For Sale: 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 in Bradenton, Florida

1994 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 SLE 4x4 �€" Short Bed Regular Cab with Fresh Paint Why This Car Is Special The 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 SLE 4x4 sits at a specific intersection that collectors and truck enthusiasts are paying close attention to right now. It is the last generation of the GMT400 body style before emissions and safety regulations began pulling the 5.7L TBI V8 out of production configurations, and it carries the Z71 off-road package �€" the most capable factory suspension and skid plate setup GMC offered on the half-ton at the time. The GMT400 platform, introduced for the 1988 model year, was a significant engineering leap for General Motors. It replaced the square-edged C/K body that had been in production since 1973 with a more aerodynamic design, a smoother ride courtesy of a revised front torsion bar suspension on 4x4 models, and a substantially quieter cabin. By 1994, the platform had been refined for six years and was considered by many truck buyers to be the benchmark of the segment. What makes this particular truck worth examining carefully is the combination of factors that rarely survive together: the Z71 package, SLE trim, short bed, regular cab body, the 350 cubic inch V8, and a recent professional repaint. The short bed regular cab in 4x4 trim is a configuration that was never as common as the extended cab long bed, and survivors in clean condition are increasingly hard to locate. The VIN on this truck confirms it was built as a K-series (4x4) half-ton, assembled with the 5.7L V8 �€" the most capable engine in the Sierra 1500 lineup for 1994. Features List - 5.7L 350 cubic inch TBI V8 engine - 4-speed automatic transmission - Z71 Off-Road Package (upgraded shocks, front torsion bar suspension tuning, factory skid plates) - SLE Trim Package - Part-time 4WD with floor-mounted transfer case shifter - Factory aluminum alloy wheels - Power steering - Power front disc brakes - Air conditioning - Power windows - Power door locks - Full-width cloth bench seat - Chrome front and rear bumpers - Tow hitch receiver - Recent professional repaint (approximately $8,500 invested) Mechanical The engine under the hood is GM's 5.7L V8 �€" the L05 Throttle Body Injection variant �€" displacing 350 cubic inches and rated at 210 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque in 1994 configuration. This is the same basic small-block architecture that GM had been refining since 1955, though by 1994 it had received TBI fuel injection for improved cold starts, better fuel metering, and reduced emissions compared to the carbureted versions that preceded it. The TBI setup on this engine uses two injectors mounted in a throttle body that closely resembles a carburetor from the outside, which makes it straightforward to diagnose and service �€" a practical advantage for an owner who does their own maintenance. Backing the V8 is a 4-speed automatic transmission, the 4L60E, which was an electronically controlled unit replacing the older THM700-R4 in the GMT400 trucks. It is a durable transmission well-suited to the torque output of the 350. The Z71 package on this 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 is not a cosmetic designation. It adds a specific suspension tune calibrated for off-road use, Bilstein or equivalent gas-charged shock absorbers, and factory-installed skid plates protecting the transfer case and fuel tank. The front suspension on 4x4 GMT400 trucks uses a torsion bar setup rather than coil springs, which allows for a relatively low hood line while still providing the necessary front axle travel for off-road use. Under the truck, the photos confirm a clean undercarriage with the skid plates intact and the front solid axle and rear leaf spring suspension showing no visible rot or serious corrosion �€" a significant finding on a 30-year-old 4x4. The tires on the truck are General Savero HT2 all-terrain radials, a capable highway and light trail tire that complements the Z71's suspension tuning. Interior The interior on this 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 SLE is