[2] The Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) concept, which translated into the CUCV program, was originally intended to augment the purpose-built but expensive Gama Goat 6 x 6, 1+1⁄4-ton trucks and M151 series 1⁄4-ton "jeeps" approaching the end of their service life in the mid-1970s.

GM CUCVs were heavily redesigned in 2000 and their name was changed to Light Service Support Vehicle (LSSV).

CUCVs are not built for direct frontline combat use, as evident by their lack of bulletproofing and protection from ordnance.

Like many of the vehicle parts, the windshield, cabin glass, and body panels are civilian-grade and offer no protection from firearms or explosives.

CUCVs and LSSVs are in use as support vehicles for military police, troop transport, range control, facilities, and maintenance.

In 1976 the M880/M890 series was put into production under a large contract,[5][2] intended to replace previous Dodge M37 and Kaiser Jeep M715 trucks and their variants.

called "five-quarters";[citation needed] (the term "CUCV" did not appear until the 1980s when GM was contracted to replace the M880/890 trucks).

[5][7] In Canadian service, the base vehicle was the 4-speed standard transmission, Power Wagon model, which was slightly heavier and costlier than the W200.

[2] Replacing the M880/M890 series, the CUCV represented General Motors' first major light-truck military vehicle production since World War II.

[12] GM CUCVs were assembled mostly from existing heavy duty light commercial truck parts.

[13] Many M1028s were upgraded at the company level to M1028A2 and A3 specs—the dual wheel rear end arrangement was a result of the M1028 flipping on its side because of the high center of gravity when carrying equipment shelters.

[20] Produced through 2001, CUCV IIs were basic civilian Chevrolet C/K, Tahoe, and Suburban units sent to another plant for "militarization" on special order.

[20] They received CARC exterior paint (Forest Green, Desert Sand, or 3-color camouflage), a brush bar, a pintle hitch, towing/loading shackles, extra leaf springs to give them a 5/4 ton rating and a host of other small changes.

[20] When production of the CUCV II ended in 2000, GM redesigned it to coincide with civilian truck offerings.

As GM has periodically redesigned its civilian trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from 2001 to the present, LSSVs have also been updated cosmetically.

[21] The militarization of standard GM trucks/SUVs to become LSSVs includes exterior changes such as Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) paint (Forest Green, Desert Sand, or 3-color Camouflage), blackout lights, military bumpers, a brush guard, a NATO slave receptacle/NATO trailer receptacle, a pintle hook, tow shackles and a 24/12 volt electrical system.

The truck also can be equipped with weapon supports in the cab, cargo tie down hooks, folding troop seats, pioneer tools, winches, and other military accessories.