This is one of my favorite eBay listings this year, featuring a 1977 Chevrolet G10 van that was clearly the previous owner’s road-trip machine for many years prior to its retirement. The G10 is a rare bird not only for its shockingly nice condition but also for the three-on-the-tree manual gearbox and unusual lack of options: no air conditioning and no power steering is just the way the first owner ordered it. The interior has been upgraded with a bed, wood paneling, and a custom counter setup with a small sink. The photos in the listing include some gems, such as all the old school road maps laid out that come with the van and confirm all the places it’s been. Find the Chevy here on eBay where it’s listed for $12,500 or best offer.
Now, if nothing else, you have to love how clean the body is in on this Chevy. It would be sought after purely for the survivor condition and manual gearbox, but the history and custom interior push it over the top. The seller’s photos reveal how he found the Chevy, which was parked in the early 2000s after years spent traversing the USA, almost certainly racking up endless good memories in the process. The seller notes the only other option of significance was a pair of front seats, with the rest of the cabin left bare so the original owner could make the necessary improvements for life on the road.
And even with just two seats, the first owner spec’d them out the best way possible with a wicked plaid cloth. The cockpit remains in outstanding condition, and even with 102,000 miles and years of road-tripping under its belt, the Chevy remains in outstanding condition inside and out. This van just gives off good vibes, not only of great memories made but also for clearly having been loved and enjoyed. The wood paneling is visible in this photo and clearly complements the rest of the cabin. And, unlike most vans of this era with the aftermarket wall covering installed, this fake wood panel job looks good enough to simply leave alone and enjoy.
The custom bed arrangement is very cleanly integrated, with the bed positioned lengthwise against the rear doors. This is a good-sized bed, too, which should make pulling over and catching some Zs an enjoyable task. Even with being run around the block once a year by the original owner, the seller addressed numerous deferred maintenance issues before putting it up for sale. These include new front and rear brakes; new master cylinder; fresh tires; new battery; and having the fuel tank and system flushed out and cleaned before filling up with fresh fuel. Do yourself a favor and check out the other photos in the eBay listing of this excellent survivor G10 camper conversion van. You won’t be disappointed!
You’ve got some serious rose colored glasses on with a big helping of nostalgia to see this as deal. It’s a base stripped cargo van. Road trips with a 3 on the tree, manual steering and no air? Maybe if you subscribe to Opus Dei.
I guess it’s a blank slate to recreate a 70’s shaggin’ wagon. Of course the plywood interior probably doubles the value.
Three on the tree a problem? Not one bit.
Manual steering a problem? Not on the long and lonesome highway east of Omaha.
No air conditioning? Eh, maybe, just head for the northern plains until after the end of September.
you are my zen master
I can hear the engine moanin…
That 3 on the tree will become less attractive the first time you have to drive through a three mile long highway construction area with cars bumper to bumper!
You must have some serious rose colored glasses and a big helping of nostalgia to see this as a deal. Its a stripped cargo van.. Road trips with a three on the tree, manual steering and no AC? Maybe if you subscribe to Opus Dei.
I guess it’s a good candidate for recreation of a 70’s custom shaggin’ wagon. Of course the plywood interior doubles the value .
That plaid upholstery is the basic trim for these vans, it’s pattern-embossed vinyl. Color choices limited(!) to beige and blue for vans and Blazers (you could get red on them as well if you upgraded to oxen-grain vinyl or patterned cloth) but in base model, bench-seat pickups it came in blue, beige, red or green all at no extra cost.
I had a 1969 Chevy window van that I took the rear seats out of and paneled below the windows. Put two dirt bikes and sleeping bags in and a friend and I rode off into the sunset after college. No a/c, no p/s. Great fun if you’re 23 and single. Grateful that I had the chance to do it.
At age 71? Not so appealing. A/c, heated seats, XM radio and staying in nice hostelries is far preferable.
Remember Ballantine’s Beer? 99cents a 6-pack. Compare that to a $78 bottle of Jefferson’s Ocean and you’ll see what I mean.
I had a long G30 and loved it. The new owner loves it too. However, one of the BEST features for summer travel was the AC. Manual steering and trans? Yeah, ok…no air??? Ah…..no.
We have travelled the us for 25 years in a Westfalia that CLAIMS to have air but it is such a poor system (evaporator and fan over the bed in the back blowing on the back of your head) that it has been windows down and misting bottles to stay cool in the desert. Knowing that you COULD have air and don’t? That sucks…
Seats must have been redone.
Not really desirable specs on this 102000 mile cream puff, that slug 3 on the tree, no power steering or a/c, the only option is the aftermarket in dash 8 track, there’s more desirable ways to travel,
I drove a work van with this exact set of specs, only in the short wheelbase version. It drove beautifully, and the 305 was plenty of engine to do the job. I never missed the power steering, and, as someone previously said, I could work around not having A/C. The transmission was fully synchronized and shifted easily, so I personally would rather have it rather than an automatic, both for fuel economy and for durability. A local school bus contractor also had this van in the full window version (G10 305 3 speed, no p/s or air) and he used it for a bus route and also as his personal vehicle. He put an extraordinary amount of miles on that van, and when I saw it last, it still looked and ran as new. My personal opinion is that this is a very desirable van in and of itself, as well as an historical artifact for its nostalgia value. I’d love to have it!
Listing on the Bay is no longer active…
Ended: Aug 25, 2021 , 12:23PM
Price: US $12,500.00
Located in:Fayetteville, North Carolina
This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available.
Laughable.
(Oops, sorry! Well, not sorry.)
I’ve had several of these, but never one so bare.
No Air, No P/S, No A/T, No bid from me!