What years are square body Chevy trucks?
The most commonly cited answer is that square-body Chevy trucks refer to the GM pickups built with a boxy, squared-off design from the early 1970s through the mid‑1980s. In practice, the square-body era centers on 1973 to 1987 for Chevrolet and its GMC siblings.
Defining the square-body era
In truck culture, “square body” describes the bold, boxy styling GM introduced for its light‑duty pickups and closely related models in the 1973–1987 period. This styling spans Chevrolet C/K pickups and their GMC C/K counterparts, including the regular and long‑bed configurations, as well as readily associated body‑on‑frame models like the Suburban and Blazer that shared the same design language. While some enthusiasts point to earlier generations as having a more angular look, the term “square body” is most strongly linked to the 1973–1987 era.
Here is the core year window most collectors and restorers use when they refer to the square-body look in Chevy trucks.
- 1973–1987: Chevrolet C/K pickups (light‑duty C/2WD and 4WD K/4WD), plus the GMC C/K twins share the same square‑styled platform.
These years define the classic, boxy silhouette that many fans seek in restored and customized trucks today. Other GM models from the same era, such as the Suburban and Blazer that rode the same platform, are commonly discussed in the same context, though they aren’t always counted separately in every source.
Related notes and clarifications
Some sources briefly mention the 1967–1972 GM trucks as having a more angular look and, in some fan circles, may be described as “blocky” or transitional, but they are not universally labeled as square‑body in the same way as the 1973–1987 generation. The 1988–1998 GM trucks, by contrast, moved into a newer body style often referred to as the Old Body Style (OBS) by enthusiasts, which is boxy but distinct from the canonical square‑body era.
In short, the square-body Chevy pickup era most often refers to the 1973–1987 Chevrolet C/K trucks and their GMC counterparts, with related body‑on‑frame family members sharing the look during that period.
Why the label endures
The “square body” designation has persisted because the 1973–1987 trucks introduced a distinctly boxier profile—flat panels, squared fenders, and a more upright cab—compared with earlier models. For collectors, restorers, and enthusiasts, that look is a shorthand for a specific aesthetic and mechanical era that has become iconic in American pickup culture.
Summary
The square-body Chevy truck era is conventionally defined as 1973 through 1987, covering Chevrolet C/K pickups and their GMC equivalents, along with shared body‑on‑frame family members such as the Suburban and Blazer. While some adjacent years and related models are sometimes discussed in the same breath, the 1973–1987 window is the core period most widely recognized by collectors and enthusiasts.
