What Does Obs Stand For Trucks

The abbreviation OBS stands for “Old Body Style” in reference to the boxy and rugged look of trucks from the 1990s. Since enthusiasts are responsible for coining the term, the criteria for an OBS truck is rather loose.

There are plenty of lovers and many customers continuously searching for the OBS trucks, so they are getting very popular over the years. If you would like to buy an OBS truck but cant afford the down payment, your old car can help you even if it doesnt work properly. Did you know that Cash Cars Buyer can buy your old car and hand you the cash payment immediately on the spot within one to three days only!

Finally, some OBS truck lovers decided to go with upgrading the upholstery and installing new customized seating. However, upgrading the settings was not a very common upgrade because most OBS truck lovers preferred to keep the classic interior design of these trucks.

Youve probably heard the term OBS truck. This term stands for “old body style” truck which means those trucks with the unique design prior to the 90s.

Automotive experts recommend that you evaluate your situation and accurately determine your goals and objectives before making a final decision to purchase an OBS truck. These trucks are not super cheap because they might cost you somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000. Therefore, you must be clear about your objectives are purchasing this vehicle while understanding its limitations.

There aren’t any specific criteria for distinguishing regular trucks from OBS trucks. Some manufacturers might distinguish them using a certain year threshold, while others might distinguish talks by the different design style. Some automotive experts even introduced the old OBS trucks, which stand for the old body style. Thus, the definition of the OBS truck is still unclear and can be a little subjective.

GM’s Popular GMT400 Pickups are Seeing a Surge in Aftermarket Performance Parts

As affordable, buildable cars from the 1960s and 70s become more difficult to find, were pleased to see enthusiasts interests turn to alternative body styles and cars from the 80s and 90s, many of which have just as much, if not more, performance potential as any 60s era Chevelle or Mustang. One platform that seems to be exploding in popularity is the GMT400, GMs 19881998 pickup trucks. Interestingly, these are known colloquially as the OBS Chevys: the “old body style.” Speaking as the owner of both a 93 C1500, as well as a 67 C10, Id consider the 19631966 pickups to be the old body style, but what do I know?

The OBS label was assigned to the GMT400 once the GMT800 (model years 19992006) were introduced, and that generation is known as NBS, or “new body style.” It should also be said here that, in SUV form (Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban), the GMT400 continued through the 2000 model year and even into 2002 for the one-ton C3500 pickups.

Outwardly, the GMT400 was quite a visual departure from the square body trucks it replaced, but more noteworthy changes could be found underneath its sleek, aerodynamic body. This was the first GM pickup to have an independent front suspension on their 4×4 models, with torsion bars and CV joints replacing the solid front axle and leaf springs of the previous generation. Another innovation introduced on the GMT400 was shift on the fly four-wheel drive, which replaced the C10s manually locking hubs. The frame was widened to move the fuel tank inboard, quelling safety concerns about the older trucks side-saddle gas tanks.

The GMT400s clean, rugged looks have stood the test of time, and its relatively simple construction lends itself easily to modifications. With literally millions built over its production run, these trucks are affordable and waiting to be restored or resto-modded with an increasingly growing number of performance aftermarket parts.

Overall, these are simple, reliable trucks, but like all vehicles, they have quirks youll likely need to address as an owner. Here are a few, in no particular order:

Yes, that disgusting tin worm that destroys our precious vehicles has a voracious appetite for these pickups. Although it was touted at the time as having excellent corrosion protection, that statement was only true in reference to this generations predecessor. Cab corners, rocker panels, and the wheel arches are especially susceptible to rot, especially in wet and snowy climates.

GM redesigned the dashboard in these vehicles for the 1995 model year, and that was a significant improvement over the hard plastics used for the early dashboard. Those are prone to cracking or disintegrating completely due to sun damage, while the later design was much more resistant. The cloth upholstery also fared better than the leather seats over time.

Typical of most American cars in the 80s and 90s, the paint is easily damaged by the sun, and youll likely find oxidized clear coat, if the clear hasnt all peeled off by now. This is more of a materials issue, as the American manufacturers attempted to comply with new paint emissions regulations.

What Does OBS Truck Mean?

What does OBS truck mean? It means “Old Body Style” in reference to the boxy and rugged truck designs by American manufacturers of the 1990s era. The criteria for an OBS truck is rather loose, as it is a term used by enthusiasts of this old body style.

In general, an OBS truck is limited by year of production. Interestingly, some gearheads also coined the term “OOBS” to describe “old, old body style”, which is to be distinguished from OBS. The only other criteria of an OBS truck is that it’s American-made, but sometimes a desirable import model with the same style is also called OBS.

The start of the 1990s, or specifically the year 1988 is used to mark the birth of the classic OBS truck. Since the overhaul of pickup design happened around the year 2000, trucks from 2000 onwards are called “New Body Style” and 2000 marks the threshold for a truck to be considered OBS.

Now over two decades later, classic cars are becoming more popular than ever, and OBS trucks have been seeing increasing demand. Enthusiasts of the classic look quickly realized that these oldies but goodies can turn heads again with just a good paint job, a new set of rims, new rugged tires and other minor modifications that wouldn’t cost a fortune. Now, there’s a culture surrounding old body style trucks.

FAQ

What does obs mean on a car?

Dustin Hawley | Feb 03, 2021. The rise in popularity of the late 20th century Ford pickup trucks has turned America’s workhorse into something of a classic. Old body style, or OBS, is a term used in reference to the much-revered pickup trucks produced before the controversial redesigns of the early 2000s.

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