What is a 1990 Chevy truck called?

A 1990 Chevy truck is a Chevrolet C/K pickup from the GMT400 generation. In this year the C designation denotes two-wheel drive and the K designation denotes four-wheel drive.

In 1990, Chevrolet marketed its full-size pickups under the C/K naming rather than the Silverado name that would appear later in 1999. The GMT400 platform defined the design, chassis, and body styling for these trucks across several cab configurations and bed lengths.

Identification and Naming in 1990

The following identifiers help you recognize and refer to a 1990 Chevy truck correctly.

• Designation: C stands for two-wheel drive (2WD); K stands for four-wheel drive (4WD).


• Generation: GMT400, the widely used full-size pickup layout produced from 1988 through 1998.


• Body styles: Regular Cab and Extended Cab are the common configurations; bed lengths varied by trim and cab choice.


• Trim and naming: Models were typically referred to as Chevrolet C/K pickups, not Silverado, in 1990.

Understanding these points helps distinguish a 1990 Chevy truck from later Silverado models and from the GMC counterparts (GMC Sierra).

Historical context and evolution

Chevrolet's C/K line in 1990 represented the tail end of a long-running full-size pickup tradition before the Silverado revival in 1999. These trucks were built on the GMT400 platform, known for their boxy styling, rugged chassis, and widespread serviceability. With 2WD and 4WD options, as well as various cab and bed configurations, they served a broad range of work and personal uses during the era.

Key takeaways for collectors and enthusiasts

If you're identifying a 1990 Chevy truck, look for the C/K badges and ensure you note the cab and bed configuration, not a Silverado badge, which associates the later model years.

In summary, the 1990 Chevy truck is best described as a Chevrolet C/K pickup from the GMT400 generation, reflecting Chevrolet's full-size pickup naming scheme before the Silverado badge was introduced in 1999.

Summary

Bottom line: A 1990 Chevy truck is a Chevrolet C/K pickup (2WD or 4WD), built on the GMT400 platform, marking the pre-Silverado era of Chevrolet’s full-size pickups.

Why are 90s Chevy trucks called OBS?

The abbreviation OBS stands for “Old Body Style” in reference to the boxy and rugged look of trucks from the 1990s.

What are 90's Chevy trucks called?

“C” trucks were two-wheel-drive models, while “K” trucks featured four-wheel drive. This nomenclature dated all the way back to the 1960s, and every pickup produced between then and the late 1990s was referred to as a “C/K” by General Motors.

What year is an OBS Chevy?

OBS (Old Body Style) Chevy trucks generally refer to the 1988–1998 generation of Chevrolet C/K and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks. However, the term can be flexible, and some sources extend the range to include specific models and heavy-duty trucks up to 2002, such as the GMT400 platform-based Tahoe, Suburban, and C3500HD, which had a production run that extended beyond the 1998 pickup model year.
 
This video discusses the popularity of OBS Chevy trucks: 1mDriving LineYouTube · Nov 13, 2024

• Core years: The most common and widely accepted range for OBS Chevy and GMC pickup trucks is 1988–1998. 
• Extended range: The body style was also used for SUVs and heavy-duty trucks for a few more years: 
  • SUVs: The Tahoe and Suburban were based on the OBS platform from 1992–1999. 
  • Heavy-duty trucks: The C3500HD models continued production until 2002. 
• Internal code: These trucks were built on General Motors' GMT400 platform. 

What are the old Chevy trucks called?

Old Chevy truck names include the C/K Series, Silverado (which replaced the C/K), Advance Design (1947–1955), Task Force (1955–1959), and the Apache (a name used for light-duty trucks within the C/K series until 1960). Other names and models include the 3100, El Camino, Corvair, and LUV.
 
Classic and long-running names

• C/K Series: A long-running line of trucks (1960-2002) where "C" designated two-wheel drive and "K" indicated four-wheel drive. 
• Silverado: Replaced the C/K series in 1999 and is the name for many modern Chevy trucks. 
• Advance Design: A popular pre-1955 generation, often remembered for its distinct horizontal bar grille (1947-1953). 
• Task Force: The name for the trucks produced after the Advance Design era (1955-1959). 

Model-specific and trim-level names

• 3100: A popular half-ton model within the Advance Design series, produced from 1947 to 1953. 
• Apache: A specific name used for light-duty trucks in the first generation of the C/K series until 1960. 
• 3100 and 3200: These model numbers were replaced by C/K designations like C10 and C20 in 1960. 
• Cheyenne, Scottsdale, and Silverado: These were trim levels available on C/K trucks, with Silverado being the top-tier option. 
• 454 SS: A special high-performance model produced during the 1988-1998 C/K generation. 
• S-10: A smaller truck model that was in production for a number of years. 

Other names

• El Camino: A car-based pickup truck model. 
• Corvair: An air-cooled car that was also produced as a "Greenbrier" van and a "Rampside" pickup truck.
• LUV: The name for a compact truck manufactured by Isuzu and sold by Chevrolet in the US from 1972 to 1982. 

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