The Berliet GBC 8 KT had its origins in a commercial design known as the Gazelle which was developed specifically for use in North Africa. A series of modifications resulted in the military GBC 8 KT which was ordered for the French armed forces in the late 1950s and was subsequently exported to nations such as Portugal and Algeria. The type was also license-produced in China. By the time production was completed over 19 000 had been produced and the type still remains in use.

   The vehicle has a distinctive bonnet shape and is normally seen with a removable soft top to the cab.

   The base vehicle is a conventional load carrier with the usual tilt covering the load area but the type is frequently used as a flat bed carrier for a variety of communications and other shelters or electrical generators and air compressors. Vehicle can carry 20 fully-equipped troops in the cargo body.

   There are a number of variants. The KT series has a multi-fuel engine while the MT series uses a conventional 150 hp diesel. There is a 4 x 4 variant, which was sold to Algeria and Portugal, and a long wheelbase (3.71 m + 1.28 m) model with increased dimensions overall.

   Some vehicles have winches and/or hydraulic loading cranes. Two types of recovery vehicle are still used and these are 5 000-litre tanker, tipper truck and fire tender versions. There is also a tractor truck used to tow specialized semi-trailers and aircraft refueller versions.

   Berliet is now part of Renault Vehicules Industriels (RVI). Most of the surviving fleet has now been refurbished and upgraded to the Renault GBC-180 standard. These trucks received new cabs, new engines. Payload capacity has been increased to 5 000 kg.