When it comes to the American compact model, the first thing you think of is usually the Chevrolet S-10. Yes, the Ford Ranger debuted the same year as the S-10, in 1982. But the S-10 was and still is, especially for those who like to modify their minivans. Chevy made first- and second-generation S-10s before killing off the brand in 2003.
How versatile is the Chevrolet S-10?
That equals 23 years of truck quality. Although initially only available as a single cab, within two years, an Extended Cab was available, along with both two- and all-wheel drive. And with all-wheel drive, the S-10 came with an “Insta-Trac,” which allowed owners to unlock it from the inside. Drivers can also shift from 2-height to 4-height while the truck is in motion.
The list can get long. This is partly because the base S-10 was a pretty simple truck. It lacked power steering, power windows and air conditioning.
Dubbed the “Quarter Ton,” the S Series comes with a 2.5-liter V6 engine that makes 105 horsepower. By today’s standards, that’s not very impressive, but remember that the pickups built up to that point were of Japanese origin with small four-stroke engines. At the time, this minitruck was powerful.
Almost every year after that saw an increase in strength. From 115 horsepower in 1985, power went up to 165 horsepower in 1993. And that doesn’t even affect the popular 1991 GMC Syclone, with nearly 200 horsepower. But even with only 105 hp, the S-10 had a payload of 1,625 lbs.
When did the second generation Chevrolet S-10 debut?
The first S-10 was a simple and basic truck, which was translated by its simple design. Mostly flat surfaces and an absence of body detailing and sculpting made for a nice truck. That would change when the new S-10 debuted in 1994.
The second generation S-10 featured a beautifully sculpted, organic body. But it did not deviate from its predecessor. It was a solid quarter-ton pickup with good performance, payload, looks, and more standard features.
such as airbags. In the first year of the new S-10, it came standard with a standard driver’s side airbag. Then in 1998, a passenger-side airbag was introduced. So safety was another aspect of the S-10 that was improved upon. And by 2001, a four-door version of the S-10 debuted, according to .
When did the Chevrolet S-10 die?
In its trajectory, the S-10 continued its traction and performance attributes. By 2005, Chevrolet chose to kill the S-10. But it did introduce an all-new version of the pickup outside of North America that was built in Brazil. It’s been around from 2005 until today, with a few facelifts along the way. But the S-10, though absent for some time, made its way to the Colorado, which hit US showrooms in 2014.
And while the GMC Canyon and its sibling have a strong following, the S-10 in all iterations has a very strong following. The aftermarket, in particular, continues to develop new and interesting components and engine swaps that make it relevant today.
