1990 Chevrolet 454 SS

- One Owner
- 28k Miles
- 454ci V8
- Automatic Transmission
- Black Over Red Interior

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS Pickup on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the truck due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 150 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to its accident-and-damage-free, very-low-mileage Carfax history report, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“The 1990–93 Chevrolet 454 SS pickup is experiencing a youth movement” - Hagerty, July 2019

“One of the first performance-oriented pickups, the 454 SS featured 'the good-old-fashioned brute force of a big-block fitted to the smallest, lightest pickup platform possible, and beefed up accordingly,' (Hagerty valuation editor Andrew) Newton says, then adds, 'They're great for burnouts.'”

The Hagerty article went on: “GM already had a winner with its 1988 C/K1500 series pickups, but something seemed to be missing from the domestic auto industry, and that was muscle. So, Chevy took a 454-cubic-inch Mark IV big block and put it into a short-bed, regular-cab, half-ton pickup. Although the V-8 produced only 230 horsepower, it had plenty of torque—385 lb-ft—and that kind of force pushed the truck from 0–60 mph in less than 8 seconds. As Newton alluded to, big-block pickups are known for their ability to light up the rear tires, since there isn't much weight in the back end.”

Offered here is a 1990 Chevrolet 454 Pickup in black over red. A one-owner (exclusively in Michigan), the performance truck's odometer shows just 28,511 miles, a very conservative roughly 900 miles per-year on average. As important, the truck's outstanding condition speaks volumes as to the benefits of a sole owner and their commitment to regular, meticulous care. The original window sticker has been archived by the owner and is included in the sale (as well as available in the photo gallery). It lists standard and optional equipment, all of which--with the exception of the original tires-- remains mounted on this stock performance truck.

The exterior paint on the very popular square-body truck retains near-original shine and even, deep, gloss across every surface. Every body panel is free of dings, dents, or any sign of damage. Panel-fit is above factory standards of the time. The slightly sinister black theme is very much enhanced with virtually all stock body trim—including the front grille (with red-outline bowtie emblem) and both bumpers—executed in black. In front, a factory-original lower spoiler with driving lights is in place. Red outline bowtie and “1500” badges on the lower-door trim identifies the model. Graphics (in the same style used to identify Chevrolet Performance vehicles) employ bright-red-and gray on the rear fenders to announce “454 SS,” while the tailgate displays a red bowtie and gray full-width “Chevrolet.” There is no mistaking this for an ordinary Chevy short-bed, Fleetside pickup. Factory 15-inch chrome, six-hole alloy wheels (with black centers and red-outline bowtie emblems) are mounted with 275/50-Defender® Sport SA tires. The cargo bed shows evidence of light use.

The truck's interior color theme is red and dark red. Vertically pleated and subtly striped fabric seat upholstery in red is in virtually perfect condition. The stock seats feature ample bolstering, consistent with the truck's performance potential; a dark-red storage box is located between the seats. Door trim incorporates carpet, matching fabric and hard surfaces in red and dark red; power window and door-lock controls are located here. Red cabin carpeting—protected by matching rubber floor mats—is in superb, virtually like-new condition. The stock, black Chevrolet-branded steering wheel frames the squared-off-design dashboard and analog-instrument cluster; the shift lever for the automatic transmission is console-mounted. Factory HVAC control and the original audio system are mounted center-dash.

Under the hood, is the stock, 454-cubic-inch big-block V8 in its original black trim. Engine surfaces are clean and the engine bay is complete with no sign of aftermarket modifications. Viewed from below, there is no evidence of damage as might be the case from too-aggressive driving styles. The full-length dual performance exhaust (with crossover) is a focal point.

All factory build and identification tags remain mounted. The sale includes a range of owner literature, including the original owner's manual as well as period factory dealer brochures.

While the more than 150 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '90 Chevy 454 SS in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

Road & Track concluded their look back at this model with: “But damn if it's not cool. I love the subtlety of it, especially when you compare it with the brash, chrome-laden full-sizers of today. The 454 SS is definitely the product of a very different era, but that's what makes it so compelling.”

Amen to that.