Have you ever looked around and realized a particular vehicle you used to see everywhere suddenly seems more obscure than it used to be? That’s how it is with this era of Chevrolet pickup for me. These K1500s were extremely popular when new and seemingly everywhere; while you can still find them in the southern states being used as daily drivers, many of the northern trucks have rotted away. This one checks all the boxes, with the short bed and Sport package trim. Find it here on craigslist for $11,800 in Port Huron.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rich J. for the find. The “Sport” package was largely a series of cosmetic upgrades but it did make the truck a looker. The most obvious change was the blacked-out front grill with the red bowtie logo; that alone made the cosmetic kit worth buying. The blacked-out fender flares and matching front and rear bumpers made the truck look even slicker, and the 4×4 stance, of course, made it appear like it was ready for battle at a moment’s notice. The condition of the bedside “Sport” graphics really sets this one apart.
The interior was pretty much standard GM fare, although the BYP Sport Option got you a tachometer. The bench seat is in good condition, if not a little faded. Gray carpets appear to be clean and the dash doesn’t show any obvious cracks. The Chevy was also equipped with the Z51 Off-Road package, which is a contributing factor to that burly stance I mentioned. The seller reports that despite the clean condition inside and out and having never lived in a state that used road salt, it does need rocker panel and cab corner repairs where “…dirt collected.”
It’s hard to see any evidence of the need for these repairs in the photos, however, and I almost feel as if the seller is doing himself a disservice by perhaps being too worried to what amounts to minor cosmetic flaws. The Pacific Northwest is known for keeping classic cars and trucks in extremely nice condition, so he may just be a hard grader. The listing notes that with these options, the Chevy is one of only 75 built in white out of a grand total of 385 trucks with four-wheel-drive and the Sport trim. For a truck you can use that will also become increasingly collectible, this one looks like a winner.
If they put new lenses on it , you could get an extra $3-$4k out of it .
NOS headlight, blinker, & tail light lenses are still available from dealers, as well as a lot of other parts. I have a red 91 Z71 single cab, short fleet side bed, TBI 350 with a 5 speed, about to hit 100k miles, & it would take $12,000 to buy it. Single cab short beds are getting rare as hens teeth around here.
Yes, I have a 96 single cab short bed Z71, white with ruby red interior, and every available option. It’s funny to me that being a SCSB makes it more valuable as that was the least expensive one when new. Nineties Chevy trucks seem to be increasing in value and you find that out when you try to by a nice one.
12K for a rusty, 200K mile truck that has always been in Kansas, but is now in Canada?? What? These were not that rare in Northeast Pa, seemed like everyone owned one. They came in red, white, and black.
I had a red ‘91 sport,- excellent truck, fun to drive, wish I still had it.
I have a 1993 K1500 Long bed in Light Quasar Blue Metallic with a 350, automatic, a/c and 135K miles. It runs well and has been reliable with just routine maintenance. The Quasar blue is a nice color but suffers from the notorious paint chemistry of the era. The paint on the top and hood have faded and peeled. I bought the truck used and did not get to benefit from any warranty recalls.The 350 TBI gets about 10-12 mpg. I just spent $125 to fill it up the other day.. The interior is comfortable but for as big a vehicle as it is there is very little storage. The glove box is ridiculously small and the behind the seat space is too. I need to get a truck box to secure anything larger than a brief case.
Not sure what Jeff Lavery is talking about , but these GMT400 are all over the place.
They are as rare as dollar general stores are.
I guess it depends on where you are. Around here (Middle Tennessee) you can throw a rock & hit an extended cab OBS truck, but single cab short beds are few & far between.
Here we have tons of single cabs. Especially the early GMT400. I am not even sure if the early trucks were available in any other configuration than single cab . Not sure
I see nothing special in this offering, aside from the sellers breathless insistence of ‘rareness’. What’s with the ‘454’ in the CL listing? Was expecting to see a big block in the bonnet…
No, as a matter of fact, I had not noticed. I guess I didn’t really care.