After 15 years of the previous generation pickup, Chevrolet restyled their pickup truck for the 1988 model year. In this generation, we saw almost or more 4-wheel drive trucks than 2-wheel drive trucks on the road. This 1997 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Silverado Z71 4X4 is available here on eBay in Conway, Arkansas.
This looks almost like a vehicle put away in a museum or a time capsule. It has been used but definitely not abused. Growing up on a farm, my dad’s trucks got a bit of roughing up sometimes, so in the last five years of his life, he often had a nice newer pickup truck for daily driving and an old truck to use more on the farm. That may not be the case here, but it has been definitely well cared for. There are a few scratches here and there, but no dents and dings.
This interior looks like it just came from the factory. Once a vehicle is ten years or older, I think it makes more sense to have cloth seats because they hold up better than leather, as these are in excellent condition with no rips. All accessories such as power windows, power door locks, power seats, power mirrors, cruise control, and air conditioning work fine. This truck has the Silverado trim, which in this generation was the top of line trim that included such things as nicer 60/40 split bench seat interior, power accessories, and higher level exterior trim.
What a clean engine bay! This is the 5.7 liter Vortec V-8 engine with 93,000 miles. The engine and transmission are leak free without any squeaks, rattles or noises. The transmission shifts fine. The seller says it runs, drives and steers like a new one. Additionally, the 4-wheel drive mechanism works fine.
The seller had the frame, fender wells, and rear end sanded and painted with an underbody coating to protect and clean up the underside of the truck. It was not done to cover up rust.
The seller has provided 83 pictures and a walk around video to show more detail. This would be an excellent vehicle to drive occasionally and further preserve. The previous generation is beginning to see some classic status, this generation may not be far behind.
Hey cool it’s your average used vehicle.
93k? chassis that fine? miles made on a treadmill? then i read frame painted/cleaned up .OK
Sure is clean, isn’t it?
But $12,600 already, and “Reserve Not Met”… Geez! It is a clean, low miles….. 22 years old truck!
Being a 4X4, it’s a K1500. This is so close to ideal, too bad it doesn’t have an 8′ box.
Way better shape than my ’97 F150 but then if my truck was that nice I wouldn’t want to toss crap in the bed & haul mulch and the like. These are nice looking trucks but those wheels… never have liked them, they look like the guy who designed them just mailed it in that day… too flat & at a glance they almost look like generic wheel covers. I’d at least try something steel in black, maybe with shallow baby moons with “Chevrolet” in red 40’s script.
Got to disagree that 10 year old leather is automatically more worn than cloth. My 2001 Monte Carlo’s leather upholstery at 93000 miles in December 2015 looked as good as the leather in the 2012 Challenger I traded it for. Leather, cloth or vinyl, it all comes down to who took care of it and how well.
How can the power seat work fine when the switch is missing.
A!so while the interior is in great shape for a truck ,you can see that it was cleaned ,just by the way the nap is on the seat
How can the power seat work fine when the switch is missing.
A!so while the interior is in great shape for a truck ,you can see that it was cleaned ,just by the way the nap is on the seat
P S just blue up the picture ,I’m wrong the switch is there😢
Walk don’t run and only bring $2K, it you don’t get it consider yourself lucky.
The way I see it, the power seat button is not missing. It is supposed to be black in color.
I challenge anyone to go find a clean full size 4X4 truck for $12k that looks this clean and solid.
Even if the interior was cleaned, wouldn’t you want it that way if you bought it?
Black is a tough color to present without imperfections. I think someone went through a lot of work to detail this truck to this level. Have you even spent time under a vehicle to get the frame and wheel wells this nice?
For the price and the vehicle condition, mileage, and cleanliness, I’d say $12k is very practical.
That $12k won’t get you very close to the price of a new full size 4X4.
With only 93,000 miles. I have over 300,000 miles on my 1997 Yukon 2 door 4X4. Motor replaced with a crate engine, trans and rear rebuilt by previous owner and I’ve had to deal with the rust over the years as it was a rust belt purchase. An Arkansas truck should not have the rust issues I’ve had.
Why are you comparing this used truck to a new truck.
Of course a new truck will cost more.
These trucks are for sale in every city in every state of the union.
Nothing special here.
IMO, the issue with a vehicle like this is it is too nice (and at the asking price, too expensive) to put into service as a daily driver and/ or a work truck, but not a great investment as a collector vehicle, and doesn’t carry much of “wow” factor as a show vehicle…
BTW, having owned several of these trucks, both 2wd and 4wd, with tbi and port injected “Vortec” engines, the new buyer would be best advised to prepare for a rebuild of the 4L60e trans, if it hasn’t already been done. The Vortec engines specifically have issues with the fuel injection “Spider” and seem to like to eat fuel pumps and head gaskets around 100k as well. (I have to wonder if the latter is a symptom of the 100k mile “Dexcool” coolant…)
In regard to the frame being painted, I can attest that the amount of paint applied to the frames on these truck when new was minimal at best. Not much of an issue, other than cosmetic if the truck is to be used in it’s current location, or where I am from in central Texas. However, I can certainly understand why many of these trucks (and others like it from other manufacturers) meet an early demise in states that salt their roads. My last truck of this type, a 97 Silverado C1500 ext cab had the factory paint on the driver side from the front to about half way back “preserved” by leaking power steering pump that the previous owner neglected to fix. The rest of the frame on that side, and all of the passenger side was surface rusted. After I fixed the PS pump leak, I de-greased the oily frame, wire brushed the rest and painted it all rattle can painted the frame with CRC cold galvanize paint, then a black top coat, for appearance’s sake. It had close to 300k on it when I sold it, with one trans rebuild and a EFI “spider” and headgasket replacement, but otherwise intact engine I’m sure it sat in a wrecking yard with a pristine frame LOL
Piston slap was a problem on the 97-98 5. 7 I had a beautiful 98 with similar mileage that rattled like a popcorn popper in cold weather. Ran and looked great otherwise
Back when you could buy a regular cab short bed off the lot. Now it seems like you need to special order them.
I was a teenager in the early 90’s …. this is the most beautiful and perfect truck I’ve ever seen. I hope to have one just like it one day. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder
That is not a power seat switch, it is a lumbar support switch.
These are the trucks that ruined GMs reputation as a quality light truck manufacturer.