Chevy Luv Pickup Mikado Edition low mileage original

1980 Chevrolet Other Pickups Mikado Description

Offered for sale is my 1980 Chevy Luv pickup. It is the Mikado edition. It has approximately 87,500 miles on odometer. Back in 1980, people bought these Luv trucks to use as a work trucks. Thus just about all got "used up" and crushed.It is obvious that whoever bought this truck kept it in a garage and used it as a family vehicle. This would explain the low 2200 miles per year usage.

Being a Mikado edition it has front disc brakes and additional badging. All has factory air(see below) and four-speed. To call this truck "one of a kind" is a gross understatement.

This must be one of the most original Luv trucks in existence. The amount of passing interest from on-lookers is astounding.Seems like everyone had one at one time or another. You could literally take this truck as is and enter any car show. I assure you it will be the only Luv truck in sight. It has every single piece of badging (and all in good shape). And, as you can see in the pics, the engine bay is spotless.

INTERIOR

Door panels, headliner and dashboard are all in nearly perfect condition. The carpeting was replaced by me. Fits rather nicely. Installed new seatbelts. The seat is a little rough. I got the heavy duty seat cover from LMC Trucks and it really fits nice. Takes any urgency out of recovering seat. But,being a simple bench seat, recovering should not be costly at all. Will leave it to new owner. Behind the seat is the jack and long rod for removing spare tire from winch mechanism under bed. Like I say, the truck is very complete. It has an after market radio. Easily removable (has "cage”). Also I put two high quality small box speakers behind seat. Suits me just fine.

EXTERIOR

I believe paint job may be original. No signs at all of masking. The engine bay color matches the exterior perfectly. Being kept in garage its entire life probably accounts for this.There are a couple of tiny rust spots.Easily addressable. Just replaced door weather-stripping however the driver's door still has small leak. Any capable body man should be able to resolve. The bed is in nice shape. A few small spots of surface rust. I will include fresh can of computer-matched touch-up paint.

There is no rear bumper.Don't know full story. I do know that someone fabricated a polished stainless bumper for this application. As you can see in pics, if looks very nice. New owner will have to get brackets fabricated. There are easily accessible frame rails to attach with some kind of bracket. After looking at some pics, this bumper, when installed, will look a heck of a lot better than a stock unit (which is unobtainable). Bumper chrome on front is only OK.

The tires have plenty of life left in them. Also includes spare. The winch mechanism works fine with original long cranking rod behind seat.

It could use a front-end alignment.

MECHANICAL

The engine uses no oil.I've put around 2000 miles on motor.Very little usage. I'm currently addressing small valve cover leak. I have all the smog equipment in a box.It's all corroded and not working but it is all there. The guy I bought this from (in fall 2018)said he had just put a new clutch in it.It shifts fantastically so I have no reason to think he lied. I got it on eBay and he had a perfect feedback record. It never occurred to me to get copy of receipt. I have replaced the alternator and have a new starter ready to go in a box. I mistakenly thought starter was beginning to fail. When it eventually does, the owner will have replacement in hand.

I have replaced exhaust system, alternator, fuel pump and heater control valve. Exhaust system replaced last winter (2018).

The air conditioning is a large issue. When I got truck, the AC worked great. Somewhere in spring 2019, the compressor died. It is a "Diesel Kiki" unit. Needless to say, no replacements anywhere and no one to repair my dead unit. I have recently learned (from on line forums) that the 1.8L engine is the exact same block as their 1.9L and 2.3L versions. I was told that I can get a compressor mounting bracket for a 1984-1986 Isuzu Trooper with the same Isuzu series (G200Z) and then get a compressor from Rock Auto. Refrigerant hose fabrication may also be necessary. Someone with more familiarity of AC systems should easily be able to deal with this. I know the AC works great and, once new compressor/bracketry is installed, should provide years of comfort.

As you can also see, underneath truck is also in great condition. A little surface rust but that is to be expected. All suspension bushings look fine.

BOTTOM LINE

This truck is not far away from being almost a museum piece. You will be the talk of any car show. There are very few in existence and even fewer in this condition. Being the super-rare Mikado edition makes it even better. The attention you will get will be amazing.

Buyer will be responsible for all shipping matters.

DO NOT MISS THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY !