Pickup trucks have always taken up a fair share of the American car industry, appealing to most buyers because of their incomparable practicality and offroad capabilities. They’ve been in production since the end of the first world war, and Chevrolet has always been one of the heavyweights of the segment, releasing historic models that haven’t failed to leave their mark in the evolution of trucks.
One great thing about trucks is the fact that the practicality they offer is pretty much timeless, seeing as the massive bed that grants them such utility never loses its functionality even thirty or forty years after production. This means that used trucks are always a great option to consider no matter how old they are and going for earlier models almost always means you can save some extra cash on the purchase.
So, with that being said, let’s take a look at what the best '80s Chevy trucks are worth today.
1989 Chevrolet S-10 Baja
Introduced towards the end of the decade in 1989, the Chevy S-10 Baja offered several improvements over the standard S-10, including many design cues and upgraded mechanical parts that boosted performance. The four-wheel-drive two-door truck saw great success upon its release, and even today it still holds a respectable reputation as one of Chevy’s best pickups to date.
As with most used vehicles, price heavily depends on the current state and mileage of each unit; with that in mind, S-10 Baja’s in decent condition with heavy mileages can go for about $4,000, while others with lesser mileages can go for up to $8,000. To sum things up in simpler terms, the average S-10 Baja goes for anything between $5,000 and $6,000, which is definitely a price to consider.
1981 Chevrolet K10 Stepside 4x4
This is a rare one. Back in the early eighties, Chevrolet was putting out about 700,000 trucks a year, and only a very small percentage of that hefty number belonged to Stepside units. Furthermore, even less were Stepsides also equipped with 4x4 capabilities. All this means that finding a decent example of a K-10 4x4 Stepside today might not be as easy as one would think.
Most well-kept units are auctioned, and sale prices tend to hover between $10,000 and $15,000. The K10 Stepside is notable not only because of its capabilities as a pickup, but also because it boasts an exterior design that still looks good even to this day, with iconic rear fender flares that really make it stand out.
1988 Chevrolet C/K1500
The C/K1500 was released as one of the most complete trucks to the respective date, with new features such as independent front suspension or allowing you to toggle the vehicle’s four-wheel drive system at any given moment. Even to this day, if in good condition, it still offers most of what you need in a truck, though it should be kept in mind that the C/K1500’s cabin only seats two people, like the other models on this list.
Prices are spread pretty wide; you can find heavily used 88 C/K’s for as low as $3,700, or well-preserved units for above $20,000. There’s also examples with less than 1,000 miles that are virtually new, going for double the price at almost $38,000. Keep in mind, the C/K1500 went new for $13,000 back in the day.
There’s clearly plenty of options in terms of prices and mileage, so it ultimately depends on how much you’re willing to spend. Chevy certainly released plenty of awesome trucks in the '80s and has never really stopped since.