While purchasing a new 4×4 Pickup brings with it the latest creature comforts and the reassurance of a new car warranty, there are also disadvantages. They are typically significantly more expensive than secondhand alternatives, and devaluation can be horrendous. That is where classics like this 1999 Chevrolet K3500 ride to the rescue. It presents superbly, and with 25,000 genuine miles on its odometer, it should offer its next owner years of reliable service. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting a vehicle that is a strong contender for anyone with off-road adventures or towing duties on the horizon.
This 1999 K3500 is part of Chevrolet’s Fourth Generation C/K range. The seller describes its overall condition as “like new,” and it isn’t far off the mark. A close inspection reveals minor imperfections and scratches hidden by the plastic bedliner. However, its Meadow Green Metallic paint holds an impressive shine, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The seller supplies a range of underside shots that reinforce their claim that it has been garage-kept and treated respectfully by the owner as a cherished possession. A few isolated spots wear light surface corrosion, but no evidence of existing or developing penetrating rust. The trim and glass appear perfect, allowing this classic to make a positive first impression. However, the news keeps getting better as we delve below the surface.
Powering this Pickup is the 5.7-liter Vortec V8 that sends 255hp and 330 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The inherent high ride height would make this classic ideal for off-road adventures, while the power and torque from its engine would make towing a breeze. The seller indicates that this Pickup has a genuine 25,000 miles on the odometer without mentioning verifying evidence. However, the vehicle’s overall condition makes the claim plausible. It recently received an oil change and a battery and rolls on a set of good Cooper tires. It is said to drive as well as it did on Day One, making it a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
It is typical to find Pickups with a few decades of active service under their belts where interior trim and cloth upholstery are worn or stained. This K3500 has avoided those issues, presenting exceptionally well for its age. The cloth is in good order, the plastic doesn’t appear cracked or broken, and the practical vinyl floor mat is free from major problems. I did notice a scratch on the dash’s passenger side, which might respond to a coat of plastic paint. Alternatively, sourcing a replacement for that item shouldn’t pose many challenges. The seller claims it is a non-smoking vehicle, which is often a prime consideration for potential buyers. It features air conditioning that blows ice cold, an effective heater, an AM/FM radio, and cruise control.
As I stated earlier, there are reasons why someone might choose to purchase a new Chevrolet 4×4 Pickup, although any vehicle with similar specifications to this 1999 K3500 will lighten their wallet by around $65,000. The new owner then faces the heartbreak of depreciation, which will be significant during the first three years. The seller has listed this classic here on Craigslist in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with an asking price of $25,000. It is unlikely to depreciate to the same extent as the new vehicle, making this beauty worth a closer look.
As someone who had many of these in the 90s thru 2000, and currently has a newer truck, i would gladly go back to these if they sold them new. Pre- OBD-2(1996)would be even better. Throttle body simplicity. Ideally a 5 spd too!
Spot on Matt. Great Trucks.
If your going heavy like this heavy Chevy, may as well go 1 ton.
The 3500 is a one ton.
Theres a lot of merit to your comment, but as someone whos also owned every body style Chevy and has been a mechanic for the last 37 years I would take the next generation GMT800’s over these in a heartbeat. True you’re into the OBD stuff but I dont see that as a disadvantage because OBD II gives you more diagnostic info, plus the frames on the GMT800’s are much stronger than these. Combine that with better stronger axles, the LS and Duramax engines and available Allison transmissions and there’s really no advantage to a GMT400 series truck other than price.
Having owned both, I tend to agree. The old throttle body OBD1 trucks didn’t give you much info to go on as far as diagnostics. On the plus side, you could get the codes with a paperclip and some knowledge.
As for reliability, I’d probably have to go with the GMT800’s. Basically anyone can get at least 200k miles out of them. As long as you keep putting transmissions in them, they just don’t seem to die. I do prefer the low end torque of the 350 over the 5.3, though. That’s about the only advantage with the 1/2 tons, but if you’re comparing 3/4 tons and up, you’d get the 6.0 anyway in the GMT800.
Bill, im certainly no mechanic. I did have 3 of the GMT800s,all with 6.0s and they we 2500s. Never an issue. Loved em. I can see your point as well and sure dont disagree. I believe the LS engines were designed for better temperature variation. Piston slap cold. Swell in heat. Yes? Ive also seen many 4.8s in Expresses with over 300k. Im sure my romanticizing the 88-2000s has more to do with simplicity.
It may be nice and new trucks are incredibly expensive, but $25,000 for a 1999 is not exactly a bargain. In 2001 had an 1989 C1500 standard cab short bed that I bought used it had 300,000 miles on it and was wearing out. I looked at replacing it with a similar truck with the same body style that was a couple of years old until I drove the next generation. They were so much better, the seats, engine, brakes, handling, it was a no brainer. I bought a 2001 C1500, standard, short, wide, new for less than this trucks asking price. I still have it with 175k plus miles, the only major work was a new steering rack. There is no way I’d pay the asking price on this truck. Come out west, find something from the mid-2000’s for a fraction of the price and drive it home.
Steve R
I know for me the value of used vehicles depends on many things, not all of them rational. Adding to the equation is the change in purchasing power of the dollar. Using an online inflation calculator $25k in 2001 is $44k in 2024. Working backwords $25k in 2024 would equal $14k in 2001. Now I really confused myself
Nice truck, Over priced but show up with cash in smaller bills and you might get it cheaper
Sorry, but take the mileage claims with more than a grain of slat, That odometer has been played with.
I was going to comment and ask how you came to that conclusion BUT I decided to look at the pics before I spoke and I have to agree for a couple of reasons. The numbers really look like they are just off a bit in different directions and I have had these trucks in past (same year) and ran mine up to 130k and the numbers never looked like that. In addition, Pawtucket is like the armpit of Rhode Island and tons of Buy Here Pay Here outfits and generally I would not buy anything out of that part of RI.
I didn’t have these trucks but. . I did have a 96 and 98 Trailblazers 4×4 and 96 was mine 98 wife. I put over 300,000 miles on mine loved every mile of it. Yes they made very good easy to work on trucks back then. I would love to own another with low low mileage on it. Today’s trucks suck because of the price and stupid computers on them. Yes $25,000 is a bit high. $19,999 would be right. This truck will go over 300,000 easy. Good luck to the next owner. 🇺🇸🐻
Steering wheel looks to have a lot more wear than 25K miles worth of steering on it. But I do love this generation of truck too.
i have a 93 reg cab sierra 4×4 rubber mat plain jane 5.0 5 speed just rolled 100,000 kilometres.i love it and runs like new but i live in lower mainland bc canada and we have highest fuel prices in north america so gas is killing me.i suppose you can buy alot of gas with no payment tho!
Whats crazy is the equivalent of this truck today will run you approx.$44K, weighs about 1000 pound more, has at least 4 more gears, computers ad nauseum…and STILL gets around 12-14 mpg real world use. In all fairness the new trucks are more capable when new and are way ahead on comfort, but ive gotten to the point where i’d take less power and witchcraft”ery” of computers over that added comfort for the peace of mind of knowing that any issue wont cost me $3K
My estimate of $44k is with discounts and rebates. I believe a new base Chevy 4×4 2500 runs about $49.700 sticker
Let me know if you’re ever selling it Jimmy 😉 💸
A new Chevrolet 3500HD equivalent to this one is around $50,000. So, even if $25,000 is a bit high, it’s half the cost of a new one. I wonder, though, if it’s really practical to use something this vehicle the way you would use a new one. The low mileage is great and believable, but the fact remains that it’s 25 years old, and many automotive components wear with the passage of time as much as they wear from accumulation of mileage.
It looks like the clearcoat is coming off the top of the passenger side fender in one of the Craigslist pics. Note also that these trucks had no airbags. I owned two of these as 2500s and they were nice running trucks, comfortable even as stripper models, and good for at least 200k miles, more if you were willing to do big repairs. I agree that driving untracked by computers and big brother is a real plus that these trucks offer, but $25k is still too much compared to buying two with 100k miles for $5-7k each and getting the same number of miles out of the cash spent.
Clearcoat failure on passenger door, steering wheel worn thin, junk and wear under plastic bedliner, the frame showing leading trails of weathering from the mounting holes etc, ecu corrosion and black coating flaking off, this is all I can see from these photos. NO WAY this is 25k original miles. I’ve owned enough of these and seen them since new.
Imho not as much of a heavy hauling vehicle as it’s alluded to be. 1 ton is fine but the 5.7 is inadequate. Pulling a 3 horse trailer at 6,000 to 8,000 feet here in Colorado we had to move from a 1ton 5.7 to Ford 6.2 which was marginally better, then to a Powerstroke which does the job. Duramax would too. 5.7 is ok for run around light duty work. $25k is dreaming…it’s a nice truck but there are good work trucks available for 1/3 – 1/2.
All this IMHO only.
I had a 1999 Tahoe that I bought as a four year old used vehicle with about 50k miles on it. It was from upstate New York. The previous location proved to be a mistake. I really liked it and it did everything I needed including four wheeling at the Outer Banks, towing my 24 foot boat, camping and the daily commute. It was a champ in two and a half feet of snow and consistently delivered 16 mpg. It was a comfortable cruiser for hours and hours of driving. And it was a darn good looking vehicle. As the years went by and the miles piled on the vehicle never gave me a bit of trouble. But rust reared its ugly head and proceeded to eat the frame, brake lines and suspension components to the point that it became unsafe.I passed it off to a wholesaler because I couldn’t sell it to anyone in good conscience. That was one vehicle I really hated to see go.