It’s mildly hilarious to read old reviews of the Chevy LUV pickup and think about how many of these small utility vehicles the company managed to sell. They were practically archaic when they were new, let alone a few years later, but the new-for-1979 4WD option still found enough favor to earn Motor Trend‘s “Truck of the Year” honors. This example here on eBay does have some rust issues to contend with but the seller claims it’s a strong runner.
Bed rot is not insignificant, and the fenders are quite crusty as well. It’s hard to tell if that amateur undercoating job is hiding more rust underneath, but I’d say the likelihood is strong. The seller notes that if you have any questions, you should call his uncle and “…give him a hard time,” so this at least seems like a seller who isn’t afraid to be candid about the condition should you request a more thorough analysis. Mileage is listed as 69,000 and the seller suspects it is accurate.
The 4×4 LUVs were celebrated for their quiet operation and lithe handling. According to LUVTruck.com, Motor Trend had the following to say: “The new LUV has the standard four-speed transmission and two-speed transfer case combined in a single unit housed in a die-cast aluminum case. It is very quiet, free of the usual whine of the front-drive gears and shifts easily with the floor-mounted control lever that is clearly marked for four-wheel high, four-wheel low and two-wheel high.”
This is a “Mikado” package LUV, which as far as I can tell got you some special upholstery and a three-spoke steering wheel (and, of course, the badge on the dash). The interior looks decent, certainly good enough for the claimed mileage. Overall, I’m not sure these are valuable enough to restore, but I feel like the 4x4s pop up far less frequently. Would you attempt to fix the rust or use it as the strong runner it’s claimed to be?
Drive it, use it & enjoy it just as it is.
The LUV truck (light utility vehicle) was actually a very important truck for GM. Asian car makers caught the US with their pants down with their small pickups, and until they made one of their own,( the S-10 in 1981) we better do something quick, they’re KILLING us, so the Isuzu LUV was the 1st taste of a small pickup, for American’s at the local Chevy dealer.(and I’m sure GM paid MT dearly to promote it as TOTY) I knew someone with a LUV, 4×4, had an appetite for front wheel bearings, but the 2x’s were great trucks, better than that crummy S-10 ( I had a couple) I’d sure go for this, ( I’m sure the wheel bearings have been replaced), and drive it until it stops, if ever.
First, this is not a “first-year” truck. LUV began here in 1972.
Second, this is not a ’79. ’77 or older. Or it has the wrong grille in it.
“First year”? I can’t see where that’s listed in the article, Boatman? Jeff mentions that 1979 was the first year for the 4×4 option, is that what you’re referring to?
You’re correct on the grille, I think? The LUV went to two headlights in 1978 so 1977 would have been the last year for four headlights. But, 1979 was the first year for 4×4 and the VIN confirms that this is a 1979 model. That’s a head-scratcher.
Swapping to a 4 headlight grill is a very common modification on these little pickups. That is almost definitely what happened here.
You will find grills changed to different years often in the LUV world. The 4X4 is set up that you couldn’t install the IFS front set up without major mods. I would wager this is a 79
Saw a lot of the 2 wheel versions but not many 4x4s in my area. They tried to keep up with the foreign trucks of that era and run until the body fell off from rust.
They are foreign trucks. They were manufactured by Isuzu in Japan and shipped as cab-chassis to North America, where they were fitted with a pickup box.
Beater with a heater!
I worked for an auto parts store that had a LUV and a Courier. That LUV was a better truck in every way!
Where is Joe Isuzu when we need him..???
I’m guessing that there’s a fair amount of rot in this particular example; the blacked-out lower part of the body is a giveaway.
There are probably better ones around to buy, if someone’s keen on a Bowtie-badged Isuzu.
Love the dash design.
I’ve owned a ’79 Luv 4×4 in the past. The nose is not original. My ’79 only had 2 headlights.
It looks better with two headlights, IMHO. Had a 76 for a work beater 20 years ago. It worked ok for a while.
Years ago I had an assistant manager who drove one of these. It had the straight box with the bulging fenders – fiberglass I believe, since they were the only parts on the truck that weren’t rusted. He loved that little truck. Said he’d been offered some ungodly amount for the fenders & box alone.
I ran into him several years later and asked him about the truck. He said it broke in half when the frame finally gave up.
He replaced it with a Suzuki Samurai. At least he was consistent.
People complain about these and always bring up the rust issues. Now days car makers have finally figured out who to deal with that, ship them better and rust proofing and products have improved.
But I have had a couple Luv’s and know a few guys who had the 4x4s. None were serious off roaders but never heard any complaints either.
Keep in mind these were cheap little economy cars built to a price. For what they were they were great value and many still on the road today or for sale on local CL here in the PNW.
I dont understand modern marketing apparently but wish we could still get cheap little Toyota-Datsun-Luvs and Couriers like we could in the 1970s. Even 1980s Toyota trucks are a hot commodity today.
I Almost bought a new Toyota truck in 1985, but insted invested the money in my old hot rods.
Back in ’72 my father bought a new LUV. He sold his ’52 Chevy pickup and bought this ridiculous cheap truck for around $2300 .He owned it 3 yrs,and put a camper top on it,so all of us 3 boys rode in backon vacations. Pretty Spartan with NO extras,but ran well
“…I worked for an auto parts store that had a LUV and a Courier. That LUV was a better truck in every way!…”
Isuzu v Mazda
no che**y / ford involved here…
Drove a ’79 LUV 4×4 daily from ’83 to ’96. Paid $4k w/38,000 miles. It was a good truck. However, the Toyota’s from mid 80s on were a lot better truck. Provided you were in high range.The LUV’s front skid plate enabled it to traverse mud that a lot of other 4x4s at that time couldn’t. Suspected it being “under powered” was an advantage in mud. It would high center in deep snow. But, you could quickly dig her out with a scoop shovel. I ran normal sized all season radials. They were incredible on ice. Once, in route to Norfork lake, the county had took a bridge. It was apparent locals were fording adjacent to bridge abutment. Attempted to likewise ford pulling a 16′ aluminum bass boat. Water came over the hood and knocked the coil out and our momentum got us on the shoal. Water was about 4″ above door sill. Climbed out the window. Pulled the trolling motor battery out of the boat, set it on the air breather w/jumper cables to p/u battery. Jumped across clutch – safety switch – 1st gear / low range & starter pulled truck&boat out of the creek. Buddy had walked to nearby farm and bought a old 12V coil. Had her back on the road within an hour. Replaced front wheel bearings once. Mine would go through front brake pads every 6 months. Oreilly’s lifetime warranty was a life saver. Engine & front end parts were prohibitively expensive. Re-shimmed the distributor a couple of times. Rotor cap would drop to point the truck would start missing. I’d put card board inside rotor cap until I pull could the distributor and shim the shaft under point cam. Had to replace brake M/C once. Clutch, pilot bearing and pressure plate twice. Unique to the LUV was the fuel pump initially being powered by ignition key in start position. Afterwards with key in run position a relay from alternator output powered the fuel pump. If your alternator went out, the truck would start and only run for 10 seconds. Until I could have the alternator rebuilt, I’used a bic pen cap to close the relay prior to driving and pull it out upon arriving at destination. Poor people have poor ways. Truck finally succumbed to combination of bad A arm bushings, worn out tie rods, worn out distributor, cracked exhaust manifold, and leaking water pump and rust at approximately 250K miles. Sold her for $300 cash. Sheriff deputy called me a couple years later to let me know my truck had been towed & impounded albeit it missing engine/trans/transcase. Apparently my expired plates were still on it and it hadn’t been re titled. I explained I’d sold the truck years prior and it was his if he wanted it.
I’ve had many of these both 2x and 4x , the 4x4would go places that u couldn’t access until the side x sides came out, would love to have another one. Never had any rust issues here in the Pacific north wet