The Specifications of a 1988 Chevy S10
by Andy JosephThe 1988 Chevrolet S-10 was one of the model-year entries of the compact pickup truck's first generation of production, which lasted from 1982 to 1993. There were eight versions of the vehicle, varying by cab size, bed size and drivetrain options between the two/rear-wheel (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD).
Trims and Engine
The 1988 Chevrolet S-10 had eight trims: the EL Regular Cab Short Bed 2WD, Regular Cab Short Bed 2WD, Regular Cab Long Bed 2WD, Extended Cab Short Bed 2WD, Extended Cab Short Bed 2WD, Regular Cab Short Bed 4WD, Regular Cab Long Bed 4WD and Extended Cab Short Bed 4WD. All the trims had the same 2.5L 92-horsepower in-line four-cylinder engine with 130 foot-pounds of torque and a compression ratio of 8.3 to 1.
Transmissions and Gas Tanks
Only the EL Regular Cab Short Bed 2WD and Extended Cab Short Bed 2WD got a standard five-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The other trims got the four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The EL Regular Cab Short Bed 2WD, which is the lowest of the trims, had a 13-gallon gas tank, while the others had 20-gallon gas tanks.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy depended on the type of transmission. Those with manual gearboxes got 24 mpg for city driving and 30 mpg for highway driving. Those with automatic gearboxes, however, got 20 to 21 mpg for city driving and 26 to 28 mpg for highway driving.
Interior and Exterior
With standard seating for as many as three people, the 1988 Chevy S-10 had headroom measured at around 39 inches, legroom at around 43 inches and hip room at around 51 inches. As for its exterior dimensions, it measured 178 inches in length, 65 inches in width and 61 inches in height with a 108-inch wheelbase. Curb weight varied at a range of about 2,500 to 3,000 lbs., depending on trim and transmission. The top-level Regular Cab Long Bed 4WD and Extended Cab Short Bed 4WD trims had 15-inch steel wheels while the others had 14-inch wheels. The turning diameter was 39 feet.
Price
The original manufacturer's suggested retail price range went from $6,795 for EL Regular Cab Short Bed 2WD to $11,537 for the Extended Cab Short Bed 4WD. As of 2010, an '88 S-10 can be purchased within the price range of $2,000 to $3,000.
References
Writer Bio
Based in the D.C. area, Andy Joseph works full-time as a data analyst and technical writer. He has been writing articles about technology, health, politics, music, culture and automobiles since 2007. His work has appeared in The Express, Congressional Report and Road & Track. He has a master's degree in journalism and technology management.
