One owner since new! Nice documentation, recent paint in original color, new interior, and polished oak bed. Fresh wheels and tires. Camper Special loaded with options including factory A/C, power steering, and clearance lights. High-quality truck.

Yes, you read that right, this is a one-owner truck. Never used for serious work, it was ordered and used as intended: camper special. It was fitted with a slide-in camper top for the first half of its life and only used in summer weather for family vacations. As a result, it never had to fight through winter weather or the daily grind of traffic, and was not used to haul anything that would beat it up. And that’s why it’s so beautifully preserved today. It was treated to a high-quality repaint about five years ago and they used a modern Volkswagen color to closely approximate the original Ochre, although the current paint is far brighter and shinier than anything they could have imagined in 1972. It’s gorgeous! There’s solid original sheetmetal underneath with no signs this truck was ever rusty or patched, including the cab corners and rockers, which are untouched. The bumpers have been re-chromed and most of the emblems were replaced with quality reproductions, so the trim sparkles against the attractive gold paint. Also note that there’s a new oak bed with chrome rub strips and a high-quality flush-mount tonneau cover to seal it up and keep your gear dry. And check out the cab running lights, a feature we haven’t seen on one of these trucks before. The only notable deviation from stock are those trick headlights, but they work so well nobody will complain.

Inside there’s a new seat cover that really contrasts nicely with the gold paint. New door panels were installed at the same time, but we believe that’s the original rubber mat, so you know this truck was well maintained. The gauges in these trucks are arguably the most attractive of the period, and it includes dials for temperature, oil pressure, and battery instead of the usual idiot lights, and they’re all brand new. The original steering wheel is in very good condition save for a single crack at the 12 o’clock position, and you’ll note that it’s equipped with factory A/C, which was rather rare in trucks in 1972. There’s also an aftermarket trailer brake controller under the dash should you wish to do any hauling, and a great-sounding Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo in the center stack. This clean, bright interior is a great place to spend some time.

The engine is a tried-and-true LS9 350 cubic inch V8, which was the standard engine in the ¾ ton pickups. With a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, it’s got plenty of grunt to make the big pickup feel energetic. The engine bay has been nicely detailed with Chevy Orange engine enamel on the block, a stock air cleaner up top, and original hardware throughout. The A/C system has been overhauled and includes a conversion to R134a refrigerant, so it will be easy to service in the future. This truck also includes power steering and power front disc brakes, so anyone can get in and go. The transmission is a TH350 3-speed automatic feeding a set of 3.73 gears out back, so it feels punchy around town but cruises pretty well at today’s highway speeds. The underside is original (there was never any need to take the cab off the frame) but you can see that there’s no evidence of accident damage or rot and all the critical areas of the cab itself are in excellent shape. Even the original spot welds are visible on the rocker seam. Leaf springs were standard in the ¾ ton pickups but it rides reasonably well for a heavy-duty hauler and there’s a brand new Reese hitch out back. A fresh dual exhaust system sounds muscular but not too loud and those 16-inch aluminum wheels and beefy 235/85/16 tires look awesome.

These trucks are red hot. We’ve sold quite a few of them, but this might be the finest one yet. It’s attractive, it’s still ready to do some work on the weekends, and it’s luxurious enough to fit into today’s world without feeling like you’re going back to the stone age. Take a look, then give us a call!

Harwood Motors always recommends personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.