AMT ERTL 1995 Chevy S-10 Pickup Truck 1/24 Scale

The first compact pickup truck from General Motors was the rebadged Isuzu KB sold since 1972 as the Chevrolet LUV. The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo forced GM to consider designing a domestically-produced compact pickup truck, however. As usual, parts from other GM chassis lines (primarily from the GM G-body intermediates) were incorporated. The first S-series trucks were introduced in 1982. The Chevrolet and GMC models were identical apart from the grille. An extended cab and "Insta-Trac" four wheel drive were added the next year along with two new engines.

Track width was similar to the former GM H-body subcompacts (Vega/Monza). The sport utility S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy debuted; GM was the first to introduce compact sport utilities ahead of arch rivals Jeep and Ford. This trend occurred again where 4-door variants were introduced in March 1990.

New heavy-duty and off-road suspensions appeared in 1984 along with a hydraulic clutch, while the big news for 1985 was the discontinuing of the Cavalier's OHV I4 in favor of Pontiac's Iron Duke. The OHV-derived 2.2 L engine and Isuzu 1.9 L were both gone the next year, leaving just the Iron Duke and updated 2.8 L V6. A much-welcomed 4.3 L V6 was added for 1988, and anti-lock brakes came the next year.

The GMC S-15 became the GMC Sonoma in 1991, and the Sierra trim packages are dropped to avoid confusion with the new GMC Sierra full-size pickup. The GMC Syclone also appeared that year. The Sonoma GT bowed in 1992. Added to this was the 4.3L V6 Vortec W code engine. This generation's last year, 1993.

The Vortec is essentially the standard Z code 262 cu inch engine. The difference is the W code used a balance shaft, roller cam shaft, different heads, and Central Port Injection. The 1992 and 1993 engine came in either a 195 or 205 HP rating. The High Perfomance version came with a larger diameter Y pipe, and was only installed in some of the Blazers and S-10 Jimmys.

A limited edition model was sold in 1992, the Sonoma GT. It used a 4.3 L L35 V6 which produced 195 hp (101 kW). The appearance was similar to the 1991 GMC Syclone "super-truck". 806 Sonoma GT's were produced in 1992.