1990 Chevrolet C1500 Sport

Description

Chevy has been making pickup trucks since the '30s, and after making about a gazillion of them, we can safely say they perfected the practice long ago. Made to withstand all the punishment that a heavy-duty hauler needs to tolerate, this 1990 Chevrolet C1500 Sport pickup appears to have led a very pampered existence. There can't be many that are nicer, leading us to wonder if it's time for these early "Old Body Style" C/K trucks start to become genuine collector's vehicles. With great looks, fuel-injected V8 power, and remarkable originality, this blacked-out Chevy Sport truck deserves your full attention.

Slick black paint jobs will always be in style, especially in a pickup truck, and we have to admit that the classic black-on-red combination works particularly well on the Chevy C/K short-bed/single-cab series of trucks, as the increasing popularity of the 454SS trucks indicate. In fact, the Sport appearance package is exactly what you got with a Silverado 454SS, so what you're basically looking at is that very truck but with a small block motor. Combined with the regular cab and short bed, this '90 model has a sporty demeanor and a timeless look, further accentuated by the raked stance on the profile. It has a tough working class feel to it as well though, with a black headache rack and toolbox in the bed showing everybody that this OBS Chevy can still put the work in. It remains in darn good condition for being over 30 years old, and the shiny paint has weathered the years far better than most GM products of the era, needing nothing more than a coat of wax to really look great. It isn't perfect of course, but it is clear that someone really cared for this truck. There was no chrome fitted to these sporty workhorses, with red accented trim taking the place of any bling, and the lower body molding and outlined Bowtie badges look wicked cool against the black backdrop. And if you're actually going to put it to work, you'll be happy to find a heavy-duty bed that's been protected with thick rubber mat on the floor and a plastic liner on the tailgate.

Inside, a comfortable bench seat makes this a first-class way to haul you and your gear and the red cloth upholstery looks properly maintained and bone stock. Because this is a Sport model it is optioned with many of the creature comforts available in 1990, including air conditioning that blows cold R134a air, an original Delco AM/FM/Cassette stereo, cruise control, power windows, power locks, and a tilt wheel that are all at the fingertips of the driver, further blurring the line between blue and white collar transportation. And we haven't forgotten that this is a truck with a half- ton load capacity and so power steering and power front disc brakes make it all manageable. The multi-colored Maroon dash (a strange design choice by Chevy, but we all remember it so it obviously served its purpose) isn't at all cracked like the majority of these are today, and the original steering wheel that still mans the cockpit is in great shape too. Those are original door panels at the flanks, the matching red carpets below are protected with stock rubber mats, and the sliding rear window provides a comfortable breeze for those days when A/C isn't needed.

Open the hood and inspect the nicely detailed, all-original engine bay. This OBS Sport is equipped with the 350 cubic inch (5.7L) V8 that has been fitted to everything from Camaros to, well, pickup trucks. There's more than enough power available if you choose to leave the motor bone stock like this one, which looks just like it just rolled out of the showroom (albeit with minor signs of use from the 162k miles on the clock) and still runs superbly. The 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission is also performing without complaint and there isn't a better transmission available to mate to the 350; after all, fuel mileage matters these days. Also take a look at the super clean undercarriage, where you'll find no secrets, thanks to a lifetime in Texas' warm climate, and again, it suggests that this truck has led a very good life. A heavy-duty 10-bolt rear end is geared for both quick starts and highway cruising, and the truck's soundtrack has been greatly improved thanks to a throaty Flowmaster exhaust system below. Stock chrome wheels add some flash to the short-bed pickup, adding to the sporty demeanor and it carries 255/70/15 Cooper Cobra white-letter radials at all four corners that finish off the truck perfectly.

This is a great-looking truck today, and if these OBS's become more collectable in the future, we're pretty sure these handsome Sport editions will be first on the list. Call today!