61K Miles: Two-Owner 1995 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Extended Cab

Say what you will, but the GMT-400 family (otherwise known as “OBS”) of Chevy and GMC pickups has been collectible for quite some time now. Pair that with the fact that people are growing weary of the dubious reliability and frightening window stickers of new trucks, and you have a vehicle that is in high demand. Therefore, this 1995 Silverado 2500 Extended-Cab Long-Box sits at the intersection between reliable daily transportation and collector-truck status. Maybe it could be both? Barn Finder Curvette found this almost-mint OBS here on craigslist in Vancouver, Washington, and with a 454 under the hood and enough length to carry almost anything, its $14,995 asking price is a fraction of what a new one would cost.

While GM’s modern line of LS and LT V8s has certainly surpassed the old big-blocks in power and efficiency, they’ve definitely had some issues with reliability lately, especially when it comes to their “Active Fuel Management” technology. There are no such worries with the torquey 454, which produced 230 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque in this 1995 model, and it was backed by the beefy 4L80E automatic. So equipped, the big long-box will have either 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 gears out back. The major downside of this combination will be fuel mileage, which will certainly rest in the low-teens, but you can put some of the upfront savings into your fuel fund.

By the way, the engine compartment of this two-owner truck looks almost new; it was obviously well-maintained for the last 31 years. Air conditioning was standard in Silverado trims for 1995, too.

The color combination of Summit White and blue cloth interior makes one appreciate that while there were only four interior colors available on Silverados in 1995, they were not all black and gray.

Another complaint about modern trucks is that they come with so many features that many buyers don’t want or need, such as touch screens that distract the driver’s attention and are not as intuitive as the classic rotary dials for the climate control system. Sure, you might miss your heated seat and steering wheel, but what else do you really need that this 1995 Silverado doesn’t have? It has air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and locks, and even a cassette/CD player. OK, I’d miss satellite radio, but I’d get used to it.

I’d have to get used to parking this thing, that’s for sure, but it would be no different with a new truck. Have you seen a new Sierra HD? This GMT-400 has a 155.5-inch wheelbase and 237.1-inches of overall length, and with no parking sensors, you’ll be docking it old-school. Still, how many of these trucks come up for sale in this condition and at this price? Sure, some may balk and say that almost fifteen grand is a lot for an old truck, but when you look at the alternatives, it doesn’t look so bad after all.