Admit it, you’re one of the many folks hoping to find something even better than a diamond in the rough: A classic pickup truck with tons of value. But with so many people flocking to popular models, it can be difficult to stumble across an affordable option.That is, unless you pay attention to market trends with a keen eye to determine which older trucks are about to skyrocket in value. Don’t worry if you don’t have the time to evaluate trends and classics, because we do, and we’ve suddenly stumbled upon one model that’s suddenly becoming the bees' knees. Modern Pickup Trucks Make Enthusiasts Miss Classics FordTo determine which classic trucks are increasing in value, one must keep an eye on popular modern trends. You may have noticed that trucks are significantly larger than they used to be, causing enthusiasts to overlook smaller options.As the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 feel bloated with crew cabs that are larger than the truck beds, smaller trucks have been returning to the streets. Suddenly, the compact Ford Maverick is all the rage as demand for this truck (plus other economic features) has caused the starting price to increase from $19,995 to $28,145 over a few years.Plus, the upcoming Slate truck is a single-cab electric model that has reservations flying off the shelves. Even Toyota briefly considered going tiny again with the Toyota Tacoma X-Runner Concept and toyed with our emotions about bringing the Toyota Stout back. This has been reviving interest in classic smaller trucks.Oh, don’t forget about modern street trucks either. Automakers have caught on to the fact that people want muscle trucks to make a comeback; that’s why the Ford Maverick Lobo, Ram 1500 RHO, and Chevrolet Silverado RST racing trims exist. Modern Trucks Just Can’t Scratch That Classic Itch Slate Autos This is a formal apology for being corny and saying, “They don’t build ‘em like they used to". But that can be an issue for some enthusiasts when it comes to new pickups today. Sure, the Ford Maverick Hybrid stuns with its 40 MPG fuel economy.However, hybrid engines aren’t exactly trusted as some people consider them to be less reliable than traditional internal combustion options. Even though they tend to have less strain, that's not today’s deep dive. Also, if people aren’t on board with hybrids, then typically, they simply can’t even with electric powertrains.Also, to become more efficient, automakers have been ditching V8 engines for turbocharged V6 engines, to the discontent of many drivers. While they provide a better fuel economy, they also put more stress on internal components.Even as the Ford Maverick proves to be a popular tiny truck, people are still complaining about it because it has four doors. If you take a peak in truck forums, you’ll see comments about wanting a single cab model to return like the older Ford Ranger generations. The Chevrolet 454 SS Is Racing Back To The Scene Hagerty If you love a solid muscle truck, then you have the Chevrolet 454 SS to thank. This compact muscle truck debuted in 1990 and is attributed to creating the muscle truck boom of the 1990’s.You may be more familiar with the GMC Syclone or Ford SVT Lightning, which came out a few years later, after the Chevy 454 SS gained popularity. Only 17,500 454 SS models were made, while roughly 40,000 SVT Lightning models were produced. So, the 454 SS is a much rarer find.The original price for the Chevy 454 SS muscle truck was $18,295! Now the cheapest compact truck is the 2026 Ford Maverick at $28,145. The 454 SS muscle truck icon fetches between $25,000 to $60,000 today if found in good condition with low mileage. However, one in mint condition in the original wrapper recently sold at auction for over $121,000.Value for this pickup has increased by 57% since 2021, which is right around the time the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick arrived to start the current compact truck boom. It’s only expected to continue increasing in value from here. What Makes The Chevy 454 SS So Great? via gmfullsize The Chevy 454 SS is based on the GMT400, and it’s the first time that truck was purposely built for racing. It features a lowered suspension, short bed, and rear-wheel drive to launch you off the line. Plus, it has a sport suspension, 3.73 rear axle, and quick-ratio steering.Most importantly, the truck has the legendary 7.4-liter V8 L19 Big Block engine, which was never truly discontinued. It’s evolved over the years and is still available as a crate engine thanks to its legendary reliability. Also, the is famous for being easy to work on and modify, making it a favorite among enthusiasts with project builds.This muscle truck churns out 230 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. The power is delivered through a turbo-hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission. In 1991, it gained a 4L80-E four-speed automatic transmission to boost the power to 255 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque.With great power comes great style. The Chevrolet 454 SS has a unique design with monochromatic shades of red and black paint, an egg crate grille, and chrome sport wheels. The interior is bathed in Garnet Red to promote a confident, high-performance attitude. How To Find A Chevy 454 SS Today via hagerty.com You could pray to the truck gods for the miracle of stumbling across an old, forgotten Chevy 454 SS muscle truck in a dusty old barn somewhere. But you would have to be pretty lucky to come across one of these rare pickups in the wild.Buyers will have to be patient and watch for auctions among online collector market places. According to Classic, there are currently eight models available at the time of writing this article. The cheapest model rings in at $22,900 with 119,000 miles on the odometer.That’s pretty high mileage as these street trucks typically survive to about 200,000 miles. But maybe you could drop a new engine in. Otherwise, pay up or simply enjoy looking at these trucks while attending car shows.Source: Car Help Corner, The Drive, GM Authority