Information on Chevrolet Pickups
The Chevrolet pickup truck has been a perennial second-place finisher in sales to the Ford F-Series truck, but it's an either/or situation. One is either a Ford truck enthusiast or a Chevy diehard and never the twain shall meet. Chevy truck owners hold the belief that a truck's styling should be understated with a hint of elegance and avoid brutish looks, making Chevrolet a distinct alternative to its rivals.
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C/K Series
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The C/K series was introduced in 1960 and ran for 28 years. The two-wheel drive trucks were identified as the C series, while four-wheel drive models were labeled the K series. A great many of these trucks, particularly the 1967 to 1972 models with their contemporary body design, remain on the road today.
Features
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Chevrolet became a serious competitor against the venerable Ford F-Series during the 1960s and '70s with the C/K series slab-sided Fleetside body style and the Stepside that featured flared rear fenders. The beds were either 6 1/2 feet long or 8 feet.
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The Silverado
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The Silverado pickup replaced the long-running C/K series in late 1998 as the 1500 1/2-ton model, the 2500 3/4-ton truck and the 3500 1-ton offering. These popular trucks rivaled the Ford F-Series with a series of strong engines including the 4.3-liter Vortec V-6, the optional 4.8-liter and later the 5.3-liter V-8
Super Sport
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In the mid-1960s, Chevrolet began using its famed Super Sport package, or "SS" high-performance option, on its El Camino sports coupe utility pickup, which was based on the Chevelle body style. The Super Sport was later featured on the Silverado light-duty pickups. The package includes a high-performance V-8 engine, racing suspension and exhaust, racing-style accents in the interior and special "SS" badging.
Hybrid
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Chevrolet introduced a limited number of Silverado hybrids in 2005 but didn't start producing larger quantities until 2007. The hybrid was modest in its fuel-efficiency ambitions with an electric motor located in the transmission housing to start the engine and power the accessories. The motor also turns off the engine when the truck comes to a stop and restarts it when the brake pedal is released.
Avalanche
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The Avalanche was introduced for the 2002 model year as Chevrolet's offering of a four-door passenger vehicle. Half sport-utility vehicle and half pickup truck, its rear window can be removed, and a folding back seat is hidden under a panel in the bed to carry additional passengers. Its heavy use of gray plastic cladding met with strong resistance from buyers, and a darker color was introduced in 2003.
Other Models
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Taking low-cost cues from Japanese automakers, Chevrolet introduced the Chevy Luv in 1972, which competed against the Ford Courier and the Datsun and Toyota pickups in the "mini" truck market in the 1970s through the early 1980s. The compact and more popular S-10 pickups, modeled after the C/K series, and later the Silverado, continued the fuel-efficient truck line.
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Resources
- Photo Credit General Motors
