Gavril D15

I'm slowly realizing all the possibilities for configs that we are getting with the stepside and pre-facelift. American pickup manufacturers love to have lots of special editions, some of which are fairly weird. It would be cool to see at least one "weird" factory performance config alongside the usual RS.

Before I get to that, I want to address the RS for this truck. One of the configs they got rid of in the remaster was the AWD Sport package, replaced with the RWD RS. Personally I would like the see the pre-facelift's main performance config be an RS msucle truck. N/A big block V8, RWD, hood with exaggerated lines but not a full on cowl, etc... Just generally aggressive and raw. For the facelift D-Series I would have a config closer to the old "sport" config. A little more refined and tame, maybe a turbo small block V8 or even just copy the Cyclone's turbo V6.

So with the standard performance comment out of the way, I just want to point out that a Lil'Red Express inspired truck wouldn't be completely out of the question. Take my pre-face-lift RS proposal, stick a different stepside on (the one in yesterday's teaser is too modern to pull this off), and some exhaust stacks and decals on and you're off to the races.

Okay yeah this is kinda weird for official content and I'm not sure the D-Series could pull off this look. My main point is that I think performance special editions need to be looked at, and at least one weird one should be introduced. At least I didn't suggest something inspired by the Dodge Dude...

 

The AWD Sport could return as a limited-production "Lancehead" with the original NA tuned small-block. It could be justified as previewing the AWD system used on the Roamer RS, or something similar.

 

and modifying @YellowRusty's photo, I came up with what I think would look even better (with the fascia. quick paint.net edit) lowering the turn signals and making the headlights more of a square helps with the look DRAMATICALLY

 

I'm guessing the handles on the existing d series are metal because I have a OBS Chevrolet pickup that is a face-lift from the original 1988 model year and the flush door handle were metal, however there are valid point because there was no other pickup prior to 1988 that had flush mounted handles And the molded mirrors are something that would work better on the current one but steel mirrors would suit a pre face-lift much better.

 

iirc Gavril was a little ahead of their contemporaries, I somehow doubt this would have been limited to drivetrain technologies. I totally get the position of "pre1988 metal parts," but I'm not sure I see it as such a big deal. Anyways, the face... (drop?) looks great; although I don't believe a hood ornament would be amiss here!

 

no it really doesn't lol

 

I got lost somewhere in this post. Assuming that the 'existing' D-series is the one currently available in-game, currently given as 1988-94, but which I'm proposing retconning into 1991-94, then I suppose it's possible that the door handles might be metal - but the question is whether or not they would have stayed metal right up until 1994. The current textures look plastic to me because they seem to match up with the texture on parts that were almost always plastic on trucks past 1988 - like the mirrors, bug shield, and front bumper lip.

I am proposing keeping the flush handles, but just with an alternate texture that turns them and the window frames into shiny metal. (sort of like the chrome trim options on Legran and Grand Marshal) Maybe it could also affect those recently-teased old-style mirrors. I remember seeing pictures of similar mirrors being chrome on post '88 chevy pickups.

I don't think that chrome door handles are as big a deal as making that front valence flush with the bottom of the grille, but it is something that's fairly doable - there are multiple cars already in-game that have the colour of trim made controllable in one form or another, and it really just boils down to texturing.

You've gotten me curious - what sort of hood ornament are you thinking of?

 

Figured I'd put my input on everyone's suggestions too... With the recent controversy I guess I should emphasize that I love what has been shown off and the vehicle team has done some incredible things in recent updates, and it looks like this will be a big vehicle content update with or without everything here. But this is a forum about the D-Series, so it seems fair to talk about my opinions on the D-Series here.

Interior: Guess I'll start with the most difficult one to address. Interiors across the entire roster need work, not just the truck. Right now there just is not much possibility to customize the interior, which means we have more or less a factory stock interior on everything. This would be a lot of work, and relatively little reward since many people don't even look at the interior of vehicles. But for those of us that do use first person, having a more or less factory interior on everything from crawlers to drag cars to emergency vehicles to custom street machines really removes a lot from the immersion. IRL face-lifts are usually accompanied by interior updates, so it should be on the list of things to look at some day, at least before 1.0.

Engines: I love getting new engine types, so I see a face-lift as an excuse to see some new ones. The current engines in the 1988 are rather modern. I can accept "Gavril was advanced in this department" for 1988, but applying that to the pre-face-lift is pushing it for me here. Besides, doesn't a 1985 D15 with an old 423ci sound like fun? And who doesn't want more engine options? Engines are also easily reused in other cars, factory or aftermarket. So it's an investment now that will keep giving later.

The grill/fascia: Personally I really like the vented fascia and new grille/lights, but the one above by enjoyinorc looks awesome too. That seems simple to add as an alternative since it's just a strip for the fascia and a larger version of the same grille. It's not like we don't have similar alternative selections on cars as is (D-Series grilles, Autobello fenders and hoods, etc...).

The mirror situation: Well we saw that she is getting old style mirrors already, so at least she's getting an appropriate selection here. But I still want to see the classic metal mirrors. If you don't understand why I do, there's some things about me you should know...

1. There's a couple of reasons that I personally wanted an old D-Series, the relevant one is because I love the muscle truck look. Aggressive lines, old school utilitarian step side bed, rectangular front end, simple interior, big block engine, etc... The mirrors shown off are fitting of a pre-face-lift, but not exactly tough looking.
2. I grew up with games like midnight club, NFS Underground (2)/Carbon/Most Wanted 2005. All of this is to say that I expect a healthy amount of customization; that was promised in some of the older videos and such too. I want the player to be able to make their vehicle their own. That is one of the most tangible strengths of having vehicles built like they are in game. That's difficult to do if there's no alternative parts to choose.

Bumpers: No problems here, just hoping that it gets bumper bars in the modification slot like the Bluebuck does. They were common on these trucks.

Doors: I don't think new doors are necessary, but they would add a lot. Again, alternate choices and just generally looking more period correct. Zoll's modification looks great IMO. For those who think this is extreme: The Autobello has option for front or rear hinged doors, and the Hopper has 4 door options (Full, half, fabric, tube). No reason more cars can't have choices here.

 

The door handles actually are metal; just inset and painted black (I have an OBS Chevy with identical door handles). I was thinking something like the old Ram's had, or the GM 6.5/6.2l diesels had - except obviously proprietary to Gavril.

 

I have an OBS GMC Suburban. It is a 1992 that has metal door handles. At some point, it was rear ended and one of the barn doors was changed for a non-damaged one off a newer truck. It uses a plastic door handle of the same shape. I think it would be cool to have metal handles for the pre facelift, and cheaper feeling plastic one for the post facelift.

 

I've driven/owned a lot of OBS Chevy/GMC pickups, have yet to find one with plastic door handles. I think there are after-market ones made from a plastic, but all stock ones (afaik) are cast metal. I've driven a lot of older square-bodies as well, the construction quality was greatly improved with the GMT400 platform, in every aspect.

 

I think they were from the last few years of production. I worked on a 1999 Yukon that had plastic door handles, and they all seemed to be OEM.

 

My 1999 OBS Sierra has metal door handles.

 

I could be remembering the Yukon wrong, as it was quite a while ago. It could also be only for the rear barn doors. I'm researching it right now.
--- Post updated ---
I found a handle on amazon claiming to be OEM that is plastic, but it is definitely aftermarket.

 

Okay, so from what I've seen, I like the new front end a lot. Makes the D-Series look a lot meaner. However, like some other people have mentioned, some different door handles and interior features would be nice. Frankly for how 90s/80s trucks got to be (thanks to the 1994 Ram + 80s F150) I think there's a lot of room for improvement.

 

it'd be cool to have side exit exhaust and Hood exit exhaust for the D series diesel
--- Post updated ---
also trimmed bumpers and fender for making budget builds

 

I’m sure there will be chrome door handles. Yet I remind you all that this a pre facelift not a older generation. Facelifts usually don’t have new doors, or interiors

 

That is true. But, because we're "going backward" with the D-Series, I'd say it could be possible because like Chevy and Ford in the late 80s-early 90s, there were changes to the interiors. But the devs might not necessarily want to put effort into this much change for the D-Series as I'm just now realizing.

 

We aren't talking about a passenger car though, we are talking about a comercial truck. Which often just keep getting updates to the same basic vehicle. The Dodge D-Series was basically the same truck from '63-'96, The Ford F-Series was from '65-'79 and again from '80-'97, E-Series from '75-present, getting a new body on the same frame in '92. And so on...

These trucks often get new body pannels on the same platform. Interiors tend to get small updates along the way and once in awhile get a completely new interior. The Gavril D-Series platform got a new interior for the Roamer, so the most realistic pre-face-lift interior would be mostly what we have now with just some minor detail changes. Though that's difficult since we can't change dashboards...

 

that would be quite easy for the devs to implement though.