Is it fair to say that the Chevrolet LUV pickup truck is an endangered species? The Americanized Isuzu Faster has all but disappeared from the radar screen. Every time we see one of these little rigs, we can’t help but be a bit surprised and even a little bit excited…it’s not like seeing a unicorn out in the wild, but it’s not too far from it either. They are neat little trucks, but finding one in a clean condition like this 1976 example isn’t that easy. We tend to find these rigs after they’ve been sitting for years, or after they’ve been beaten to a pulp.
That’s not to say that this LUV has seen an easy life, but that it’s still going to need attention, even as clean as it is. The dash is cracked up, a result of living in southern Arizona, and the factory air conditioning system isn’t working. But someone has obviously shown some love to the little truck, because not many people would go out of their way to re-chrome the front bumper and hunt down fresh taillight lenses for one.
Leaving the LUV stock is an option. It’ll run down the highways all day long as as long as you don’t wind the wee out of it, you’ll get respectable fuel mileage out of the four-cylinder. But we think that a rev-happy small block backed by a five-speed should be in the cards. Why? Because we’re sick in the head like that.
eBay Link: 1976 Chevrolet LUV
Ford Coyote motor swap to get revenge on all those Chevy powered Fords out there…..
Ha! As usual, Chevy Hatin’ Mad Geordie is probably right! I had one, and I had a 350/350 combo in it, manual shift valve body, 2 4’s, street daily driver in the mid ’80’s. I hate all things GM. Bought the LUV as a daily driver, and when the clutch went out, I found I could buy a Don Hardy V8 swap kit for the same money as a new clutch, pressure plate, and bearing. So I took the plunge. After rebuilding all that crap, I hated all things GM even more, but the truck was a 100% blast to drive, and not being a Chevy chassis and body, it was really tough as well. Great little trucks, shame about the association with GM….
I’m starting to think Chevy Hatin’ Mad Geordie = Gary Smrtic ! You two are one and the same ?
Needs a turbo 4 from a Solstice/Sky along with manual trans. Keeps with the original 4 cyl theme (for whatever thats worth), but makes it infinitely better to drive.