Custom ’70s Performance Truck: Retro Styling Cure.
Instagram’s artistic talent JLord8 has produced multiple versions of admired sports cars in the past but with this newest alteration, it really nailed it. Taking its inspiration from the C8 Chevrolet Corvette, this transformation is exceptional.
Chevy recently expanded their Corvette lineup with the addition of new types, including an environmentally-friendly E-Ray hybrid and a twin-turbo variant. There is further speculation that these changes may even cater to body style variants, perhaps even an SUV. Nothing appears to be too far-fetched in this instance.
Drawing inspiration from the Chevy C1500 454 SS performance pickup truck that was made from 1990-1993, this new render brings a bit of vintage flair to a modern classic automobile. The result is an awe-inspiring version of the C8 Chevy Corvette – its 454 SS Special Edition.
It may appear that a back-to-basics Chevrolet Corvette would be a prime thought. However, upon further examination the C8 Stingray is similarly elementary: an RWD sports car with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing no forced induction.
Still removing any unnecessary frills, the 454 SS lacks fanciful paintwork, boastful adornments and opts for more classical styled wheels. All this results in a striking all-black Stingray with the C1500 454 SS wheels and small orange accents to bring character to an ocean of black.
In the year 1990, the Chevy C1500 454 SS – an offshoot of the GMC C/K line-up meant to take on the GMC Syclone- was the trailblazing performance truck. It featured black, short-wheelbase, short-bed dimensions and came with specifically tailored steel wheels and a sticker that matched the one found on the side of a Corvette.
It is understandable that Chevrolet chose to make the Corvette 454 SS from the Stingray instead of the track-oriented C8 Corvette Z06, to honoring its roots as much as possible. The vehicle from the 90’s may not have been as swift as the GMC Syclone with its turbocharged engine; nevertheless, with its 7.4-liter V8 producing a maximum of 255 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, it provided respectable performance. For the contemporary C8 Stingray, there is a 6.2-liter V8 motor with a capacity to deliver up to 490 hp plus 465 lb-ft of torque, which appears to be a decent compromise.
In our current climate where each additional adaptation of a sports car demands to be visibly and experientially higher-tech, a unique spinoff commemorating the traditional genuineness of the 454 SS might rapidly rise in popularity.
Despite a devoted following, the original 454 SS has appraised values lower than many expect as well as comparative models like the GMC Syclone. Classic.com tells us that an average auction price for a Chevy C1500 454 SS is around $32,000 while Hagerty estimates the market value of a 1990 standard model equipped with 230 reach to nearly $24K.
