C3?

Chuck Cheeze · January 21, 2003

I saw a Sierra C3 on the freeway yesterday. It seemed to have projector headlights, running boards, and body colored bumpers with no chrome. Looked good! Oh yeah and Denali wheels. What is the C3?

carguru · January 21, 2003

It was the Sierra Denali before they called it the Denali. Only made in 2001. It has the 6.0, AWD, etc from the Denali. :thumb:

Dave J · August 25, 2003

But the C3 did not have Quadrasteer either! The DENALI DOES

Import Hater · August 25, 2003

I think that's why the Denali's window sticker was about 5k higher than the C3. And even the C3 was pricey. I saw dealers were cutting almost 8k off to clear them out back then. I wonder if the Denali is suffering the same way or did the quadrasteer make it appealing enough to drive sales?

Rob

99-2door · August 25, 2003

I found it strange that the C3 was so ignored, but the SS is basically the same thing but received much better. The C3 was billed as a performance towing vehicle. I remember the GMC TV spots with the guy pulling a boat around a race track. I know a lot of people were put off by the AWD in a truck, they thought it was like full-time 4x4 and wondered why this 4x4 sat so low. Perceptions of trucks and SUVs have changed a lot in the past couple of years, so it was a timing thing I guess. I have always liked the C3s and would love to have one.

gmcjoe · August 25, 2003

I found it strange that the C3 was so ignored, but the SS is basically the same thing but received much better. The C3 was billed as a performance towing vehicle. .... I have always liked the C3s and would love to have one.

I agree, Chevy is considered the 'performance' division of GM these days, GMCs are marketed more as upscale 'professional grade' trucks.

The C3 is badass

Butch 02 Denali · August 25, 2003

The C3's and Sierra Denail's are both great trucks. As already mentioned, the SD is a C3 with Quadrasteer. Other differences are C3 had 3:73 and SD has 4:10 gears, SD had driver adjustable electronic shocks, from smooth to firm. The SD weighs about 450 lbs more than the C3, but the gears make them identical in performance. I have raced friends with C3's and we run identical 15.6's-15.7"s pretty much stock. The Chevy SS is very similar to the C3/SD but has the 4:10 gears, no Quadrasteer, and 20 HP more to 345hp due to almost a point more in compression requiring 93 octane vs 87 in the C3/SD. The SS's are running 15.4's-15.5's at the track. I saw one magazine test that said they were running 14's but that is BS, obviously a "maximized" factory test truck.

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

Butch 02 Denali · August 25, 2003

Sorry, posted it twice and couldn't see a way to delete the second one.

Anyone know how to delete a post?

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

Import Hater · August 26, 2003

The SS's are running 15.4's-15.5's at the track

Just goes to show that losing weight is also a substitute for all out horsepower. My 5.3 2wd can come close to this. High 15's. But still...I'm down a good 60hp to the new SS, I shouldn't be able to hang close. But that awd powertrain adds alot of weight.

Rob

ril850 · October 8, 2003

One baddass truck, thats for sure and going to be a collectors item since it was a 1 year deal.

toddgotfish · October 9, 2003

i personally had to have those denali wheels on my sierra

especially after i saw a c3 cruising down the road

got a great deal on a set of polished ones on eBay

with shipping less than 350 , though used

still look awesome and with center caps

and seventeens really look sweet on the sierra

anyone interested drop a line

the tires for it are an unbelievable story as well

pacodiablo · October 9, 2003

The C3 was also a 3-speed automatic transmission in Fords in the '80s.

99-2door · October 9, 2003

The C3 was also a 3-speed automatic transmission in Fords in the '80s.

If we are going this route..........

It's also the nickname for thrid generation Corvettes 68-82, like mine

gmcjoe · October 9, 2003

If we are going this route..........
It's also the nickname for thrid generation Corvettes 68-82, like mine

Butch 02 Denali · October 9, 2003

If we are going this route..........

It's also the nickname for thrid generation Corvettes 68-82, like mine

I have a 1977 Vette, a C3 series, and a Sierra Denali, which is a C3 with Quadrasteer. I guess I need another so I can look in my garage and see three!

Butch 02 Sierra Denali