Information on Chevy Trucks
Chevrolet pickup trucks have been produced by General Motors since 1918 and enjoy a neck-and-neck race in sales with the highly popular Ford F-Series. Although Chevy often came up short to Ford in sales in the 1970s, it remains a desired alternative to Ford for its durability. Only recently have the combined sales of the Chevy Silverado and its sister truck, the GMC Sierra, matched or exceeded Ford's production.
Other People Are Reading
-
Early Years
-
Chevrolet joined General Motors in 1918, and introduced its first truck the same year. It consisted of a chassis and cowl and was powered by a four-cylinder engine. The truck was based on the automaker's 490 model passenger car.
Advanced Design
-
From 1947-54, Chevrolet put an emphasis on driver safety and comfort with its Advanced Design series of trucks. These trucks were seven inches longer and eight inches wider than the prewar models. The windshield and windows were larger for better visibility, and the gear shift lever was moved from the floor to the steering wheel to allow more floor space and comfort for passengers sitting in the middle.
-
The 1960s
-
The 1960s ushered in the C/K Series trucks, which proved to be Chevrolet's most durable and popular line of pickups. Produced from 1960-98, the C/K line offered pickups in Stepside and Fleetside models with straighter lines, a flatter hood and more passenger-car appointments in the interior. Many C/K Series trucks going back to the 1960s remain on the road today.
The 1970s and '80s
-
Chevy was slow in restyling its models simply because it saw no need to mess with a successful truck. But Ford in the late 1970s began outselling Chevrolet when it introduced an extended cab model, while Chevy offered none. Rather, in 1981 Chevy focused on fuel efficiency while attempting to provide more towing power with a 4.1- and 4.8-liter six-cylinder engine and the 5.7- and 7.4-liter V8s. During this period the Chevy S-10 compact pickup also was offered. It was produced from 1982-2004.
The Silverado/GMC Sierra
-
The C/K Series came to an end in 1998 with the introduction of the 1999 Silverado and near identical GMC Sierra. The GMC was considered the luxury version of the Chevrolet pickup, but over the decades the two trucks have merged virtually into one, each offering almost the same engine options and luxury appointments.
The New Light Duty
-
The half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton Silverado and Sierra are offered as the two-door regular cab, the three- or four-door extended cab and the four-door crew cab model. Cargo box sizes are 69.2, 78.7 and 97.6 inches in length. The 1999-2002 models remained basically the same, but both trucks received face-lifts in 2003 with an updated nose and rear end.
Super Sport
-
The quarter-ton, or 1500, Silverado received the Super Sport "SS" package in 2003. It was equipped with a hefty 6.0-liter Vortec V8 generating 345 horsepower and 380 foot-pounds of torque. It was the same engine that powered the Cadillac Escalade. The "SS" model also featured a high-performance suspension system, 20-inch chrome rims and special "SS" badging. A Silverado and GMC hybrid also are offered.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit General Motors
