The GMT400 era of Chevrolet pickups is perhaps one of the most recognizable model generations ever made by General Motors. The front end design, two-tone paint, and revised interiors positioned this truck for the next generation of pickup truck owners, which is likely why you still see numerous Chevy and GM trucks from this era still in regular use. The truck shown here on eBay is a 1988 Chevrolet C/K Pickup with a long-bed, 5.7L 350 V8 engine, and surprisingly clean condition for having 123,843 miles on the clock.
The Chevy looks sharp on factory steel wheels, and the classic “4×4” decals are still in excellent shape at the end of the bed. GM simply nailed the design of these trucks, right down to those emblems that let you know this isn’t a 2WD model. Given how durable these rigs are, many were driven extremely hard and left for dead after a few years on the road – so, finding one in unrestored condition with no apparent modifications makes this ’88 model worth checking out.
While much has been said (and little of it good) about GM’s interiors from this time period, the cabin of the GMT400 trucks represented a significant evolution from previous generations. It’s hard to assign an objective criteria to what makes a vintage interior suitable for daily use, but having spent some time in these trucks, I find the cabins to be comfortable and loaded with convenience features (power windows, locks, steering). This Chevy looks quite tidy inside with no obvious stains or damage to the bench or carpets.
The engine bay is nicely detailed with no signs of surface rust on the air cleaner and hoses and plastics still look quite lustrous. The 350 will outlive most of us, and be cheap as chips to run for the long-term. This truck is equipped with a rebuilt automatic transmission equipped with a shift kit, so outside of consumable items in the suspension and rear end, I suspect this Chevy will give its next owner many years of reliable service. Bidding is currently at $4,500 with no reserve, so someone is going home with a sharp truck that will likely hold its value nicely for years to come.
Shift-on-fly into 4WD. In the spring of 1987 these were the wonder of their age. I saw my first ’88 C/K in early-April of 1987 on I-95 near Newtown, Pennsylvania. The new truck was heading north and I did a quadruple take ogling the thing. Inside of a month my father had gotten a GMC Sierra to use for his masonry construction business. Dad’s truck rode like it was on glass. I ended up with my own in August of that year; a 4X4 to help my father and brothers. I do not believe that there has been a more celebrated introduction of a new vehicle as was seen in 1987 with these new trucks.
These were nice trucks! I was with my dad when he was ready to trade his 83 Buick for a pickup. He ended up ordering a new 88 just like the one in this ad. At the time you could still buy an 87 and I was so upset that he chose the new design, I wanted an 87. But I turned out to love the truck. It rode great and was awesome with it’s then relatively new fuel injected 350. It shifted so much smoother than any truck I ever drove. The only thing that I felt was a negative was Dad never was into fancy or well optioned. He ordered it pretty much plain Jane with no electric windows and a solid blue color. I ended up loving it anyway and I had a dirt late model stock car that we raced every weekend sometimes at two different tracks. I took it and had a hitch put on for my racecar trailer and it towed so good 👍 very smooth and the trailer felt more stable than with my 83 pickup. I’d love to have this truck I really would but things just aren’t great for me right now. Having just spent a year fighting throat cancer and other things make buying nice things hard right now. I hope the new owner appreciates and loves this pickup 🛻
Well said, John. I almost bought an old body-style ’87 too. It wasn’t 4WD and I knew I needed that or I would dream up a situation where I needed it. A neighbor that lived across the street from my parents bought the same truck I’d had my eye-on and he was hit twice while driving that vehicle through no fault of his own over the next several years. I’m not superstitious to any great extent but I think I lucked out not buying the ’87; it was a beauty though, white over barn red.
We all hope that you stay on the mend with your health situation. Let it be a Happy New Year for you.
This is a well preserved truck. Loved these colors then and now. GM did a great job of building a good handling and riding pickup in these. The roomy cab has lots of glass that can be a downfall if the a/c can’t keep up or when the sun comes in and washes out the I/P cluster.
How can the A/C not keep up? The cab volume is very small.
P.S. I live in the desert.
My experience with these was during development so the a/c was likely addressed by the time they made production.
Where are you located?
The eBay seller and tuck are in North Idaho.
Good looking truck…
Have one with 140k miles in fine fettle in Quasar Blue. It suffers from the typical paint oxidation issues of that era. All of that glass means the sun heats the cab quickly so working AC is vital.
It is the largest vehicle I’ve owned and used as a daily driver. The front suspension uses torsion bars and the ride is nice like a large 1980s GM sedan. Great on the highway, It’s unwieldy for typical modern suburban and city maneuvering and parking. Ironically for such a huge vehicle there is virtually no storage space inside. The behind the seat space is shallow. I am 5’11” with long legs and need to have the seat all the way back or my right foot will get hung up moving from the accelerator to the brake. The glove box is 12″ wide x 8″ tall and 4″ deep, just enough to hold the owners manual. There is room under the seat to stash a few 6 packs of beer or a small tool box. All of that is tolerable. The one thing I most dislike is the lousy gas mileage. Even with conscientious effort I get 10 mpg, 12 if I get favorable tailwinds. But, all things considered, it has been a reliable vehicle that has been a treat to own requiring only basic maintenance.
Guess I should have created a evil bay account and held out for more. I sold my 89 for $1500 in 2019 it had 188,000 miles and I had to spend $400 bucks on A junk yard transmission just before I sold it.
I had a 1990 model and stupidly gave it away for 1,200$. Even detailed it. Only had 163,000 miles on the clock. I to this day regret that sale.
I had an 89 4×4 stepside. It was a lemon for me but the 5.7 and 5 speed was fun. They rode great except my front axle leaked and cooked a bearing GM wouldn’t replace under warranty. Would never buy one after that. I drive a 2500 2015 work truck that rides and handles like a trash truck. My 05 at work rode good. I don’t know why they changed the suspensions.
I have a 94 2500 extended cab silverado 4×4 with all the bells and whistles, power bucket seats with center console with 135,000 miles. Runs like a top and rides great. Mine is all black with stock aluminum wheels.
Had a 1993 K3500. One of the best vehicles I have owned. Bought it with 160,000, and I drove it to 395,000. This one is nice. I have a 1997 I’m working on in my barn, but not a barn find yet…
If this was a short bed I’d be all over it like white on rice! See I bought a 1993, a new C1500 reg cab short bed loaded with Silverado Sport Package chrome. That looked exactly like a 454SS, but with chrome bumpers, grill, mirrors and handles, plus the same chrome slotted wheels. Same interior with high back captains bucket seats with full console, power everything with equalizer. All in met silver exterior and grey cloth interior. Powered by a 5.7TBI V8, with a 5 speed manual, feeding a 3.75 posi rear. I added longer shackles in the rear to lower it half way to level with some rake left. Added the biggest KONI shocks I’ve every seen so far, a Hellwing rear anti-sway bar and 265/60-15 front 285/50-15 rear Dunlop Sport Truck tires, that were at the time the only high speed rated 2,600lbs load rated tires for trucks. Now the truck was fairly quick to 60-70, but after that ran out of breath, but from a dead stop would leave a 454SS in its tire smoke to 60-70. But definitely out handled with over 190 lbs less weight over the front end. I loved that truck and drove it everywhere with my wife and dog.