Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Although General Motors introduced its first pickup truck in 1930, the term "Silverado" was reserved for the higher-level trim for Chevrolet's C/K pickup trucks from 1975 through 1999. (Similarly, GMC's C/K trucks used "Sierra" on higher-level trims until 1988, when GMC decided to use the "Sierra" name on all GMC pickup trucks, though the "C/K" nomenclature continued through 1999.) The "C" (or "R" for 1987) trucks had rear-wheel drive while the "K" (or "V" in 1987) models had four-wheel drive. Both Chevrolet and GMC dropped the "C" and "K" designations in 1999.

The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks have been essentially the same for their entire history. Today the Silverado is generally advertised as the "tougher" version, while the Sierra has more luxury options. There are some trim and option variations as well. Early models included variations in the engine and equipment, but the present differences are slight. The 1999 redesign included different grilles and interior trim, and certain features (e.g., Quadrasteer) were included at different times on the two trucks. The Silverado remains the second most popular truck in the United States, behind Ford's F-150.