Grandpa’s Truck: 1990 GMC Sierra
Pickup trucks are the Labrador retriever of the automotive world: they are somewhat one-dimensional in what they’re good at, but they’re so good at that one thing, you can’t help but love them for it. The single-cab, stripped-down pickup truck is a no frills approach to motoring, and when you combine its utility with low cost of ownership, it’s not hard to see why so many people have a truck like this 1990 GMC Sierra here on craigslist on their property. This one is listed for $9,950 with 76,000 original miles.
Now, the listing offers two mileage claims – 74,000 and 76,000 – but either number is pretty low. This isn’t the sexiest model out there, with a fleetside long bed, hubcaps, and mouse-fuzz interior. You can almost see the original owner looking for the most bare-bones example he could find, which was still possible to do in the early 90s. These days, however, you’d be hard-pressed to find a “stripper” grade pickup truck in the land of $75,000 quad cabs.
The added bonus for this truck is the manual gearbox. Again, the original purchase order must have left the salesperson somewhat underwhelmed, as the buyer avoided all of the usual traps as it relates to add-ons that can drive the price higher in a heartbeat. The cloth bench seat and and the dash are both in excellent shape, so thankfully, the Nevada sun hasn’t had its way with the cabin. Of course, when you see that clean paint job and perfect polished hubcaps, it seems likely that this GMC was garaged most of its life.
The seller refers to this as “Grandpa’s truck,” and it certainly seems likely that this GMC belonged to an older adult who cherished it from new. We also see quite a few older trucks show up as survivors after years of being gently used around a farm or a ranch, or simply as an in-town runner. The GMC shown here may not be the sweet short-bed, flareside combo that everyone wants, but the impressive state of preservation makes this one a winner regardless of how robust the options list is – or isn’t. Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find.
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Comments
If only they still made trucks or cars like this.
Nowadays, even base models have to much crap on them.
And, you cant get a CD player either.
If only full size trucks were still this size.
They were-30 some odd years ago!
Or 2 door or blue,etc interior or manual trans or super cold R12 refrigerant or much less troublesome OBD1 or non clouding or yellowing headlites or protective bumpers.
Pretty.much what Jimbo said. No pushbutton start. No stop/start feature. No sideview cameras or $1400 windshields with sensors built into them. No side curtain airbags. No powertrains with 4 sensors and post OBD2 diagnostics. No electronic throttles and sat nav. No constant updating of infotainment center thru over the air unsolicited updates. No intuitive 8 or 10 speed gearbox that goes at 70K miles and costs $11500 to replace. As a newer F150 and Chevy Colorado owner, i am on the hunt for basic transpo again. We have gone past the point of useful electronic wizardry.
What size motor do you think it has?
Sure looks like a V6 nestled in there. That would make it a 4.3 liter.
With throttle body injection.
Mine (’92) has the 4.3 V6
Totally agree Matt…. couldn’t have said it any better
I’m not sure but those look like winter tires, on a Nevada truck 🤔
Um, it snows a LOT in Nevada. Outside of Las Vegas it’s all “high desert”. Beautiful State, you should visit.
FWIW, BJ, if this were advertised in SOUTHERN Nevada (aka Las Vegas, an 8 hour drive) your consternation RE: the snow tires would be of legitimate concern-the only thing the non skiers use snow tires there for is dirt work..
HHowever, this listing is in NORTHERN Nevada where we get an average snowfall of 258” on nearby peaks, and as most of the population is at an average altitude of 5000’ the longtime residents generally have 2 types of tires-all season and real snow tires.
Y’see, BJ, we’ve had learn the hard way that Northern Nevada does not have 4 seasons-w have just 2.
Winter, and Under Construction…
In my opinion, this generation GMC was among the most reliable made. The 4.3 V6 is bullit proof if maintained. And you cant go wrong with the 5 speed. These were great simple trucks. The less stuff on it….. The less stuff to break on them. Im with Matt and Jimbo, too much whizz bang technology today. Give me rubber floor mats, crank down windows and a stick and Im happy. Although Id like power steering and brakes for safety.
Power steering. These were originally developed with manual steering as standard in the 1500. The suspension acted like a fulcrum placing additional weight on the front end never reducing the effort regardless the amount of ballast in the box. We called her Armstrong. After accumulating almost 100k test miles (equal to 400-500k real world miles) in that mule, Ford introduced their ’87 F-150 with standard power steering. There was no choice but to follow suit.
who in hell wants a flareside shortbed? What a useless poser truck
Uh… posing as what? A geezer?
Nice truck with the factory anti theft transmission and everything you really need in a truck minus 4×4 I sold my 89 with the automatic transmission and 4×4 with 188,000 miles on it so this one will last someone a long time
Just texted the seller and he/she replied that it is an inline 6 motor.
Nope. Probably a 4.3
HMmmmm..if you texted the seller at that number and they told you it was an I6, this might be a scam-if you expand the engine photo you can see it’s a V, not an in-line motor tho probably a 6 as there appear to be just 3 plug wires in the area behind the alternator.
No such thing in this generation GM truck. Not only that but you can plainly see both valve covers. Its concerning that an owner of such a truck wouldnt know
Actually this generation did come with an optional 292 cu. in.(4.8 liter)inline 6.
But it was only sold in Mexico.
There was also a 250 cu. in.(4.1 liter) inline 6 offered as well but that motor was for Argentina.
The U.S. market isn’t the only market GM had focused on during production.
Me also….The photo of the motor is a V6 or V8
I dont think i will offend anyone here. A real mans truck. Not a grocery getter. Imagine a millennial looking at this. He would not be able to put on his makeup without the extra mirrors.
“Gently used around a farm or a ranch” made me laugh out loud! Is there any such thing on a farm or ranch? Apparently the writer has never been near such a place. Ranch trucks are typically beat to pieces….live hard lives, often short. Why is it you often see a row of old discarded trucks in the field behind the barn or house when passing these establishments? They aren’t out there relaxing…
Re: this truck I agree with many of the others and I’d take it in a second. My 2010 GMC 1500 and 2012 F250 both continually suffer from too much technology…..good trucks, always start and pull, but always some annoying issue with electronics. What in the world do we need TPMS for (which is always malfunctioning)? Sort of easy to tell when tires are low….but then you’d have to be aware enough to look.
This was G’Paw’s “goin’ to town” truck.
Pretty truck. Well cared for or painstakingly restored. As others have said this is probably the sweet spot for needs wants and value. I know I’d drive it with a smile.
I’d be all up for parking this at my house if it wasn’t so far away. Good deal here. Like others have said; you get a basic truck that can handle whatever you need and won’t cost you a fortune to buy or maintain. I’m another person that would be happy if the vehicle manufacturers would produce cars and trucks like this again.
Grandpa’s still drivin a 2 door with crank windows & manual trans. & today’s teen is drivin a beat up never waxed(guess why) peeling clearcoat 4 door – tho just a tiny handful even have a license today. Who would have predicted THAT 35 yrs ago?!
No headrests even in 1990 on trucks? & Nader never noticed how close the GLASS, of all things, was on 2 door pickups??
I used to drive a 2003 Ford F-150 Regular Cab Longbed 2WD with a 3.8 liter V6 and a 5-speed manual. Manual crank windows and all. Closest thing to tech at that time was the A/C and the AM/FM/Cassette radio!
Imagine a millennial trying to drive that thru Massachusetts winters…
With an open differential…
Good times!
Bought one like this last year. A 2002 Silverado 1500 2 -wheel drive, single cab long bed, 4.8 V8.
It had 46,000 miles on it when I bought it, now about 52K.
It stays in the garage unless I’m towing or hauling. Have towed several cars with it (one from Colorado to Pennsylvania) and hauled tons of car parts, felled trees, and moved two households. And I did it all without air-conditioned steering wheel or 360 degree camera system.
Long live the old man truck!
i have the exact same truck but 305 and 4×4. i had to paint mine because of the wonderful primer they used back then and also my seat is vinyl. mine has around 97,000 kilometres. i think about selling itbut its a great truck and stickshift vehicles are getting harder to find and ive never liked automatics.
Hi 8K$ is tops for a bestie possible. This must B better than perfection? I think you’d wanna do more to get more. Actual description of truck, bed’n underneath shots would all help. May B he’s got vids’n more pic up his sleeve but no magic here (for me).
White, not beat up, 2 pluses – I’d want auto transmis for a daily.
If you want a truck for truck things show up with $8k in cash. Show 7 and see how much you have to add. It is Craig’s list.
By the way, I am a grandpa and mine is a ’77.
Mine is 92 GMC 2500 8600 GVW 4×4 Sierra auto that I bought new. It has 92k and garage keep serviced every 3k miles. 5500 front end tow package, cruise, a/c cab marker lights,roll up window’s single cab. Paid around 21,000 out the door, have original window sticker. Oh yeah 350cui throttle body fi od transmission. Runs and tows great. Simple OG Truck 😂
Nice Truck! I bought a regular cab 4.3L, 2020 long bed for $23.5K! This one has a V6 too. Probably can’t tow much like mine 6500 pounds max.
The manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for a bare-bones C30 Fleetside pickup was $4,163.04 in ’75. The base model C30 did include a V-8 engine
I actually owned two of these, but both were extended cabs, V-6s, and manual 5-speeds. I totaled the 90 and bought a 92. I drove the 92 for four years and traded it in on a new vehicle. The 92 had 125,000 miles on it and the only maintenance or repairs where oil and filter changes and one set of tires. The brakes were still good. Downshifting..
I owned a 88 long bed, v6, 5speed, single cab bare bones in Alaska. Blew a head gasket under warranty, had the gertack tranny rebuilt under warranty ,new exhaust under warranty and then at 56 thousand miles traded in for a 95 GMC. l found out that you never buy a 1st year anything….
the 4.3 was a damm good torquey motor. Do y’all realize this is smaller than a new Colorado or Tacoma? I miss true actual work trucks. Sadly, they are no more. Gotta pad those corporate profit sheets now days. I miss honest work trucks, not mall ride trucks like today, honest work trucks like this are long long gone, sadly