* 3-speed automatic: This was a common option.
* 4-speed automatic: Also a possibility, though less common than the 3-speed automatic.
* 5-speed manual: A popular choice, especially on lower trim levels.
To know for sure what transmission is in a *specific* 1988 Chevy S-10, you'd need to check the vehicle's identification number (VIN) or look at the transmission itself. The VIN can be decoded to reveal the transmission code. Alternatively, looking under the truck, near the transmission, should have a tag or casting number that identifies the transmission type.