The Chevrolet S-10 was the first compact pickup built by one of the big three American makers. Introduced in 1981 as a 1982 quarter-ton model, it replaced Isuzu-based trucks in the range and was built in North America until 2004, and in Brazil until 2012.
Chevrolet S-10 at a glance
| Introduced | 1981, for the 1982 model year |
|---|---|
| Class | Compact pickup |
| Significance | first domestically built compact pickup of the big three |
| GMC versions | S-15, later renamed Sonoma |
| SUV version | Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy |
| Isuzu version | Isuzu Hombre, 1996–2000, North America only |
| High-performance GMC | Syclone, 1991 |
| Electric version | leased as a fleet vehicle in 1997 and 1998 |
| Replaced in North America | Chevrolet Colorado in 2004 |
| Brazilian production | to 2012, still called S-10 |
History of the Chevrolet S-10
The S-10 arrived in 1981 for the 1982 model year as a quarter-ton pickup and was the first domestically built compact pickup from any of the big three American makers. GMC sold the same truck first as the S-15 and later as the Sonoma. The model line also produced an SUV, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and GMC S-15 Jimmy, and an electric version leased to fleets in 1997 and 1998. Internally the two- and four-wheel-drive versions were sometimes referred to as the S/T series, by analogy with the full-size C/K trucks.
The truck was sold with a range of four-cylinder and V6 engines and in regular, extended and crew-cab forms over its life. Isuzu sold its own version in North America as the Hombre from 1996 to 2000, which closed a circle begun in the 1970s when Chevrolet had sold the Isuzu Faster as the LUV. GMC’s high-performance Syclone of 1991, a turbocharged all-wheel-drive pickup, shared the same basic platform.
In North America the S-series was replaced in 2004 by the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and Isuzu i-Series. Production continued in Brazil until 2012, where the truck was replaced by the Chevrolet Colorado but kept the S-10 name, which is why later S-10s sold in South America look quite different from the North American trucks.
Design and features
- First of its kind: the first compact pickup from a big three American maker.
- Blazer connection: the S-10 Blazer SUV was built on the same chassis.
- Isuzu Hombre: the same truck sold by Isuzu in North America from 1996.
- Brazilian life: built in South America until 2012, long after the US model ended.
Chevrolet S-10 versions
- Regular and extended cab: the main North American body styles.
- S-10 Blazer: the SUV version on the same platform.
- Electric S-10: leased to fleets in 1997 and 1998.
- South American S-10: built in Brazil until 2012 under the same name.
The S-10 replaced the Chevrolet LUV and was replaced by the Chevrolet Colorado; its SUV version was the Chevrolet Blazer. More trucks are in the Chevrolet collection.
Video: 2003 Chevrolet S-10
Video by Saabkyle04 on YouTube.
Sources
- Chevrolet S-10, English Wikipedia: introduction, versions, successors
