GMC dissects the names of its own pickups

Ever wondered how the GMC Sierra 1500 got is name. Or why a 1x2-ton pickup can carry almost a 2,000 pound payload. General Motors sets the record straight. For starters, the Sierra name was first used to denote upscale trim packages in the 1970s and '80s. In 1989, the name was applied to all GMC full-size pickups. No big mystery there.

Then there's the 1500 moniker. GMC began using the numbers 1500, 2500 and 3500 in 1967. While the digits do indicate hauling capabilities, they aren't the trucks' actual cargo limits. In fact, they refer to the "first segment of vehicle identification numbers," GM says.

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