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We will start by giving some general wiki information.
The completely new 1973 version would last 14 years (with two slightly different body styles) without a major redesign -- this would help keep resale values high. It was also the basis of the longest lasting Suburban body as well, as the 81-87 front end style lasted until 1991 in the fullsize Blazer and Suburban. The roof drip rails now hugged the door rather than around the roof. It had a longer wheelbase — 117.5 in for short-bed and 131.5 in for long-bed. A crew cab was introduced on a super-long 164.5 in wheelbase, the "3+3." For the four wheel drive trucks, a real all wheel drive system was added as an option in the early years (NP203 transfer case), but went to part time 4 wheel drive (NP205 and NP208 transfer case) in the early '80s. Engines were a 100 hp (75 kW) 250 in³ (4.1 L) I6, a 350 in³ V8, and a 240 hp (179 kW) 454 in³ (7.4 L) V8. A four wheel drive one-ton truck was added in 1977, and a 350 in³ Oldsmobile LF9 Diesel V8 was added in 1978. Upon first release, these model trucks were named internally as "The Rounded Line", this is due to the rounded "nose" at the front of the fenders, and rounded styling of chrome trim that runs along the fenders. Though the name does not appear to apply to the 1981-1987 styles, because the fender slants downward slightly towards the front, and the chrome trim is removed in favor of a straight line that protrudes along the upper part of the fender, it technically is still part of the "Rounded Line" because of its parts interchangeability.
The trim lines for 1973 and 1974 were slightly different than 1975 and forward. In order, the new trim lines for Chevrolet and GMC were:
- Custom/Sierra — base model. Rubber floor mat, cloth seats, no lower door panel carpet, no headliner, manual door locks/windows.
- Scottsdale/Sierra Grande — chrome trim, everything the previous trim level had
- Cheyenne/High Sierra — brushed aluminum interior accents, vinyl seats, chrome trim, carpet, air conditioning, headliner, more sound deadening/insulation (inside door panels, in the headliner, etc.).
- Cheyenne Super/Sierra Classic — wood (brushed aluminum on 1981-87) interior accents, everything the previous trim level had, more chrome (i.e. bumpers and mirrors), tilt wheel, power doors/windows, and cruise control. The "Country Cadillac."
1975 introduced two important names as trim lines, Silverado for Chevrolet and Sierra for GMC. In order, the new trim lines for Chevrolet and GMC were:
- Custom Deluxe/Sierra — base model. Rubber floor mat, cloth seats, no lower door panel carpet, no headliner, manual door locks/windows.
- Scottsdale/Sierra Grande — chrome trim, everything the previous trim level had
- Cheyenne/High Sierra — brushed aluminum interior accents, vinyl seats, chrome trim, carpet, air conditioning, headliner, more sound deadening/insulation (inside door panels, in the headliner, etc.).
- Silverado/Sierra Classic — wood (brushed aluminum on 1981-87) interior accents, everything the previous trim level had, more chrome (i.e. bumpers and mirrors), tilt wheel, power doors/windows, and cruise control. The "Country Cadillac."
One thing that dealers were notorious for was selling a cheaper trim level, and piling on options at a higher cost. For example, if a dealer sold a Chevrolet Custom, with chrome trim, headliner, air conditioning, and carpetting, it would actually cost more than a base model Cheyenne! This would, however, result in a higher commission to the salespersons because of a higher total cost of the vehicle. Because of this it is not uncommon to find a Scottsdale with 'extras' such as carpetting or air conditioning. There are even accounts of owners with a 'fully loaded' Custom Deluxe.
The Third Generation of Chevrolet's full size truck line suffered from a major design defect. The fuel tanks were relocated from the passenger cab to the outside of the frame rails behind the passenger cab, commonly referred to as sidesaddle. This placement made the trucks susceptible to exploding when involved in an accident where the other vehicle struck the Chevrolet truck in the side. As of 2000, over 1,800 people have died in Chevrolet and GMC CK trucks resulting from accidents where the sidesaddle fuel tank placement was a factor in the resulting fire. GM never issued a recall, as recommended by the NTHSA. Instead, in 1993, GM offered owners $1000 coupons to entice them to purchase a new truck. GM eventually settled with the NHTSA in 1994 for the amount of $51 million to be used for safety programs. The subsequent Forth Generation was redesigned to move the fuel tanks to the inside of the frame rails. History of the GM Side Saddle Gas Tank Defect
The revised 1981 model had a new 160 hp (119 kW) 305 in³ (5.0 L) V8, with the 250 and 292 in³ (4.1 and 4.8 L) I6, 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8, and 454 in³ (7.4 L) V8 also available. A 6.2 L Detroit Diesel V8 debuted in 1982, and the Vortec 4300 was introduced as the base engine in 1985. In 1987, Chevrolet mysteriously changed the "C" designation to "R" and the "K" to "V" (in response to the introduction of the GMT400 platform in April 1987), but these switched back the very next year for the GMT400 design. The R/V designation remained in use for the crewcab bodies and SUVs (Chevrolet K5 Blazer and Suburban) until 1991.
A variation of the C/K series was introduced in 1985 in Brazil, replacing the locally-produced C10, introduced in 1964.
This generation's longevity is the basis for Chevy's slogan, "The Most Dependable, Longest Lasting Trucks on the Road."
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