In the 1970s, manufacturers like Chevrolet relied on badge-engineered imports to serve the needs of compact pickup truck buyers. In the case of Chevy, it was the LUV supplied by Isuzu. In 1982, the S-10 debuted, the first of several U.S.-built compact trucks. It ran through 2003, after which the Colorado replaced it. The seller offers a nice, low-mileage, one-family S-10 from 1998 with the extended cab body. Located near Portland, Oregon, this survivor is available here on craigslist for $7,900.
The size of the S-10 put it into the ¼-ton category, so it was intended for light-duty use. GMC got into the act and badged their version as the S-15, later the Sonoma. Isuzu dealers in the U.S. also had a variant known as the Hombre (but only in the late 1990s). The S-10 was accompanied by an SUV version called the Blazer (at GMC, it was the Jimmy). The little GM pickups competed against the Ford Ranger and – to a lesser extent – the Chrysler Rampage.
These were well-made trucks, and it’s not uncommon to see a second-generation example (like the seller’s) still running around. This one is the fancier LS model with three doors to gain access to a rather small back seating area that was really best suited to small children or groceries. The bed has a sprayed-on liner, so it has held up nicely over the past 28 years. A 4-cylinder engine should be under the hood, probably a 2.2-liter Vortec rated at 120 hp with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
This truck has been lightly utilized to accumulate just 51,000 miles. The LS model featured car-like touches in terms of creature comfort, and this one also has air conditioning. With no visual issues to the body, paint, interior, or drivetrain, this little truck should have plenty of life left – as long as you don’t need to transport elephants. BTW, the source of this tip? Curvette, who else!
Is that a Boy Scout emblem in the rear window? How could you go wrong with this one. If it wasn’t on the other coast I would buy it and I already have a truck.
I think it’s a New Orleans Saints logo.
One of the BF contributors has a beauty like this, cant remember who…
Except it’s the 4.3L
Looks nice and could derail my obsession for a second round with the VW “Caddy” that I used to have. I just don’t have the parking space though. GLWS.
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I had the GMC Sonoma equivalent to this truck, and I really liked the truck, with one glaring exception, that worthless boat anchor of a motor, the 2.2. It was by far the worst motor I’ve come in contact with. I should have known an issue was present, with the 3 gallon jugs of coolant in the back, but I got it cheap, nothing a little “Mend-Tite” won’t cure,,,and it did. The truck itself was a nice truck, comfy, rode nice, good stereo, good heat, it had a/c but never used it, I didn’t want to walk up the hills, it was a very poor motor, and finally, the “Mend-Tite” did let go, and the frame broke, and away it went. Note to the wise, I put a fuel pump in this truck, just cut a hole in the box floor, I got the “cheapie” pump, with a 12 month warranty, and this is no dung, in the 13th MONTH,,,it failed! So, just buy the good pump. and above all, get one of these with a 4.3 ( 2/3rds a SBC) you shan’t regret it. Sadly, the Toyota 4 cylinder pickup was 10 times the truck this is.
4.3 (6/8=3/4>2/3) but who’s counting. Agree with everything else.
HA! Never was much at math, heck, I never did the “recap” on my log books because I couldn’t figure it out,, :) I guess my point was it was a SBC with 2 cylinders lopped off. Like the Dodge 3.9, or my 2.5 Jeep motor, all based off the best motors.
Howard ,I put over 300,000 miles on one and I had a 5 speed. no real problems
I had a ’02 Sonoma LS ext cab same color as this one. I had the 4.3, auto trans, with pw, pl, pm. 2wd. Tricked it up with leather power seats with heat out of a Trail Blazer, short overhead console with temp/compass & a self-dimming mirror. No issues except the tin worm got it and I said goodbye at 168k miles.
Ad’s been deleted for some reason.
I drove a base model 2wd, and I mean base as possible w that 2.2 and a 5sp stick Howard. It was a regular cab obviously, and I remember thinking glad it’s a company truck, and our nice boss got to use it for free.
Everything i see something I want, it’s in the pacific northwest. 🙄
My FIL bought a brand new 2000 regular cab 2 WD equipped like this. 2.2 automatic. That 2.2 may have done better with a manual trans. He got many good years out of it, but unfortunately the frame rotted and actually broke. I always liked the rim design on these.
“The source of this tip? Curvette. Who else!” Are you saying that he submits a vast quantity of tips everyday?
Had a ’99… Almost identical to this truck… same color, wheels, interior… the only difference was mine had the 5 speed manual. It was a fantastic small truck. Did everything a small truck should do and then some. Drove and handled well (for a truck), was comfortable and averaged in the high 20s for mpg. Wish I still had it today, unfortunately mine died of a rusty frame. Too bad it’s on the other side of the country, because if it was close by I’d probably drive over and buy it today.
I had a ’98 that I had for 20 years with 150,000 miles on it when I finally sold it. Other than brakes, tires and oil changes I didn’t have to do anything else. It was a 2.2 4-cylinder with a 5 speed and air. Never even had to change the clutch. I hauled a lot of stuff with it through the years to the point of overloading it on several occasions. It ran great and I really hated to sell it. But here in NE Ohio the cab corners and bedsides were finally showing the effects of living in the snowbelt.
My wife had an S-10 with the 4 cyl, and I refused to drive it. Acceleration was so slow that it was almost impossible to pass anybody on a 2 lane road. Just couldn’t get used to how much empty highway I need to get past somebody. After she hit deer twice (not the same deer!) I got her a 2011 Dodge Dakota to replace it. She loves it, and although the V6 in it is kinda gutless, it’s much better than the old S-10. I’ve got a 2004 Blazer Xtreme with the 4.3, and it’s excellent. 166K miles on it and it’s been trouble free and looks and runs like new.
I had a ’97 S10 that went to 185000 miles in my 11 years owning it. It was a 4.3 and pulled my 18ft bass boat at 95 mph. I hated to get rid of it but it started having AC problems over and over. It was always small things but I got tired of it and traded it for a Tahoe that I kept for 11 years. I must like my cars for 11 years since I also had a ’87 T-Type Regal for 11 years.
My S10 was one of the few with console and floor shift automatic.
A 4 cylinder in an extended cab is a strike against it. Add the slushbox and I’m out. This would be a great candidate for an LS/Tremec swap simply because of it’s lack of noticeable corrosion. Add a set of 3 in. lowering springs and throw some IROC hoops on it and I’m back in.
Mine was an extended cab with the 2.2 four (with the 5 speed) and it was just fine… No, one wasn’t going to win any drag races with it or tow a 25 foot Holiday trailer, but it did home center duty quite well, and it towed my small boat just fine… all the while getting in the high 20s for gas mileage. Some of us buy small trucks to do small truck things.