Vehicle Description
This 1983 GMC Jimmy is a neat little cruiser that's still quite
practical yet quick like a Camaro. These are still great looking
trucks and with a neatly transplanted 350 crate motor, it's
wickedly fast on the street. Even if you worked for free, you
couldn't build this yourself for less, so get in and start having
fun instead!
The trim proportions of the S15 Jimmy still look great 35 years
later (has it been that long already?) and when this bright red SUV
starts slicing through traffic, people are going to notice! It
comes from down south so it was never a rust bucket and at some
point it got a decent respray in bright red, so it looks suitably
sporty. They also added a cowl-induction hood, which is a nice
addition to the boxy SUV and gives it a bit of an attitude, as does
the spoiler atop the roof. The finish would benefit from a
professional cut and buff, but even as it sits, it gets attention
and doesn't stray too far from the original design, making it a bit
of a sleeper, too. Up front there are a few tweaks like the clear
parking light lenses and a custom chrome bumper with fog lights
built right in. Out back, the tailgate has been smoothed and clear
taillight lenses add a bit of interest. All the emblems have been
shaved, but given how popular these are, nobody's going to mistake
it for anything else.
The Jimmy's interior is still a comfortable, sporty, and practical
space, even in the 21st century. Handsome bucket seats wear funky
factory upholstery that works rather well in the bright red truck
and it's remarkably well preserved. It's a period look that gets
attention and the chairs are still firm and comfortable. It's also
loaded with options like A/C (cold but the blower motor needs to be
serviced), a tilt steering column, power windows and locks, and a
pop-up sunroof. The carpets and dash pad are in great shape and not
faded and the factory gauges still monitor the transplanted V8's
vitals, although the tach is off by a little bit (it's counting
eight cylinders instead of six). There's also an upgraded AM/FM/CD
stereo system, a comfortable back seat, and plenty of cargo
capacity even with a full-sized spare stashed back there.
GM never built a V8-powered Jimmy, but the way this one is
assembled, you'd swear it was a factory job. The 350 cubic inch
crate V8 is a neat fit in the engine bay and they worked hard to
keep an OEM look. There's a Holley carburetor on top of a Bow Tie
intake manifold, HEI distributor, and a set of aluminum center-bolt
heads to help build power. A serpentine belt drive system manages
the accessories for a factory look and there's a giant aluminum
radiator up front with twin electric fans to keep it cool. Power
steering and brakes are part of the package as well, and it all
works pretty much the way you'd expect. Turn the key and it fires,
and if you can keep your foot out of it, it's happy to just trundle
around town. Nail it and the 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission
drops down a gear or two and the rear tires start to chirp and
spin. Remember this thing isn't very heavy so acceleration is
impressive at any speed. The 2-wheel-drive Jimmy chassis is largely
unmodified, so it rides and handles properly, and the sound of the
twin Flowmasters is going to surprise a few folks who expect a
standard V6 buzz. Chrome IROC-style wheels are a great choice and
they carry 17-inch Yokohama performance radials.
A cool little SUV that can run with the big dogs without working
very hard. If a bright red vehicle can be a sleeper, this GMC is
it. Call today!