At $25,000, Is This 1974 Toyota Chinook a Good Deal?

The vendor of right now’s Good Value or No Cube Chinook claims it to be the “cleanest, most unique Toyota Chinook left on earth.” Let’s see if it is going to additionally clear up in our vote.

As a consequence of its unpretentious look and lack of equipment, yesterday’s 1997 Saturn SW1 supplied a particularly fundamental expertise. At $3,900, it additionally supplied a reasonably fundamental value. That was ok for many of you, incomes the Saturn a stellar 80 % Good Value win.

In the event you’re in any respect aware of Alton Brown, the creator, and host of the beloved cooking present, Good Eats, then you definately’ll probably know that he’s averse to single-function instruments, issues he likes to name “uni-taskers.”

I believe it’s a secure wager then, that Alton Brown would discover right now’s 1974 Toyota Chinook to his liking. That’s as a result of it was positioned by its maker, Chinook Worldwide, as three automobiles in a single: an economic system automobile, station wagon, and motorhome. That makes it a real multitasker.

The Chinook was the brainchild of Gary Lukehart, son of Don Lukehart and co-founder together with his father of Household Wagon Compact Gear Firm. The corporate began out by outfitting vans just like the Corvair Greenbriar with tenting lodging, finally transitioning to the constructing of camper conversions on full-sized van platforms. The fuel disaster of the early ’70s minimize demand for these bigger campers and motorhomes main the youthful Lukehart to search for smaller, extra fuel-efficient choices.

The outcome was the Toyota Chinook. This was not just a few rinky-dink aftermarket add-on both. The prototypes impressed Toyota U.S.A. execs sufficiently that they signed an settlement to produce Hilux chassis’ for the camper conversions and promote the completed merchandise by means of Toyota’s U.S. supplier community. On the time, the five-year, multi-million greenback contract was the most important Toyota had signed with a U.S. contractor.

This primary-year mannequin is promoted by its vendor to be in “unbelievable situation” and the images do appear to lend credence to that declare. It wears its unique creamsicle paint with two-tone inexperienced and gold striping and carries a bull bar forward of the grille. The pop-top, which permits full six-foot headroom when up, appears to be like to be totally intact and useful.

In line with the advert, this can be a two-owner camper, with the primary utilizing it solely sparingly and preserving it in enclosed storage when not out and about. The result’s a meager 73,000 miles on the clock, which as everyone knows is nothing for the mannequin’s stout Toyota mechanicals. These embody the usual 108 horsepower 18R four-cylinder and Toyota four-speed guide driving a reside axle in again. With that combo, the Chinook is able to freeway mileage within the excessive 20s which is fairly good for something that may sleep 4 and allow you to get up inside.

The advert touts a variety of upkeep objects undertaken to maintain the truck in tip-top situation and notes that receipts for all of the work can be found. Different updates embody a re-configuring of the dinette/mattress to make a bigger sleeping space, nevertheless, the vendor says that may be simply reverted to the unique setup and can embody the cushions to take action. Moreover, all the inside lights have been switched to fashionable LEDs.

Different lodging within the camper embody an icebox with an exterior drip-drain, a sink with a pump-action faucet, and a ton of cubbies for storage. There’s no cooktop nor anywhere to drop a deuce privately however both might be added by an keen home-away-from-homer. Every little thing else inside appears to be like clear and tidy and prepared for journey.

Points embody a flaw within the fiberglass that the vendor says was probably the results of a parking zone shunt and a leak within the sink that’s claimed to only want an O-ring. If that had been the case, it probably would have already been repaired. The title is clear and this being a Toyota of a sure age, it probably has about 1,000,000 extra miles forward of it earlier than something main will go incorrect. What would possibly all that presumably be price?

The vendor appears to suppose it’s price $25,000. That’s not chump change, however recall that that is three automobiles in a single, in order that works out to a extra cheap $8,333.33 per operate.

What do you suppose, is that this immaculately conceived Chinook a deal at that $25,000 asking? Or, ought to outdoorsy varieties search one other campsite at such a price?

You resolve!

Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.

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