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 absolutely dialed-in, mostly 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 very long time. If you're a bonafide collector or just want the best-of-the-best in 'modern classic' ingenuity, then your search is likely over with this 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, and a big back window with sliding glass. This one has been altered a bit, but in our opinion for the better, with a lowered stance, blacked-out rims, and a roll pan out back that took place of the rear bumper. The lower body molding was deleted, as were the tailgate decals, giving this truck a smoother look that really lets that sinister black paint do all the talking, but they did leave the "454SS" decals on the back of the bed to intimidate anyone that wants to get cute. 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, but it's still very impressive and even the minor imperfections can't be fretted over in our opinion. 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 inside of the bed is so darn straight, clean, and shiny, we'd be surprised if it's ever hauled anything heavier than a pillow in its lifetime.


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 one of these 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 even the original HVAC controls, 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 stereo (which is just for show and comes supplemented with a Pioneer AM/F/CD/AUX head unit that was neatly installed where the factory equalizer once was), intermittent wipers, cold factory A/C, power windows and locks, and an auxiliary lighting package. 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 chrome top, 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 10-bolt rear differential, 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 from the factory, and it's obviously been lowered to the killer stance and features upgraded McGaughey's shocks, quick-ratio power steering, and a heavy front anti-roll bar. The 2:1:2 exhaust system sounds nice and throaty and comes equipped with a Flowmaster-style muffler, and the whole show rides on blacked-out Raceline wheels wrapped in 255/55/18 Pirelli performance radials that fill the fenders perfectly.


Mostly original with a couple of choice upgrades, 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!