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Like New 1997 Chevrolet 1500 W/T Pickup!

By the time they’ve got a couple of decades under their belts, the majority of pickups are starting to look more than a little frayed around the edges. That isn’t the case with this 1997 Chevrolet W/T 1500 Pickup. It might not be showroom fresh, but its condition is a long way above what you might expect for what is effectively a 23-year-old workhorse. It’s ownership history and mileage have helped preserve this beauty, but the time has come for it to find a new home. The W/T is located in Reno, Nevada, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. You can drive this one away by handing the owner $12,500. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this one for us.

This Pickup is one of those vehicles that will appear on our desks occasionally, and it becomes a battle to decide what its strongest attribute is. This classic has a lot of points in its favor, and very few things can be criticized. It is finished in Light Blue Metallic, and its appearance is quite striking. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of significant marks or scratches. The panels are laser straight, and there are no signs of any rust problems. If the vehicle has spent its life in Nevada, that isn’t any great surprise. The camper shell is a practical addition, and it hides a bed that is free from dings and dents. The paint does have some light scuffing, but nothing that would justify a repaint. I think that the majority of these marks could be addressed with some wet sanding and buffing. There are no issues with the external trim, while the glass appears to be perfect.

The 1997 model year brought an assortment of engines in the W/T 1500, and this one features the “baby” of the bunch. This 4.3-liter V6 is no wimp because it pumps out a healthy 200hp, along with 255 ft/lbs of torque. The power is fed to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission, while power steering and power brakes with ABS are standard features. The owner says that the Pickup runs and drives like new. This is hardly surprising because it does only have 26,000 genuine miles showing on the odometer. It should be possible to verify this claim because this classic is a one-owner vehicle. If it is true, then this is a Pickup that should have many decades of life left in it.

If the exterior of a Pickup cops its share of abuse, then that is nothing when you consider the level of wear-and-tear that can be inflicted upon interior upholstery and trim. The exterior condition of this one doesn’t flatter to deceive because the interior is spotless. For our more practically-minded readers, the seats and door trims feature hardy vinyl, while the floor features a rubber mat. That makes this an interior that should be easy to maintain.

The condition is all that you might expect when you consider this Chevy’s history. It wants for nothing, with no visible faults. The owner made a wise move when he ordered the Pickup because he chose to tick the box on the Options List next to air conditioning. This is said to blow ice-cold, which would be fantastic on those warmer Reno days. Safety was on the minds of the good people at Chevrolet because dual airbags are a standard feature. Add in a stereo AM/FM radio, and life would be pretty pleasant on the road in this classic.

As you get older, you find that time seems to move at an ever-increasing pace. It doesn’t feel like it is 23-years since it was 1997, but it is a harsh reality for me that it is. That means that with the New Year on our doorstep, this Chevrolet W/T 1500 Pickup isn’t far off clicking over a quarter of a century. Its overall condition would indicate that it has led a sheltered life and still has plenty to give to its next owner. Sure, you could wander into your local Chevrolet dealership tomorrow and buy a nice pickup off the showroom floor, but that will cost you a lot more than the $12,500 that the owner is asking for this one. Maybe owning a shiny new pickup is a “must-have” in your life. If it isn’t, then this one could be the perfect pickup for you.

Comments

  1. Avatar ace10

    That’s a lot of utility for not much dough.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Steve R

    It is the most desirable configuration out there, standard cab, short bed, fleetside and its in excellent shape. However, it’s too new and is a base stripper model, because of that the asking price is too high. It’s condition warrants a premium, probably $6,500-7,500 would find a buyer.

    Steve R

    Like 11
  3. Avatar Jack M.

    The appeal could be in the manual transmission. Can you even get one in a brand new half ton? I have to agree with Adam, this truck could do the majority of chores any truck owner could ask for half the price of a new one.

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Vegaman Dan

    Unfortunately it can’t haul 8′ pieces of lumber without the tail gate down or stuff hanging out the back. That is a deal killer for me right there. Shortbeds are great for urban grocery getters. I need a work truck and be treated that way. Long bed, ideally extended or quad cab, 3/4-1T. That configuration is super rare now and I’ve been looking for years.

    Like 6
    • Avatar J S

      I do a lot of work inside of city limits. Short bed is awesome for backing trailers in a tight spot.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar Bob C.

    That 4.3 v6 is a pretty tough engine. I’ve had at least three company trucks with it years ago.

    Like 7
  6. Avatar Matt G

    This is probably literally the cheapest full size Chevy pickup you could buy in 1997. I could live with the V6 and crank windows but the 2wd and short bed take this one out of the running. Also, I had 3 Hyundai ads playing simultaneously and out of synch with each other from this website while I was reading this article, just FYI…. (and no, I was never going to buy a Hyundai anyways, even before the annoying ad barrage)

    Like 5
  7. Avatar Evan

    At eight grand, I’m driving to the bank right now while booking the next flight to Reno. It’s a 45-minute, $50 flight. At twelve and a half grand, I’m still sitting at my desk.

    Like 5
  8. Avatar JW454

    The standard shift kills it for me. At 64 Y/O I’ve done all the manual shifting I care to do.
    Unless the shift lever is connected to a 4 speed sitting behind an incredibly over powered V8 in some sort of muscle car, I’d perfer to drop it in drive and just putt down the road.

    I get that the bed may not meet some peoples idea of a work truck however, ironically. the W/T in the model name description stands for Work Truck. No fake…. Jus’ sayn’

    Like 4
    • Avatar Evan

      It’s not clear to me why people think all “work” involves 8′ lumber.

      Like 18
      • Avatar Steve R

        The typical home owner doesn’t need a pick up with an 8” bed. I’ve had short bed pick ups for the last 25 years. I can count on one hand the number of times where a long bed would have been better suited, even then the 6” bed didn’t prevent me from accomplishing the task. The market has spoken, 6” bed trucks have dominated both the new truck and enthusiast markets for decades and will continue to do so. Even most of the guys I know that used to buy long beds for work have made the switch to short beds, they won’t go away, but are becoming a niche market.

        Steve R

        Like 6
      • Avatar Tman

        Or maybe the number 8 is their favorite lucky number. V8, 8 lug nuts, 8 track, I could of had a V-8, let’s have dinner at 8 born in 88,

        Like 1
    • Avatar Jaopy

      I’m 74 and still happily drive a 5 speed F150 with same options as this. My truck has 290,000 miles on it If I had the cash I’d happily go to Reno and drive it back to Florida. 2 day drive for me.

      Like 2
  9. Avatar Tony Primo

    Nobody wants to look twice at a long box for their hobby truck, but show them a nice short box and all they want is a long box! Strange hobby we are in.

    Like 8
  10. Avatar Ed

    I bought almost the same truck in ’96, extended cab, short bed, 4.3L and stick shift. My first bad GM product unfortunately wasn’t my last I need to learn my lesson twice more before I escaped the GM loyalty cult.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Joe Haska

    I guess I am getting short tempered in my old age, and should just laugh it off as I usually do, but lately some of the comments seem strange, maybe its just 20 20. I do usually like the comments ,especially when their about a make or model that I am not familiar with, and I gain info that I had never heard before. It just seems to me, if you don’t like a particular car because of its style make or power plant why tell people. For example SBC or long or short box P/U’s or modified cars. This pick up is very desirable if you would like a hobby truck, sport truck, cruiser or whatever title you want to give it,except work truck. I wonder if the same people that don’t like these trucks would go to their Ford dealer to buy their new Ford and on the way stop at the GM Dealer and explain why they didn’t want his product. It’s like comparing apples to oranges.

    Like 5
  12. Avatar Comet

    12K buys a high mileage rust bucket around here. I love this truck. Basically a new truck (that you can still work on) for the cost of a down payment on a new pick-up. The only down side is the need for collector insurance for daily use. If you were to pile it up, I could just hear the insurance adjuster say: “Yeah, its an old pick-up, here’s a check for $700.”

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Sandman4x4

    I bought the same configuration, back in 93, a new Chevy C1500, reg cab, Silverado Sport Package, in silver with beautiful matching velour cloth interior with high back bucket seats with arm rests, PW/PL, AC, AM/FM Cassette/Equalizer. Powered by a 5.7 TBI, with a 5 speed manual, with 3:42 posi rear. The wheels were chrome slotted exactly like the 454SS came with, plus a factory tow package. That was the first in a line of new Chevy trucks I’ve owned, both full an mid sized, till the latest, a 2019 Colorado Crew Cab,4×4, WT, V6, that has more overall power than that old TBI 5.7, not to mention mileage!

    Like 0
  14. Avatar PaulR

    Nice!. Unmolested round body regular cab short wides in any trim series are hard to come by. I would love to have this one. 6cy, manual everything and all. I’ve owned two W/T Chevys and they were great trucks for me. I currently drive a 2009 Chevy regular cab short wide and It does everything I need it to.

    Like 0
    • Avatar PaulR

      I forgot to add that short wide W/T’s are a pretty rare, so this is a nice collector truck for someone who keeps it original.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar Mike Brown

    If I was in the market, I’d be giving this one a good hard look. Yes, I prefer an 8′ bed but, for most jobs, a short bed will do fine even if the plywood or 2x4s have to rest on top of the tailgate. This is a simple, honest truck that, with normal maintenance, will give someone many years of faithfull service. I don’t know if it’ll bring the asking price but it is what it is.

    Like 0

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