Chevrolet, Longest Lasting Trucks?

[SteveBBB]

Normally when you buy a pickup you worry about things like depreciation, operating costs, and how long the truck is going to last. Not this guy — he more than got his moneys worth with this one.

Back in 1976 when Bob Sportel was 24 he bought a used, rusting 1957 half-ton Chevy pickup for $75 because he needed a way to get to work. He just retired from his job after 38 years — driving the same truck.

According to KARE-TV in Minnesota, Sportel originally tried to buy the truck for $50. His only “extravagance” as he puts it is four oil changes a year. We’d say he changes them with the seasons but Minnesota only has two: winter and mud.

Sportel has applied several layers of duct tape to the truck’s upholstery. Bondo holds the front lights in place and rust holes provide portholes to the truck’s underside. He guesstimates the truck has more than 300,000 miles on it because the odometer hasn’t worked since he bought it. And, in spite of his wife’s pleas, he has no plans to replace it.

 

Cut and pasted from article in Bold Ride by Keith Griffin

[RyanbabZ71]

Wow still in decent shape

 

 

Ryan

[06pirate]

I saw that on TV. Pretty good deal for the money. I paid $13,000 for my used 1990 Toyota 4x4, in 1994, and it now has 360,000 and the odometer still works. And it has a radio and a heater.

[patriot]

Bob's got the right idea!

[white1500]

Original power and drive train??

[LaserBlueZ71]

I used to think guys like this were crazy, now I think they have the right idea.

 

Far too much income has to go towards a nice, newer vehicle. I purchased my 2011 brand new, but I won't ever do that again. Vehicles are nothing but bad money! I will be keeping my 2011 for a long time as long as it holds out!

[wurgs]

That's a heck of a story.

 

My brother has an 82 Chevy 4x4 that our grandpa bought new. It has about 140000 miles on it and still drives good. He said he will keep it till it dies, wonder how long that will be?

[PMattras]

I had a 1983 (purchased new) Chevy Silverado 1500 with a straight six engine (four speed auto, am radio and cigarette lighter/no air conditioner - strip vehicle) short bed with over 180,000 miles on it before a deer took it off the road in 2002. I kept the truck in excellent condition (looked new) and had no issues with it. With aluminum cap I paid $3,400 with tax (paid cash) and got $2,865 after some heavy conversation with the insurance company (comp insurance). The plus factor I also got $1,000 applied to my new 2002 Chevy pickup because the settlement on the problems GM had on the gas tanks. At the time of purchasing the new 1983 Chevy pickup, GM also gave me two free airline tickets (value approximately $1,000 with Eastern Airlines) to fly anywhere within a year. At that time flying was very expensive. I wish I could find another deal like the one I got on my 1983 Chevy truck.

[Beer Belly]

I can't get a truck to last more than six years before it starts falling apart around me......and never over 100K.....most was 93K....and I religiously follow the maintenance shcedule

[KARNUT]

Not me, Im very cheap but Im going to have a nice ride. But its cool if he likes it, I bet he spends his money on something else, like a bad ass bike in the garage for nice days.

[wing98]

this the first truck I have ever owned that was under a 100.000 miles my last truck was a 2000 Silverado with 340.000

and I bought it with 250.000 on it . still runs great

[Beer Belly]

Normally when you buy a pickup you worry about things like depreciation, operating costs, and how long the truck is going to last. Not this guy — he more than got his moneys worth with this one.

Back in 1976 when Bob Sportel was 24 he bought a used, rusting 1957 half-ton Chevy pickup for $75 because he needed a way to get to work. He just retired from his job after 38 years — driving the same truck.

According to KARE-TV in Minnesota, Sportel originally tried to buy the truck for $50. His only “extravagance” as he puts it is four oil changes a year. We’d say he changes them with the seasons but Minnesota only has two: winter and mud.

Sportel has applied several layers of duct tape to the truck’s upholstery. Bondo holds the front lights in place and rust holes provide portholes to the truck’s underside. He guesstimates the truck has more than 300,000 miles on it because the odometer hasn’t worked since he bought it. And, in spite of his wife’s pleas, he has no plans to replace it.

 

Cut and pasted from article in Bold Ride by Keith Griffin

If this were my dad, I'd have the truck restored as a gift

[TJMaine]

My goal is to run this truck into the ground, rotting and falling apart around me, patching and fixing as I go. Aslong as I can keep it looking a 5 out of 10 I wont feel like im driving a turd.

After all isnt the point of a truck for utility vs looks? Nobody wants to drive a turd, but lets face it... living in the northern climates we'd all go broke replacing a vehicle every 5 years.