Do you remember the Chevrolet LUV truck? Way back in 1972, domestic automakers owned the North American truck market, but were losing market share to smaller, more efficient trucks, like those offered by Toyota and Datsun. General Motors answer was to call upon Izuzu, in which they held a stake at the time, to bring over the inappropriately named Izuzu Faster rebadged as the Chevrolet Light Utility Vehicle, or LUV for short. Thankfully, GM has rekindled its commitment in the small truck game with the likes of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, but a classic is a classic.
When introduced in 1972, the LUV truck had one engine option, a 1,817 cc, SOHC four cylinder that offered up a paltry 75 horsepower, which was mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Drum brakes all around (yikes) are tasked with stopping the little truck, not that you’d be going very fast as 0-60 took an estimated 18 seconds.
This 1980 Chevrolet LUV pickup is for sale in Daytona, FL. on Craigslist for a bargain – just $2,500. By the time 1980 rolled around, Chevrolet had squeezed 5 more horsepower out of the four cylinder engine, added four wheel drive, replaced the front drum brakes with discs and added independent front suspension.
This gleaming example has just 31,000 miles on the clock and a custom removable soft top. Do you feel the LUV?
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About ten years ago, my father in law called me in an excited tizzy. He wanted me to go look at a truck that was near me that he found online and was really excited about (he lived about two hours away). He gave me the address and I went to look at it the next day. Imagine my surprise when I saw it was a banana-yellow 1977 Chevy LUV. It was in really good shape (for what it was). The seller was only asking $1,500 for it (if I remember correctly).
My father-in-law ended up buying the truck. He drove it for about three years and then traded it in on an old, early 90s Nissan pickup.
I shook my head every time I saw him with that LUV.
I loved the styling of these trucks and they made neat custom trucks.
Too bad they rusted out so badly.
It was also sold in the UK and Europe as the Bedford KB25
My brother and I test drove one, I thought it was a gutless wonder. He went and later ordered one then never took delivery, ended up with a used Jeep CJ. I thought that move to be a little odd as the Jeep and the Luv weren’t exactly apples to apples.
I want to buy that truck