For Sale: 1989 Chevrolet S10 in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Remember when you'd see tough little S10 pickups all over the place? The factory got in on the action with the 1989 Chevrolet S-10 BAJA, and maybe it's a truck whose time has come again. You certainly won't see them on every street today and it still has a tough, purposeful look that's appealing even 30 years later.

The only color available on the BAJA pickups was white, and the high-contrast look of the white paint, blacked trim, and red graphics works rather well. It certainly doesn't look dated and someone has taken very good care of this particular truck so it looks pretty darned good overall. Not perfect, but certainly nice enough to generate more than a few "thumbs-up" gestures on the road, yet not so nice that you won't use it as intended. The S-10's squared-off bodywork still has a tough, working class look that is quintessential truck and even though it's small, it still looks tough. Enhancing that look is a roll bar mounted in the bed, custom tubular bumpers, and, of course, the driving lights (they are not hooked up due to traffic laws). The bed features a spray-in bedliner that means you can still use the truck for its real purpose and by the looks of things, this S-10 never really had to work a day in its life. That's exactly the kind of truck you want to own today.

The interior is pure 1980s, complete with cloth seats with red stripes that look very space-age. Nevertheless, the Baja comes with a long list of standard equipment, including working factory A/C, power windows and locks, a tilt wheel, and even cruise control. The factory upholstery is in good condition considering it's 30 years old and even the carpets are holding up pretty well. The controls will seem familiar, because almost everyone owned one of these at some point, and with a center console between the seats, the BAJA seems right at home in today's world. Even the stereo is pretty good, an original AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that was on the cutting edge of technology in 1989. That's the shifter for the 4-wheel-drive system in the middle and there's a helpful pictograph on the front of the console to remind you that you're in 2WD or 4WD. A sliding glass rear window is another nice feature that makes this truck very pleasant to drive year 'round.

GM's 4.3 liter V6 was a real workhorse in these compact pickups, and considering it's � of a 350 V8, you shouldn't be surprised that it's a pretty good performer. As is common with the 4.3 and GM fuel injection of the period, it's a little grumpy when it's cold and you could probably improve it with nothing more than a tune-up. The engine bay is quite stock and very clean, so you know it has never spent time in the winter weather and someone obviously has been looking after this truck for the past few decades. There's plenty of torque on tap for the relatively lightweight little truck and it should continue to run pretty much indefinitely if you take care of it. An automatic transmission is the right choice with the burly V6, making this a truck that will cruise through traffic at rush hour or climb a trail equally well. The independent front end gives it surprisingly good road manners for a burly 4x4 and the custom exhaust system offers a fun soundtrack. Factory wheels painted black work well with the rest of the BAJA look and they're equipped with 235/75/15 Goodyear Wrangler radials.

Small pickups have virtually disappeared from showrooms, but they're still a great alternative if you just want a fun all-purpose vehicle. The BAJA delivers and does it with style. Call today!