UPDATE – This beautiful survivor was previously listed on craigslist. The seller has now listed it here on eBay, where bidding has reached $6,100 and the reserve has yet to be met. There are tons of photos included in the listing that reveal just how immaculate this truck is. Be sure to take another look at it and don’t forget to bid!
FROM 7/09/21 – In today’s homogenized new car marketplace, it can seem like a distant memory from a faraway land that consumers could waltz into a GM dealer and build a car or truck exactly the way they wanted to. But if you want living breathing proof of this, check out this gorgeous 1990 Chevrolet 1500 pickup with the Fleetside bed and 6.2L diesel engine under the hood. The paint job is original too and combined with the alloy wheels and running boards, this was someone’s baby for a long time. Find it here on craigslist in Cape Coral, Florida.
Wow – that’s a big truck! The long bed may not be the enthusiast’s choice if style points are a concern, but it’s great for hauling capacity. I’m not sure how much heavy lifting this truck did, however, given the impressive cosmetic condition and the fact that there are under 50,000 miles on the clock. The bodywork really is impressive, with no obvious dings, dents, or scrapes, and the original two-tone paint still presenting incredibly well. The seller reports that he can squeeze almost 30 miles per gallon when cruising to Ft. Lauderdale, all while in the air-conditioned comfort of a spacious interior.
Look at that custom cloth split-bench seat – it’s near perfect. That’s just one of the many options the original owner sprung for, as the window sticker shows other features that include a locking rear differential; heavy-duty radiator; roof marker lamps; heavy-duty shock absorbers; sliding rear window; stainless steel mirrors; and more. It’s also a two-wheel-drive model, which – given the Florida location – makes me wonder if it was ordered specifically for hauling boats or horses, or possibly both, as either scenario is quite likely in the Sunshine State. However it was used, it’s clear that the original owner took great care to keep it in mint condition.
The interior shows virtually no flaws wherever you look, as the steering wheel, radio controls, and instrument cluster are all in mint condition. The two-tone paint job may not be to everyone’s liking, but it was certainly the rage among the 1980s and early 1990s GM trucks. The diesel engine is barely broken in at that sort of mileage, and if the seller’s claims about MPGs are true, then it would appear it’s a very healthy mill at the moment. The asking price is quite ambitious, in my opinion, but I also suspect the seller is correct that this Chevy is pretty close to being one of a kind. Would you pay this kind of money if you were in the market?
2wd pickups were still the norm back then, rather than the exception as now – and for good reason.
6.2L Diesel
The fuel economy stated seems pretty optimistic, but I suppose there was some reason people ordered this engine. It wasn’t for the power or torque because it has neither.
What it does have is a stink pedal: Pressing the RH one makes a lot of foul-smelling smoke, increases noise (not easy with a 6.2), yet doesn’t noticeably accelerate the truck. Want to make additional power from a 6.2/6.5 GM diesel? It’s like riding a rocking horse: You’ll be busy but you’ll never get anywhere. This is not a modern diesel.
The low odometer reading likely means the heads and/or block are not yet cracked. They will be, but the buyer’s got some time to locate replacements. Just kidding–there won’t be a buyer at that price, or half, or quarter of it.
Ignoring the diesel entirely, its color is gold. Ask your car-salesman buddies which color is the hardest to sell.
I had one similiar and the hwy mileage was around 27 mpg. It was no powerhouse and you needed a prayer and a good plan if you ever had to try and pass someone.
Valentine either they broke down right away or they lasted half of forever. No they weren’t power houses or speed demons. They didn’t have turbos either. And I know several people that had them and 30 mpg is not far fetched. But GM put those in 1500 series truck because they didn’t want anyone even pulling boats or light campers.
I had 2 GM diesel pickups. I bought a new 78 with the 350 diesel and a few years later a used 80. Put Olds 310 HP engines in both. Went from 28mpg to 14mpg. If I had this I would get a 455 Olds ready to set in. Nice part with the Olds engines, is brackets a/c all bolt up exhaust and radiator too. No searching for Chevy parts. It’s all in front of you. Nice truck
Not an Olds engine, for sure. This was a Detroit Diesel and was actually pretty reliable but for the lack of a water separator which resulted in the destruction of the infamously expensive diesel pump.
The stories that come out from the venerable GM diesels. I never owned one but worked on them since they were hatched (well, maybe not the 2-strokes or the Toro-Flo engines) and I can dispel a lot of rumors. However I don’t feel like debating the issues so I’ll just say this: “50 years ago, the 15th of last October, I entered the repair trade on a professional level. After 48 years of wrenching and dealing with customer complaints, unreasonable expectations, warranty demands, angry wives, legitimate repairs and many SATISFIED clients (I did a few miles trucking too), I drew one solid conclusion: No one designed an engine, vehicle or piece of equipment to FAIL. If it failed, even if it was more the fault of the improperly torqued retainer behind the Primary Vehicular Control Unit than the actual design, the designers did their best to fix it. I could write a sizeable book about the things I experienced from all sides.”
As a 36 year mechanic with plenty of diesel and truck experience I cant disagree with you completely, HOWEVER there’s no getting rid of the idiot factor and engineers should do a better job of “idiot proofing” things. I know there will always be that guy who can wreck anything but sometimes engineers do stuff that is asking for trouble
Over the years I got to know a number of engineers. The more I got to know them the more satisfied I was fixing trucks instead of designing them. You design something, the first thing it has to do is look good. Then it has to do the job. It has to be relatively cheap to build; it has to be easy to work on. Then it has to pass environmental regs. Any one of those fails, the whole design can be compromised and they start all over again. Then it has to pass the beancounters. Those guys give their all to earn the big money. And while a few of them get away sorting fly dopey from pepper the rest get pretty burnt out…
I always enjoy reading your comments and usually learn a thing or two from them. I wonder though how many readers understood what you meant about the “improperly torqued retainer” at the end of this one. I’m guessing about the same number that get what I mean by saying “the loose nut between the steering wheel and the drivers seat”, two different ways of saying the same thing and many people can’t decipher either one!
As a technician of over 30 years I agree with geomechs there are a lot more stupid people than stupid engineering blunders out there. The 6.2 may not have been a powerhouse but it was no worse for reliability than others of the period. Contrary to popular belief the 7.3 powerstroke had its fair share of issues same as the 6.9 and 7.3 IDI engines.
The listing says Mecum Auction offerd to sell it for them with a $35k reserve so I guess that’s where we will see it next. I’m not that familiar with this Diesel engine but the price is already higher than what I would be willing to pay to find out if its a good engine or not
It’s a GM DIEsel! need we say anymore?
So why don’t you say more, Frank. What the hell do you know about Diesel engines anyway. Probably nothing. The failure rate of these engines was far less than any other at the time. Get your facts straight before you comment.
The 6.2 and 6.5 Diesels were built by Detroit Diesel. Ever heard of them Frank?
I have a 6.5 in a1999 suburban, it gets 18- 20mpg and run great can pass all the Semi’s on the freeway and tows anything I had handed it with ease.
I didn’t know any Diesels were available in these 1/2 tons, if I had, I would’ve searched one out when looking at used ones back in 94! The 8′ bed is a big plus for me since I actually use my trucks. I ended up buying a 1988 GMC X-cab 4×4 with an 8′ bed with a 350. Plenty of room to haul stuff out back and plenty of room for 2 full size child seats on the rear bench. I also like the color combination and STEEL BUMPERS much more than the monotone and plastic stuff of today.