When it comes to survivor vehicles, it seems there is no limit for what constitutes “low mileage.” All the time, we see vehicles that were quite literally driven home and not touched for decades, just waiting for the right time to sell. Sometimes, however, you have to ask whether all that waiting and restraint was worth it. In the case of this 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS pickup listed here on Mecum Auctions with just 11 miles on the clock, you really do wonder whether the seller is going to realize an incredible amount of profit given these trucks haven’t rocketed up in value like many had hoped.
Let’s do some math. When new, this truck ran just under $40,000 out the door. That was a lot for 1992 when the idea of a high-performance pickup truck wasn’t exactly commonplace. When you compare that number to the high watermark of current auction prices – this 417-mile example sold for $50,000 on Bring A Trailer – that’s a lot of time spent waiting and not driving to realize a modest profit of $10,000. Now, 11 miles on the clock may as well be in a completely different universe than 417, but I doubt you’re talking that much additional profit when all is said and done. Plus, let’s not forget that going to a venue with Mecum introduces all sorts of additional fees as well as the hassle and cost of moving the truck back and forth if it doesn’t sell.
The 454 SS wasn’t just a big motor and some window dressing. Chevy upgraded the suspension with Bilstein shocks, a bigger front sway bar, quicker steering, and fat tires. In addition, the 454ci V8 got an upgraded radiator, along with oil and transmission coolers. Throw in the fact that this era of pickup was one of the most well-loved in recent memory and you have a hot rod short bed that will always have someone waving their paddle; the question is, will they raise it to the degree that it makes keeping it in mothballs for a few decades worth the penalty of never driving it? The interior, obviously, is mint.
These days, the prices being paid for some collector-grade vehicles is absolutely nuts. We recently saw a fairly average C6 Chevrolet Corvette sell for a ridiculous $330,000 solely because it had a mere 6 miles on the clock. It’s highly unlikely that buyer will ever get that money back, but then again, collectors of American muscle cars and trucks seem to be overcome with the need to drain their bank accounts when a low mileage specimen rolls across the block. I’m sure the owner of this 454 SS is hoping for a similar result as the likely overjoyed former owner of that C6 experienced, but time will tell if demand for this muscle truck is still high. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find.
The plain V6 version of these trucks were great. So this must be special. I have read that the steering wheel and driver seat don’t quite line up and make them somewhat awkward to drive. But I’d own one.
No doubt , at the price it will command an investor is going to buy this beautiful machine. They will trailer it to a dry storage area and it will continue to sit. Too bad, because if I had the green I would buy it to drive, but for folks like me the price tag will be way beyond reach. I ask you, let’s say the final price is equal to a brand new Silverado HD with all the accoutrements. Would you buy this or the Silverado? I’d buy this in half a heartbeat.
I’m with you Terry I would not hermedically seal it off in some vault.I would drive it! But since it was originally $40,000,$50,000 is a good price but most of us can’t afford those prices! The car market today is way way overpriced on most things.Someone recently was asking $30,000 for a 90s caprice classic.Ludicrous! it was just stock with low miles! people need to stop paying these stupid prices and maybe some sanity will come back.
This has got to be about as close to a brand new 454 SS pickup you could find on the planet. It looks like it was stored very carefully. Sadly, whoever buys this is most likely not going to be driving it anywhere. But it sure looks great.
Had an 89’ C1500 Scottsdale shortbed same color inside and out but had vinyl buckets and rubber floor, had the 350/5Speed (5 Speed was the default tranny? The salesman didn’t know that) strapped a tach on the Column, but put a camper shell for practicality so it didn’t look cool, with 3.08 gears I think it had a higher top speed than the 90SS
Oh, and it cost just under 12,000 no power windows/locks, did spring for the am/fm cassette and AC
Cool truck Frank 😎 real stripper model. Must have been a fun and quick driver. 👍
350 5 speed was an excellent combination. As nice as a 454 SS is, I’d rather have the 350 with a stick.
Even with the best plans, isn’t it bad for a car to be driven this little? Like Toad in Steve’s 58’ Chevy, man what a waste of machinery!
10 mpg city, 11 mpg highway. Looks like it travels mostly on a trailer. Nice looking truck.
The other one showed a window sticker of $18,845.00. Not $40,000.00
As far as the Barrett-Jackson $330,000 Corvette goes, I have long suspected that they periodically stage (fake) these outrageous sales strictly for the publicity value.
I get wanting to own a car or truck but strictly as an investment is foolishness. So he owns this for 35 years and deprives himself of any enjoyment unless it was parked inside his house and I would probably understand that better. Beyond not being able to enjoy it, there is a significant lost potential for that money which people don’t realize. I am no finance guy but you can easily calculate that $40k invested in the S&P 500 in 1990 would have a value of $1.4million today. Don’t get me wrong, I have a substantial amount of money tied up in a car and it is worth it but I also drive and enjoy it so I am getting value out of it and it will appreciate each year but not to the extent of an actual investment.
I really don’t get it, maybe money doesn’t matter to the seller or maybe he thought he was going to make a million on it……either way, nice truck but sadly will never be enjoyed in the manner that it was intended.
Sorry I am an old grearhead and all I can say is why? To save this smog era truck hopefully making a big profit in the future? There still was some torque left but computers weren’t making much in the way of HP. Just used as a large model, yep really dated myself there. As a young lad we did that! Oh well takes all types to make the world turn.
If that truck really cost $40,000 (I think it was half that – I looked at a loaded 1500 4×4 for $18k) in 1990, that is $96,600 in today’s dollars accounting for inflation. If that same $40k had been invested in an S&P 500 fund it would now be worth $1.42MM. Durable goods, maybe with the exception of real estate, generally don’t make for good investments. I only hope that the market recognizes the poor investment potential of most cars soon so I can buy something really nice for cheap and still have the wherewithal to enjoy it.
I came here to say this.
When I check an inflation calculator it’s says $18,000 in 1990 would be equivalent to $43,465.11 today. Where did you come up with your number?
Steve R
Not to speak for Roland but an inflation equivalent calc would only give you the conversion to today’s dollars. 40k in a stock fund would have a historical annual return to calculate that figure.
The sticker on the truck in the Mecum ad shows original MSRP of $18,863.
better buy a load of diapers to wipe it down because that’s all you can do with it once you pay stupid money for it with those low miles. any miles that are added drop the value as far as an investment
Just what i am looking for, but i only want 10 miles or less.
You won the internets today!
Good job!
I listed after an SS for decades but never could make room for another payment or toy. I made the plunge about 8 years ago. A used “classic” dealer in FL ran an ad for a nice looking SS, and the price was right. I almost doubled my in investment cost part after part after part…..etc. well, that fun ended sooner rather than later, so I sold it as is and almost came out even. My short revue of the SS includes a really bumpy/jerky ride, even with new suspension pieces. The 454, even after a set of Edelbrock heads and new top end the power was meager in near stock form. I now understand why is is stuck in the price range we see toady.
But is a beautifully ride. The proportions and presence keep it a Big Block favorite, and owning one was far from all bad.
Yea, 11 miles. Been running in place for 35 years. Piece of crap now. Suspension wise, exhaust wise, not to mention moisture in areas undiscovered. Dry environment aside still not what it use to be.
Back in 1990 the company I worked for had me in Northeast Indiana and close to where the Toll Road and I 69 crossed each other. I saw a lot of transport trucks carrying these trucks out to the Chevrolet dealers.