For Sale: 1990 Chevrolet C/K 1500 in Ft Worth, Texas

If you were a Chevrolet engineer in the early 1990s, it was probably pretty easy to see where the future was eventually headed: back to the muscle car era. With that in mind, the Chevy 454SS was born, combining the big block from the heavy-duty trucks in the lightest half-ton chassis to create the first muscle truck of the modern era. With an insanely low 8,246 original miles on the clock, and a 100% all-original presentation, this first-year 1990 Chevrolet C1500 454SS production hotrod truck might be the nicest example of one of these the market has seen in a decade. If you're a bonafide collector or just want the best-of-the-best in 'modern classic' ingenuity, then your search is likely over wit this show-stopper 454SS.


Outside, your color choice was fairly simple for the 1990 454SS: Onyx Black or buy a different truck. Sure, in the later '91-'93 years, a handful of white and red models were made, but whenever these trucks are discussed the slick-black livery is all that's remembered, and for good reason. Chevy's "Heartbeat of America" campaign was in full swing in the '90s, and red accents separated the sporty models from the mundane, along with special features offered only for the 454SS trucks: luxury-level Silverado trim with blackout effects, an all-black grille, fog lights, factory-tinted windows, a big back window with a sliding glass, and special-issue 6-slot SS wheels that practically screamed 'Beware the Bowtie". "454SS" decals were also package exclusive and let everyone know that this was not the truck to play games with, and the special '8k original mile' decals on the windshield of this particular beauty spells out just how special this truck really is. If you're familiar with most vehicles from this era, then you know how lackluster these GM paint jobs really were, quickly fading after just a year or two out in the elements, which makes the top driver-quality presentation on this Chevy that much more special. We can't call it show quality because it wasn't that when it left the factory line, but it's been so incredibly well-preserved, that even the minor imperfections can't be fretted over in our opinion. This is a lifelong Texas truck with only 8,246 original miles so the body is laser-straight too, with nary a dent or ding to speak of, further proof that this truck hasn't spent much time outside of the show circuit. The headlights and taillights are all in excellent shape as well, and the bed is fully protected with a drop-in plastic liner, so if you ever get the audacity to haul anything with this truck outside of a heavy trophy, then you'll know that it can handle it.


Inside, these 454SS trucks only came one way as well: covered carpet-to-headliner in Garnet Red cloth trim. High-back reclining sport buckets are neatly upholstered with the original plush trim, a center console with storage space and cup holders sit in between, and a matching set of plush door panels are at the flanks. As you might expect, everything is in excellent shape, including the sturdy red carpets, taut headliner, and unblemished and crack-free dash that anchors the cabin. Much like the exterior paint, the interior GM materials used in this era never really stood the test of time, so to see an original truck in such clean shape is really an amazing feat. You got full instrumentation with the 454SS package, complete with a factory tachometer, digital clock, and graphic equalizer, along with options from both the Driver and Operating Convenience Group that included electronic speed control, a comfort-tilt 4-spoke steering wheel, an electronically-tuned AM/FM/Cassette stereo, intermittent wipers, cold factory A/C, power windows and locks, an auxiliary lighting package, and color-keyed floor mats. So yeah, it's loaded, very comfortable, and incredibly powerful.


Pop the hood and find the heart of the package: The big 7.4 liter, 454 cubic inch V8. With throttle body injection it makes 230 horsepower and a towering 385 pounds of torque, a number the small block couldn't hope to achieve, which in this lightweight truck meant it was leaving Mustang GTs in the dust. It's all stock under the hood, including the big snorkeled air cleaner complete with 454 decals, and the heavy-duty radiator, separate engine and transmission oil coolers, power steering, power front disc brakes and the A/C system all work as they should. Connected to a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and a heavy-duty 14-bolt Eaton locking rear differential with 3.73 gears, this SS454 is no slouch, and the hardware is pretty much bulletproof. Underneath it's quite tidy and very clean, with a sporty suspension that featured the GM Performance Handling Package highlighted with Bilstein air shocks, quick-ratio steering, and a heavy front anti-roll bar. The stock exhaust system sounds nice and throaty and is still equipped with its catalytic convertor, and the whole show rides on special-issue 6-slot SS chrome wheels with black center caps, all of which have been wrapped in beefy 275/60/15 BFGoodrich radials.


All-original, beautifully-preserved, and surprisingly fast, this is the truck that invented the modern sport truck revolution, and it's a legitimate collector's item in its own right today. Call now!