As a kid, Miami Vice was one of the few shows I religiously watched. While the stunning South Beach setting was a big draw for viewers, car buffs were constantly treated for the coolest forms of transportation known to man. Michael Mann’s incredible directing skills and a never-ending parade of exotic and custom cars set the standard for both style in America and automotive trends during the eighties and early nineties. This 1987 Chevrolet R30, currently being offered here on craigslist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stretched dually was never featured on Miami Vice. However, whoever built it captured the overall feel of custom vehicles back then. With its hulking engine and monochromatic black paint, this big dually is ready for you to pop in your Jan Hammer cassette and head to South Florida in style. You will just need to cut a deal for $20,000 to pay for it. Thanks to Levi A. for the awesome find!
According to the seller, the interior and body of the truck are still original from the early nineties. Perhaps that means the customization happened then. At any rate, we are also told that it could use some updating inside and that the beast could use a paint job again. I wonder how many gallons of paint and primer you would go through to get the body back up to show condition?
The truck is powered by a throttle body injected 454 cubic inch big block V-8, and that powerplant is backed up by a Turbo 400 automatic transmission. Of course, lengthening the truck would have also mandated extending the drive shaft. What happens when you combine that added length with the torque of a big block and the traction of a dually rear end? Would this truck “high center” on certain railroad crossings? This huge cruiser looks cool, but there are a lot of “what ifs” to go along with the wheelbase being so long.
Unfortunately, the seller hasn’t given us any shots of the interior or the engine. While I would expect the engine compartment to look fairly stock, I cannot help but wonder how the builder handled the interior. With the dark tinting of the windows, we cannot see a thing inside. Is there a hot tub in there? A big tube type television? The lost city of Atlantis? For $20,000, a few pictures would be nice.
In all, this is a pretty cool truck. Yet, we are left with more questions than answers. If the driveshaft was stout enough, then this dually would make for one stable tow vehicle. The interior would be great for camping if you had dogs, kids, or any combination of the two. Too bad it doesn’t have four-wheel drive. If it did, the “brodozer” crowd would love to shove a diesel under the hood, lift it to the sky, and festoon the underside with neon.
I like the truck, and wish it could be restored back to that eighties style if for nothing more than to preserve the look for future generations to see. What would you do with it?
America at it’s finest. More is better,,,
First of all the drive shaft would be in at least 3 sections held in place by hanger bearings, and there would a u joint at each section. The stock truck before the stretch would have had a 2 piece drive shaft. If memory serves me right when I was stretching frames back in the 80’s for commercial trucks a drive shaft section was not to exceed 60″ in order to handle the torque and stay in balance. The hanger bearings would keep the drive shaft tucked up close to the frame so road clearance shouldn’t be an issue. Personally I would not want this truck because it’s essentially useless. If I did have this truck I’d cut the stretched section back out and turn it back into a normal usable truck so it could be a hauler again. These crew cabs in their day had plent of room in them. This truck was purpose build to be a novelty limo so unless your going into the limo business there is no sense keeping it this way.
It actually had a jacuzzi in the back and is actually made for towing as well as the look. Holds 9 people and can tow a 9,000 pound boat for 3 hours straight no problemo.
I would know because the truck is mine.
Wowsa were just BURNING DINOSAURS aren’t we ….gas stations please …oh well there goes my 💰
In the South, this would be in high demand as a wedding limo for “barn weddings”. And no, I’m not kidding.
Jeff, you can re-live all your Miami Vice fantasies, you just have to fly PMT, AKA Tubbs, in for a photo shoot!
5th wheel trailer hauler, for your toys or horses?
wow. i’ve seen a few lengthened crew cabs with an added bench seat & pair of doors, mostly at airports. i’ve seen some crew cabs with an extra cab added for the jump seats & extra storage behind the second bench, mostly out west tugging horse trailers. both of those i can see the added utility making the modifications & mobility drawbacks worthwhile.
i can’t find any reason other than novelty to keep this monstrosity. stock crew cabs of this vintage have a huge turning radius. this thing would be like driving a 24′ box straight truck & get hung up everywhere. i’m with markseh on returning it back to stock but no way for $20k.
If not this truck, then it’s twin was converted at the Chevrolet dealer body shop in Loveland, CO for a local MD as I recall. Seems like the reason for the stretch was to provide “play room” for his young kids. On delivery day, leaving the dealership, trying to turn right onto a 4 lane road it crossed the centerline because the turning radius was SO wide.
Perhaps you’re thinking of a white one, as there is a white one very similar to this sitting on a ranch East of Boulder, just South of Loveland. It’s possible they built two or more.
Gimme 40 acres and I’ll turn this rig around – it’s the easiest way that I’ve found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxVJ471hyg
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. 2-1/2 mpg with a good tune-up? Maybe. Ridiculous rig, the ultimate cowboy Cadillac. You couldn’t give me that absurd truck for free.
Lol it gets 11mpg.
I own it
Awesome truck!
Wonder if it bows up and down in the
Middle going down the road!?
Not at all. The frame is highly reinforced and I tow a cigar boat behind it.
Love it!
No interior pics? That’s a travesty!
camper? Put my trailer home right onit as is?
Why so much negativity. It is not yours and you may not want it.
Why so much negativity. It is not yours and you may not want it. I think it’s cool if not practical.
Lol hey guys! This is actually my truck! If anyone is Interested i could potentially let her go. I’ve owned it for 18 years. It has the 454tbi with 82k original miles. The Interior was all stock red with 2 buckets, and two benches. Installed a 39” 4K tv and Xbox one.
You can reach me on my Facebook “W Adam Garcia” im afraid to put a number here. Currently the truck is at my home in Fort Worth Texas.
how can I message you on Facebook?
I am the original owner and builder of this truck. In the early 90’s, after stretching the frame, fabricating the body, and additional work,…..a long story short…..divorce and IRS regretfully forced me to sell it dirt cheap…..obviously someone put red interior in it, then someone else changed it to black.
A close friend sent me the Craigslist link about a month ago. DANG!….I contacted the owner, made a deal, and had my hotshot buddy go get it for me.
I asked detailed questions and after seeing the pics, I had to buy it back.
I didn’t even care to test drive it. When I sold it in the early 90’s it had 79k miles.
After 25 or so years, I brought it back home with 81k miles.
My truck is sweet and is back in it’s original garage stall where it was built.
The only thing I’m doing is replacing the driver side tank and pump. Someone hot lazy when it gave out and only used the right tank, causing the gunk to rust out the left tank …no problem there.
And I’m already installing a rear A/C unit to help out with this Texas heat.
A few other cosmetic items and she’s ready to drive. I even got my personalized plates on it already.
I am the original owner and builder of this truck.