Why This Car Is Special

The 1987 Chevrolet C10 Silverado represents the final chapter of one of the longest-running and most successful truck designs in American automotive history. Chevrolet's "Square Body" generation, which ran from 1973 through 1987, lasted 15 years precisely because it got so much right the first time. By 1987, these trucks had been refined to a point where they were genuinely comfortable, capable, and well-equipped — and this particular example makes the case clearly.

A note on the specifics: this truck is technically a factory R10, meaning it came from GM with rear-wheel drive coded under the R-series designation rather than the more commonly referenced C10. For all practical purposes — body style, drivetrain layout, parts availability, and collector recognition — an R10 and a C10 are the same truck. The R designation simply reflects a Chevrolet internal coding shift used briefly in the mid-to-late 1980s. When collectors and enthusiasts search for these trucks today, they search for the 1987 Chevrolet C10, and that is exactly what you are looking at.

What makes the 1987 model year significant is timing. It was the last year of production for the Square Body C10 before Chevrolet introduced the all-new GMT400 platform in 1988. That transition means the 1987 trucks have a built-in collector status as the last of a lineage, much like a final model year of any long-running generation tends to attract interest after the fact. Parts are abundant, the community is active, and values on clean, original-spec examples have been climbing steadily as the Square Body market matures.

This truck is finished in red over gray two-tone — the classic factory two-tone look that defined the Silverado trim level in this era. The Silverado package was Chevrolet's top trim for the C10, sitting above the base and Custom Deluxe levels, and it brought a meaningful upgrade in interior quality, exterior chrome, and comfort features. This example carries the full Silverado equipment list, including a long list of factory power amenities that were not standard across the lineup.

Features List

• 350ci (5.7L) V8 engine with fuel injection
• 4-speed automatic transmission
• Silverado trim package
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Air conditioning
• Power windows
• Power door locks
• Tilt steering column
• Full gauge cluster (volt, oil pressure, temperature, fuel)
• AM/FM stereo
• Cloth bench seat
• Red carpet interior
• Sliding rear cab window
• Long bed Fleetside configuration
• Dual exhaust
• Chrome front and rear bumpers
• Cooper Cobra Radial tires
• Chrome tow mirrors
• Drum brakes at all four corners
• Clean undercarriage
• Rear tow hitch

Mechanical

The engine under this 1987 Chevrolet C10 Silverado is the 350 cubic inch (5.7-liter) V8 paired with Chevrolet's throttle body fuel injection system, known internally as the Rochester Multec TBI unit. By 1987, GM had moved its truck 350 away from the carburetor and onto this injection setup, which improved cold-start reliability, fuel delivery consistency, and everyday drivability compared to the carbureted units it replaced. It is a simple system by modern standards — two injectors mounted above the throttle body — but it was a genuine improvement for the era and remains straightforward to service today.

The transmission is a 4-speed automatic, sending power back through a conventional two-piece driveshaft to the rear axle. Drum brakes are fitted at all four corners, which was standard for this configuration. The truck is rear-wheel drive, making it lighter and more straightforward mechanically than the 4x4 variants that command a premium in the current market.

The undercarriage photos tell an important part of this truck's story. The frame, floor pans, crossmembers, and suspension components are all remarkably clean. There is no significant rust, no patch work, and no evidence of the kind of deferred maintenance that typically plagues 35-year-old trucks from northern states. The dual exhaust system exits cleanly out the rear, and the rear differential housing has been coated. This is what a well-cared-for southern truck looks like underneath.

Dual exhaust is fitted, which on a stock 350 TBI truck adds a little more sound and a modest improvement in exhaust flow over the factory single-outlet setup. The rear tow hitch is in place and the truck is fully equipped for light towing duty.

Interior

Step inside and the Silverado trim level is immediately apparent. The dashboard carries the factory brushed-aluminum-look instrument cluster bezel with five individual gauges — voltmeter, oil pressure, coolant temperature, speedometer, and fuel — all set into a silver panel with Silverado badging on the passenger side. This full gauge cluster was one of the distinguishing features of the Silverado package over base trim trucks, which received a much simpler instrument layout with warning lights in place of actual gauges.

The bench seat is covered in black cloth, which presents well and shows the kind of wear you would expect from a truck that has been used and maintained rather than neglected. The flooring is covered in red carpet — a factory combination that pairs the bright exterior color with a contrasting cabin. Red carpet with a dark bench seat was a specific Silverado interior combination and it reads as intentional rather than mismatched. The door panels are black with chrome trim accents, carpeted lower sections, and the factory map pockets intact. Power window switches are integrated into each door panel in their original positions.

The tilt steering column is in place and functions correctly. Air conditioning is present. The sliding rear glass is factory fitted, which allows cab ventilation without opening the main windows — useful in warm climates and practical for daily use. The overall interior condition is consistent with a truck that was treated well during its life rather than one that required significant rehabilitation.

Exterior

The two-tone red and gray exterior is the combination most closely associated with the Square Body Silverado in the late 1980s. The upper body is red, the lower body section is finished in gray, and the two are separated by the factory body-side molding. The Silverado script badges are present on the front doors. The chrome front and rear bumpers are intact. The rear bumper carries the factory Chevrolet lettering centered across the face.

The body is a long bed Fleetside configuration, meaning the bed runs approximately eight feet in length and the bed sides are flush with the cab — the smoother, more car-like profile as opposed to the Stepside's exposed rear fenders. The long bed is the more practical choice for actual cargo use and the more common configuration for the working-truck buyer of the era.

Chrome tow mirrors are fitted in place of the standard flat mirrors, giving the truck a slightly larger view area behind the vehicle. Cooper Cobra Radial tires are mounted at all four corners. The Cobra Radial is a classic whitewall-style raised-letter tire that was popular as a factory-style replacement on these trucks during the 1980s and 1990s, and it suits the Square Body aesthetic well.

The body panels are straight and the gaps are consistent. This is an original-body truck, not a repaired or rebuilt one, and the photos confirm that the sheet metal has remained in good condition throughout its life.

Conclusion

A 1987 Chevrolet C10 Silverado with a fuel-injected 350, a clean undercarriage, a full Silverado option package, and a well-preserved two-tone exterior in this configuration is genuinely difficult to source at this quality level. The Square Body C10 market has been active and prices on original, rust-free examples have been rising for several years. The 1987 model year in particular carries added appeal as the final production year of the generation. This truck has not been rebuilt, cut, modified, or saved from neglect — it is an honest, well-equipped survivor that presents correctly in every major area.

If you have questions about this 1987 Chevrolet C10 Silverado or would like to arrange an inspection, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608. We are happy to walk you through the truck in detail.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.