Pickups began life almost as soon as automobiles became available to the general populace. They were spartan, just like most cars, used for hauling produce, construction materials, or whatever one would have previously used a wagon to move. Over the years, pickups have evolved into comfortable, and in some cases luxurious, daily transportation for millions. Modern pickups come in myriad shapes and sizes, and can be configured for about any purpose. There are even those aimed with a more sporting bent. These sport trucks owe a debt to one of the first performance trucks of the modern era, the Chevy 454 SS.
Those of you who remember early performance trucks would likely argue one of the first was Dodge’s Lil Red Express pickup that bowed for the 1978 model year. The Lil Red Express was a bright red, regular cab, short stepside bed D100 pickup equipped with a 225-horsepower 360 cube V8, with semi truck-style exhaust stacks that were mounted between the cab and the bed. In testing by Car and Driver magazine, the Lil Red Express ran the quarter mile in 14.7 seconds, quicker than that year’s Chevy Corvette. After just two years of production, the Lil Red Express was gone. The next real performance truck would be the 1990 Chevy 454 SS.
In 1990, the Chevy 454 SS debuted to an enthusiastic reception. Powered by a 454 cubic-inch Big Block, the regular cab, short bed C/K1500 had 230 horsepower on tap, with a three-speed automatic transmission backing the rat motor. The 454 SS featured oil and transmission coolers, a heavy-duty bed tonneau cover, air conditioning, a meaty front sway bar, quicker steering, Bilstein shocks, a front air dam with driving lights, cruise control, a Delco AM/FM/cassette stereo, and power locks and windows. Available exclusively in Onyx Black with a Garnett Red cloth sport bucket seat interior, Chevy’s smallest half-ton pickup packed enough power and torque to be truly entertaining. Large 454 SS decals were emblazoned on either side of the truck bed. The whole affair rode on 15-inch chrome six-slot wheels. The following year, power would increase to 255 horsepower (more than the Corvette!), and the transmission would become a four-speed automatic. Victory Red or Summit White exterior finishes joined black beginning in 1992. The 454 SS would be produced through the 1993 model year.
Our feature 1993 Chevy 454 SS is finished in glossy Onyx Black over a Garnett Red cloth bucket seat interior. It is powered by the 255-horsepower 454 cubic inch Big Block backed by a four-speed automatic. It is loaded with all the standard power equipment, bed tonneau cover, and driving lights. It has covered just 18,000 miles from new. Included in the sale is the original window sticker, which has been framed.
This stunning 1993 Chevy 454 SS sold on auction site Bring a Trailer for $63,000.
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Comments
Would have been a lot more fun to have been driving it those years.
These were sweet trucks. My friend’s Dad had one and I got a ride in it back in the day.
Good friend at a small town dealer (GM didn’t renew their franchise agreement when they cut out many small family owned dealerships to go with larger regional dealers years ago), said he couldn’t give away a pickup with a 454 until these came out.
This truck must give Mary nightmares, LOL!
If car companies ever wanted to duplicate that style of interior (and those comfy seats), then I wouldn’t object.
I salivated over these trucks when they were introduced. I was a sophomore in high school with a license burning a hole in my back pocket! This bodystyle truck is timeless in design, IMHO. Especially in 2WD Regular Cab/Short Bed form. I now own a 1996 C1500 RC/SB with Cheyenne trim. It has the deluxe appearance package (makes it look similar on the outside to the Silverado trim). It also has the Vortec 5000 V8 (305 cubes), automatic, 3.42 gears, and those sweet six-slot chromed steel wheels. Not a hot rod, but no slouch, either. Finished in Light Blue, with just a bit of a rake to her stance. A good lookin’ truck! It stickered for $19,029. I’d love to add a 454SS to my collection. Maybe someday!
“Stomp the gas from a stoplight and the guy behind you will think his cars on fire” I remember that line vividly from the Car & Driver test of the 454SS
Those were the days, too bad GM doesn’t try to offer something similar today! Trucks are insanely popular today and GM is sitting on the sidelines while Ram TRX & Ford Raptor are making major money offering performance trucks. Why wouldn’t GM take existing drivetrains and easily offer a competitive Chevy or GMC truck? I’m baffled, GM has lost its edge? The Cadillac V series Escalade has the engine needed to make GM a perfect offering, without breaking the bank.
I remember taking a tour of the truck plant in Ft. Wayne, IN since my buddy’s father worked there. At the end of the assembly line there were many crate 454s just sitting there. This was about 1993. Always wanted one.
GM was offering several “hot” trucks in the early 90’s during a recession! GMC offered the 91 Syclone built on the S15 chassis and the 92/93 Typhoon which was built on the Jimmy 2 dr. GM was closing factories and laying off 75,000 employees after 1991, but that didn’t keep them from staying ahead of the competition. Performance was always affordable then, now unless you have about $75k or more to spend, GM isn’t interested. GM has narrowed its portfolio, no Jeep or Bronco offering, no small pickup, no family vans, cars aren’t available unless you can afford a Cadillac or Corvette. GM’s EV portfolio must be more diverse, if it is going to have enough volume to replace ICE sales. The $90k Silverado isn’t going to cut it. Affordable models are the only way a majority of consumers will attempt to switch over to EV’s in the near future. I will miss the 1LE Camaro V6, most underrated affordable car in the past five years! GM has always had the talent to make it a reality, offering the mix of economy, tech and performance is the key to success in sales volume.
Proud to have been there when it was built.
Beautiful truck! Need to make sport trucks like this again, instead of stupid wanna be off-road mall crawlers trucks.
Nice truck. We sold and serviced a few new SS models in Henry’s favourite colour at the dealership.
A 454 big block V8 had 5 more hp than a 1st gen small block Chevy 350 lol (255 vs 250 in 1991). The next year in 1992, the Corvette received the gen 2 LT1 350 with 300 hp.
The SS454 was in a league with the all-wheel-drive GMC Syclone and Typhoon. The two were unworldly with the turbo V-6 and AWD ! Put you back in the seat at launch they would !!