Pick Of The Day: 1989 Chevrolet C1500 2wd Pickup

For decades, the Ford vs. Chevy truck battle has raged on, and such was the case back in 1989, when each manufacturer sold over 500,000 units of full-sized trucks. The Pick of the Day is one of the trucks that contributed to Chevrolet’s sales data: a 1989 Chevrolet C1500 2WD pickup listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Sherman, Texas.

Dodge was a player in the full-sized pickup segment, too, but fell behind the other two in sales volume. Stiff competition was reflected in the marketing materials from the era. One Chevy magazine advertisement said, “America’s Having a Change of Heart in Pickups,” and it went on to say, “The advanced full-size Chevy. More room than Ford, more standard half-ton power than Ford, and advanced Insta-Trac 4WD that leaves Ford in the mud.”

Of course, this truck doesn’t have Insta-Trac, but it still came well-equipped for the time. Finished in Red over Garnet Red, it is a serious looker. But the best part is the odometer reading, which shows just 21,191 miles. Exterior features include chrome brightwork, body side moldings, and quad headlights. The wheels, suspension, and exhaust system have been modified, but the truck is otherwise said to be original. The pictures show how clean the truck is inside, outside, and underneath. Considering the fact that most half-ton trucks were put to use as workhorses, the condition – especially of its cargo bed – is remarkable.

The C1500 rode on General Motors’ “GMT400” platform—the same which underpinned thousands of trucks and sport-utility vehicles from 1988 through the early 2000s. I recently featured the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban from this era as a future collectible, and I feel like the truck should be included in that mix for some of the same reasons. We say it time and time again, but the car-collector marketplace is driven in large part by nostalgia.

Continuing the “red” theme, the interior of the cab features a cloth bench seat, carpeting, and rubber floor mats all in the eye-catching color. Features include power windows, power locks, a Delco AM/FM radio, power steering, and factory air conditioning. Under the hood is a 5.7-liter V8 mated to a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission. The selling dealer says that the truck will come with a clean CARFAX report, an original window sticker, and additional paperwork. For collectors, those added niceties make this low-mileage truck even more irresistible. Better make a move on it before someone else does!

The asking price $38,950.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com