It may be hard to believe based on this photo, but the seller confirms that this 1980 Chevrolet 1980 Chevrolet Silverado C30 3+3 Camper Special has well under 20,000 original miles and is remained in one-family ownership during that time. If this mileage is correct, it’s safe to say the truck was poorly stored during that time, given the amount of damage done to the paint. The seller blames that on a trop that was thrown over the truck, which again, seems short-sighted for a vehicle that was used so sparingly. Regardless, it’s a well-optioned truck and the interior does look to tidy enough to be confused with a low-mileage specimen. Find the Chevy here on eBay with bidding at $6,100 and no reserve.
And yes, the original tailgate has also gone missing despite the truck seemingly not seeing much use. The original paint was Midnight Black over a blue cloth interior, which likely made this truck quite a looker when new. It was also loaded up with all the heavy duty features you could want, including the dually rear end, dual gas tanks, dual batteries, the 454 V8, transmission and engine oil coolers, and more. Obviously, as a genuine Camper Special, you’re going to get all the heavy duty options you could possibly want. Many buyers snagged these trucks when new with no intention of camping, but wanting to check the box for one package with all the upgrades you could want in a workhorse.
Now, the interior is where I start to wonder if the mileage claims are true, as it really does look pretty clean inside. Then again, these trucks were made of pretty durable materials, so it’s always possible it’s just stood up to the test of time. The interior is pretty well equipped, too, with power steering, power brakes, cruise control, tilt wheel, air conditioning, and more. The extra row of seats and additional set of doors means this one will swallow your gear and passengers with ease, which is pretty much necessary if the truck bed is occupied by the front half of a pull-behind camper trailer. It does look like the dash is sporting one errant crack, but that could also be an optical illusion.
The 454 V8 is a torque-monster, and it will certainly pull around this fairly large truck with relative ease. The seller notes the truck is fitted with a GT5 4.10 axle ratio, but doesn’t specify the obvious: does the truck run and drive? I’m going to assume it does, but I don’t see much in the description confirming that the Chevy is healthy and showing good oil pressure despite being off the road for several years. The engine bay looks un-messed with, and while the low mileage claim may put some fears of mechanical malady at bay, the details here just don’t point to a truck that was used sparingly and then parked for 20 years. It’s certainly a cool truck and a one-year only body style that is hard to find today. What do you think – is it possible that this dually Chevy has just over 10,000 original miles?
It would seem that the problem is not the miles ,but the condition of the road.
“What do you think – is it possible that this dually Chevy has just over 10,000 original miles?”
No
110,000 more lkely
210,000 would be believable.
if it had 10k miles what happened to tailgate did the tarp change the color ?
Looking at the drip rails and how rusty they are and around the trim. Way to much work good luck to the next buyer.
Its being sold by Collins Brothers Jeeps in Dallas Texas..it should be on the up and up side..👍
110,210 or maybe 310, and it looks like it was parked next to an ocean from all of the rust.
I’m a high school senior, and coming from me this may or may not say a lot, but this truck right here is what I would call an actual truck. You don’t see a whole lot of these on the road, and if you do, they’re almost never in a better condition than this one; they’re almost always in this truck’s current condition. Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t know a whole lot about old trucks and their mileage, but 10k original miles would only be believable if the engine were rebuilt. If it weren’t, the I would assume maybe 200k-230k miles, assuming the engine was never rebuilt. And the fact that this truck has four full doors should (in my book) make it somewhat more valuable of an item, seeing as how rare the early crew cabs are. I don’t know. I’m just a guy that loves old trucks.
Keep the faith, Edd!
Interior looks great but the rest of the truck looks like they drove it the 10K miles … to store it in a swamp for 20 years. That being said, the seller does have positive feedback on E-bay. I wonder how many gallons per mile it gets.
Throw the trop back on it !
Looks like someone polished it with a sideginder using a battery acid/saltwater medium.
The tailgate was probably removed to allow a slide-in camper to be installed. Then it was misplaced or sold at the community yard sale.
Okay, so the truck was purchased in Detroit, MI and does have the older style camper mounts on it. It also has what looks like a goose-neck plate in the bed, but might be one of the center pin 5th wheel hitches.
Looks like the truck was used for camping and hauling. It also has ‘Alcoa’ or ‘Bud’ style aluminum wheels (not cheap but sure looks good). The mileage might be correct if you consider that this truck was used loke an RV.
Living in the city with a vehicle that gets 5 to 6 mpg running around town is impractical, but hauling your large family around the country camping for a few weeks, it is a very practical vehicle.
Now, this might be a bit of a stretch, but the Auto Assembly Plants used to close down for about 6 to 8 weeks in the summer for model change over and workers were laid off during this time. What better time to take a vacation, touring the country in your ‘camper special’.
Under these circumstances, the mileage could be correct.
By the way, the GM Hamtramck assembly plant is only a few miles from where this vehicle was originally purchased by the owner of record in 1980.
Way more evidence than sitting in a swamp for 20 years, but doesn’t explain the body condition except there was some crappy paint back then.
p.s. – My first father-in-law worked for UAW back then and did tour the country in the summer.
A well thought out answer and very plausible, instead of the knee jerk negative answers that are usually given. I was GM and yes, we closed down for model change-over.
Good union pay, employee discount, but not so well-off you can afford a McMansion-size garage so you gotta park the beast outside in Michigan all winter but it doesn’t get driven then so it’s never seen a salted road…I can see how 40 years of that treatment can lead to this.
It could definitely have 10,000 original miles if it was a farm or Ranch truck which explains the gooseneck hitch in the back probably pulled a stock trailer those were probably the hardest 10,000 miles any pickup could get,
Excellent point, Azplumber.
Why are the engine picture and interior picture not in the eBay listing ?
Wheels were a resent addition and like putting lipstick on a pig but if it helps.
Some underneath and more/closer engine pics would help – but most likely it’s going back up north where they are in demand.
It’s on FB Market Place with two close up engine pictures that shows the severe cowling rust on the firewall. Mentions the picture of the option codes on the glove box – don’t see it but anyway just not a low mileage pick up but I’m sure the sellers know no better.
Sorry was just looking at the top slid pictures – went down and went thru the dealer promo’s and saw the rest.
Have a little interest in what 1980’s are bringing – it was only a grille change 1980 to the new single square lite with the following year getting the two stacked square ones.
the young kid that said he was in high school seem to hit the nail on the head when describing the truck .key word condition , seem to me with just a small amount into this work horse you could have a valuable piece of history. if she runs and is in good running condition i could see myself taking a chance on this one. look at how straight the body is if no oil leaks or she do not smoke then i give her a thumbs up. the 454 engine will cost you a fortune even as a junk yard item here in Texas.