history!
Conquer the Road with GMC’s Driving Features
GMC is known for some of the best pickup trucks in the industry with power & speed to tow almost anything. Now, new driving features make long hauls easier.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control is a driving feature used by GMC since 2017 on the GMC Acadia and GMC Yukon. Since then, ACC has come a long way with many features and is set to come standard to twice as many trims of the 2025 GMC Sierra than in 2024 models.
Discover the convenience of Adaptive Cruise Control! Unlike standard cruise control, this advanced feature automatically adjusts your speed based on the following gap you choose. It allows your vehicle to maintain a safe distance from other cars and seamlessly adapts to changing traffic conditions. Say goodbye to the stress of constant speed adjustments during long drives with this reliable driving companion in your GMC vehicle.
Drive Modes – A Standard 2024 Driving Feature
Many GMC models are equipped with a variety of driving modes – preset commands to conquer any terrain and to help your vehicle tow any load. Driver Mode Control/Traction Select System is a driving feature that allows you to choose your desired mode in response to changing road conditions, even while in motion.
Different models have different drive modes. For example, the 2024 GMC Canyon offers Normal Mode, Off-Road Mode, Terrain Mode, Tow/Haul Mode, and Baja Mode. Other modes offered through the GMC line include Sport Mode, AWD Mode, Snow/Ice Mode, My Mode, Z Mode/V Mode, Track Mode, and Weather Mode. Each of these modes helps optimize your drive through long hauls, inclement weather, on a closed track, or off-road terrain. With these functions, you can go wherever the road takes you safely and efficiently.
Stay Safe On and Off the Road With GMC’s Driving Features
Even the most experienced drivers deserve to relax. GMC makes driving easy on jobs big and small, and Casa Buick GMC helps put you behind the wheel. Stay safe on and off the road with 2024 and 2025 GMC models such as the 2024 GMC Canyon with best-in-class gas engine torque and premium audio system available, today! Visit or contact us for more information on a new or pre-owned GMC model that fits your needs – from taking the kids to the big game to getting away with your camper for the weekend, Casa Buick GMC has you covered.
Introducing the Brand New 2025 Buick Encore GX
Experience luxury heritage at an affordable price. The 2025 Encore GX brings premium features to the everyday consumer – now in production.
2025 Buick Encore GX Specs
The 2025 Encore GX is a five-seater small SUV with many interior and exterior features fit for the prestige of the Buick brand. With an estimated 29/31 MPG city/highway in FWD and a starting price point of $26,000, this vehicle is accessible to just about anyone looking for a quality vehicle that saves you money at the dealership and at the pump.
Under the hood, the 2025 Encore GX offers a 3-cylinder, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.2-liter base motor with 137 hp @ 5000 RPM. Different trims also offer more potent powertrains for those looking for a car with more kick! While the standard trim is FWD only, AWD is available in select trims, with other features optional including roof racks, trailing and towing hitches, and a panoramic moon roof.
Buick Technology for The New Decade
Inside, the 2025 Encore boasts many fun features including an 11” diagonal ultrawide infotainment display, leatherette seats with optional lumbar support options, additional steering wheel and seat heating, wireless phone charging, and remote start.
Buick wants drivers to enjoy not only a comfortable but also a safe drive. That’s why the Encore offers a standard safety suite with Buick Driver Safety. These six driver-assistance technologies include forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicators, and IntelliBeam auto high beams.
Drive the Future of Buick
The Encore has been a strong, dependable offering for Buick over the last few years and we’re excited to see what the 2025 model can do once it hits lots everywhere post-initial production. Visit Casa Buick GMC and test drive the 2024 Buick Encore GX! While the earlier model, the new iteration of the Encore should be similar enough that one test drive will convince you to be part of the Buick family.
Call, click, or visit today to test drive new and used vehicles at Casa Buick GMC and let our team help you get into your new car today!
What To Do When Your Engine Overheats
As we reach the last weeks of May, the dog days of summer are right around the corner, and the El Paso heat is about to unleash its full might. June is the hottest month of the year for our area with a blistering 96-degree average temperature. As such, it’s time to make the necessary preparations to ensure your vehicle can beat the heat.
The moment your car begins to overheat can be scary, and the aftermath is frightening in its own way. An overheated engine can cause severe damage to your vehicle. It can also suddenly strand you in the middle of nowhere with triple-digit temperatures baring down on you. Today, Casa Buick GMC examines signs that signify overheating and the procedures you should follow if your engine does overheat.
Watch for the Signs
Your engine often communicates with you through uncommon, non-verbal sounds to let you know that maintenance is required. Therefore, it’s able to convey several warning signs when it begins to overheat. Watch for any of these four signs that your engine is overheating:
- Steam resembling smoke seeping out from under the hood.
- An unusual, sweet smell emanating from the engine.
- The engine temperature gauge needle spikes towards the red.
- The “Check Engine” light or a comparable indicator flashes on.
Steps to Take When Your Engine Overheats
1. Turn Off the Air Conditioner and Turn Up the Heat
Yes, this sounds wildly counterintuitive – but it’s the first thing you should immediately do upon sensing your engine overheating. Shutting off the air conditioning helps reduce stress on the engine, while turning up the cabin’s heat helps divert heat away from the engine.
2. Keep Calm, Find a Spot to Pull Over, & Shut the Engine Off
When in the midst of such a sudden, unsettling moment, the most important thing to remember is not to panic. Your brand-new Buick Encore GX is not about to imminently explode; by panicking, you’re only putting yourself at greater risk of making a mistake and causing costly damage. Continue to drive slowly until you find a safe spot to pull over. Once parked, shut off the engine and check the temperature gauge, which should begin moving back into a normal range as the engine cools down.
3. Determine Your Plan of Action
Here is a good example of why you should have your phone charged before setting off on any drive. You need to get your vehicle to a nearby garage – ideally our top-of-the-line Service Department, though it will depend on your location. Contact your preferred roadside assistance provider and get your vehicle towed, if necessary. If your engine has cooled and you believe you can get it to the nearest repair shop yourself, carefully restart the engine and resume driving. As you do, continue to monitor the temperature gauge. If it begins rising again, pull over and allow the system to cool once more.
Put Your Engine in the Hands of Casa Buick GMC
You’ve dealt with your overheated engine properly, but there’s still the question of why it overheated in the first place. There are several factors that could have caused your vehicle to overheat; a cooling system leak, faulty water pump, or low engine oil level are all possible culprits.
To keep your engine running smoothly throughout the summer, schedule your service at Casa Buick GMC. Our team of factory-trained technicians will diagnose your engine, in addition to providing oil changes, brake service, battery replacements, and more. This summer, don’t allow persistent car problems to get you heated; instead, put your vehicle in the reliable hands of Casa Buick GMC.
Are you looking for a new pickup that’s perfect for tough jobs? Consider the 2024 GMC Sierra 3500 HD! This heavy-duty truck offers enhanced power and a range of new features, as explored here.
Read the rest of this entry »6 Key Features That Define the 2024 GMC Yukon
The 2024 GMC Yukon is an extra-large SUV that has new tech features, a wide range of assistive driving functions, and room for up to eight passengers. From cross-country road trips to after-school soccer games, it’s the perfect vehicle to bring your family everywhere they need to go! Take a closer look at just six great features in the new GMC Yukon below.
Read the rest of this entry »Celebrate the End of National Car Care Month
April is National Car Care Month, and we know what you’re probably thinking: why? It can be easy to forget, but outside of the El Paso area, most of the country has to trudge through long, cumbersome winters. Thus, April has become the designated time to recoup after the winter, handling any maintenance issues that may have gone ignored and making sure your vehicle is set for the rainy season ahead.
Although we don’t have to deal with as many issues as elementally-challenged car owners in the north and northeast, stormy weather is still right around the corner. That makes April the ideal month to inspect each component of your car, ensuring it’s in top shape for the year ahead. For your convenience, Casa Buick GMC presents this handy checklist of everything you should take care of as April winds to a close.
1. Check and/or Replace Your Tires
Our tires thankfully don’t get wrecked by winter weather, where each 10-degree drop can cause their air pressure to lose a full PSI. Nevertheless, checking the state of your tires is an appropriate way to kick off National Car Care Month. You should get your tires aligned at least once a year – which the trained technicians at our Service Department can handle for you. Check your air pressure to make sure your tires are at their optimal PSI, as indicated by the sticker inside your driver’s door. Lastly, check the wear on your treads; if they’re exhibiting significant wear or damage, we’ll help you find a perfect set of new tires for your vehicle.
2. Check Your Brakes
You should check your tires so you can get where you want to be. Conversely, you should inspect your brakes to prevent winding up where you don’t want to be. If you hear any squealing, squeaking, or other unusual, high-pitched noises emanating from your brakes, it’s time to schedule your service immediately. Squealing brakes are most likely a sign that your brake pads are thinning. Your brakes’ rotors, linings, and drums should all be thoroughly inspected. An ideal time to do this is during every oil change. Speaking of…
3. Get Your Oil Changed
It used to be that every 3,000 miles was the standard checkpoint to change your oil. Thanks to modern lubricants (who said technology was good for nothing?), that number has shifted to intervals of 5,000-7,500 miles. (That number can climb significantly higher if your car’s engine requires full-synthetic oil.) Although it’s convenient to have to change our oil less frequently, it also makes us more susceptible to forgetting about it altogether. Get in the habit of making April your regular time of year for a standard oil change.
4. Refill All Other Fluids
Your car is thirsty by nature, and it takes more than motor oil to satisfy it. Check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and windshield washer fluid, refilling them to their recommended levels. As the heat intensifies this summer and storms develop, these various fluids will be vital to both your car’s health and your personal safety.
5. Clean Your Car
It’s spring-cleaning season – an exercise that shouldn’t be limited to your home. Give your car a thorough wash to relieve it from all this dry air. If you take it to one of our local car washes – such as El Paso’s Splash N’ Dash – be sure to take advantage of any available vacuums, cleaning out all the dirt and debris that might have accumulated over the past few months.
Take Care of Your Spring Maintenance at Casa Buick GMC
If this spring checklist seems daunting, don’t fear; you don’t have to tackle everything yourself. At Casa Buick GMC, our trained technicians are on standby to handle all your spring maintenance needs. From tire rotations to battery diagnosis, we’ll handle every service your vehicle requires in one convenient stop. Send April off the right way by taking your vehicle to Casa Buick GMC: El Paso’s National Car Care Month headquarters.
Expanding Horizons: The 2024 GMC Yukon XL
Americans are known for their desire to make things bigger and better. GMC has embraced this idea with its full-size SUV lines. The 2024 GMC Yukon XL is a prime example. Offered in five trim levels, your choices seem endless. We’ve assembled a synopsis of the features available with the Yukon XL to assist you in deciding which SUV will enable you to push the envelope of the activities available to you like never before.
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We really do take it for granted today. GMC has become so synonymous with American automotive strength that it’s easy to forget the manufacturer – like so many other twentieth century success stories – began with nothing more than a dream. In this case, the dream was shared by two brothers, who aimed to develop commercial trucks that could traverse every inch of the country.
At Casa Buick GMC, we have a deep admiration and respect for the historic building blocks that led us to GMC’s prestigious present. Today, we examine the early years of GMC, including their formation, acquisition, and wartime efforts.
The Formative Years: 1900 – 1912
Currently a division of General Motors, we’ve always associated GMC with the Detroit-based automotive manufacturing company. From 1911 to 1943, GMC was the General Motors Truck Company, and later operated as the GMC Truck & Coach Division from 1943 to 1998. But when the company was founded in 1900 by brothers Max and Morris Grabowsky, the GMC acronym stood for the “Grabowsky Motor Company.”
That original GMC name wouldn’t be long for this world. In 1902, the Grabowsky brothers built the Rapid: the first commercial truck operated in Detroit. Accordantly, they renamed their company the “Rapid Motor Vehicle Company.” Despite its rudimentary design, the Rapid caught the attention of Durant-Dort Carriage Company owner William Durant, who had previously overseen Buick’s ascension. Though the country didn’t realize it yet, Durant was constructing the architecture for what would become General Motors.
Durant purchased RMVC in 1909. Two years later, he also bought the Reliance Motor Car Company – another early commercial vehicle manufacturer. The two companies merged under Durant’s General Motors banner and changed their name to “General Motors Truck Company,” consolidating all GM truck production in Pontiac, Michigan and paving the way for the GMC we know today. By the time GMC made its debut at the New York Auto Show in 1912, drivers everywhere were craning their necks to witness the rise of America’s next great company.
Pressing on Through Wartime: 1914 – 1945
GMC’s momentum continued rolling into 1916, when commercial truck driver William Warwick loaded his wife and daughter into their 1.5-ton GMC truck and transported a shipment of Carnation Evaporated Milk from New York to Seattle and back. In doing so, GMC became the first truck to cross the country in under 32 days.
Unfortunately, World War I was well underway by then, and it had other plans for the young company. Like Buick, Ford, and the majority of American manufacturers, GMC put its domestic plans on hold and began shifting its focus towards producing military vehicles. By 1918, nearly 90% of GMC truck production was dedicated to military vehicles. In all, GMC provided the U.S. Army with over 8,500 vehicles throughout World War I – comprised mainly of troop carriers, aviation support vehicles, and ambulances.
The decades between wars proved fruitful for the enterprising company. In 1923, GMC trucks were sent overseas to Japan to aid the recovery and reconstruction effort following the Great Kanto earthquake. In 1926, General Motors began expanding into other modes of transportation, acquiring bus and taxicab manufacturer Yellow Coach and starting production on GMC buses. Yellow coach was rebranded as Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company, and all General Motors manufacturing operations were placed under it. In 1943, after purchasing the remaining interest in YT&CMC, GM renamed the company GMC Truck and Coach Division – which it would continue to be known as throughout the greater part of the century, until it was officially shortened to GMC in 1998.
When the United States joined World War II, GMC once more turned their attention to military vehicles. In contrast to the 8,500 vehicles they supplied to U.S. Armed Forces 20 years earlier, GMC would produce over 600,000 trucks for the war effort throughout World War II. After the war, GMC simply continued their work on expanded truck design they had begun in the 1930’s, which resulted in the company’s earliest SUVs: the GMC Suburban and GMC Yukon.
Become Part of the GMC Legacy Today
There’s so much more to GMC’s rich story that we’ll dive into another day: the introduction of the Sierra and the shift from commercial to personal use trucks in the 1960’s, GM’s rounded line truck series of the 1970’s, the sales explosion of the 1980’s, the Acadia’s debut in 2007… the list goes on.
For the time being, you can become a part of GMC’s history when you shop at Casa Buick GMC. From the 2024 Encore GX to the all-new Hummer EV, our inventory is loaded with the latest in new and pre-owned GMC trucks and SUVs. See for yourself how these vehicles pay homage to GMC’s past, while guiding it towards an exhilarating future.
A hands-free power liftgate, powerful engine, wireless phone charging, and room for the whole family are just some of the features our customers love about the 2024 Buick Enclave. This mid-sized SUV comes with many thoughtful features inside a stylish, luxurious package, and all trims give you the flexibility to choose between front-wheel or all-wheel drive models.
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