What trucks did Chevy make in 1988?
Chevrolet's 1988 truck lineup consisted of redesigned full-size C/K pickups (C10/C20/C30 and K10/K20/K30), plus the Suburban and Blazer SUVs, and the compact S-10 pickup.
Overview of the 1988 lineup
The 1988 model year marked a pivotal shift for Chevrolet’s light-truck offerings. The full-size C/K series moved to the GMT400 platform, introducing a newer, more modern design and improved capabilities while maintaining Chevrolet’s traditional workhorse image. The brand extended this platform to its popular two-door Blazer and full-size Suburban SUVs, tying the truck and SUV families together under one engineering family. The year also maintained Chevrolet's presence in the compact pickup segment with the S-10, continuing a trend toward smaller, sport-utility-adjacent pickups.
To organize the 1988 lineup, Chevrolet categorized its trucks into main families and body styles. The following lists summarize the primary models available to buyers that year.
Leading full-size pickups on the GMT400 platform comprised two main groups of configurations, reflecting Chevrolet’s C- and K-series naming for two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants, respectively.
- Chevrolet C-series pickups: C10, C20, and C30 (two-wheel-drive variants)
- Chevrolet K-series pickups: K10, K20, and K30 (four-wheel-drive variants)
Chevrolet also offered its full-size SUVs on the same platform, extending the family’s reach beyond traditional pickups.
- Chevrolet Blazer (full-size SUV, two-door and four-door configurations, 4x4 commonly available)
- Chevrolet Suburban (full-size, long-wheelbase SUV, 4x4 commonly available)
In addition to the full-size lineup, Chevrolet continued to market a compact pickup designed to appeal to buyers seeking smaller, more maneuverable utility.
- Chevrolet S-10 pickup (compact pickup, available with 2WD and 4WD)
Notes on the 1988 lineup
1988 was a landmark year for Chevrolet trucks due to the GMT400 redesign, which brought improved ride quality, safety features, and a modernized chassis. While the Silverado nameplate would not appear until 1999, the 1988 lineup laid the groundwork for a more diversified range of pickups and SUVs built on shared engineering. The El Camino, a traditional Chevrolet coupe utility, had ended production a year earlier in 1987, leaving the lineup focused on traditional pickups and SUVs for the year.
Summary
In 1988 Chevrolet solidified its truck and SUV offerings around the redesigned full-size C/K line (C10/C20/C30 and K10/K20/K30), plus the Suburban and Blazer on the GMT400 platform, and the compact S-10 pickup. The year marked a consolidation of Chevy’s truck strategy around a unified platform and a broad spectrum of body styles to serve work, family, and utility needs.
