Mini trucks gained in popularity over the course of the 1970s, but that wasn’t the case for the Chevy LUV. It was discontinued after a decade of trailing behind the competition.

Written by Kerry Gibson

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

A history of the Chevy LUV truck
What was the Chevy LUV truck lacking?
Insuring a compact truck

The design for the Chevy LUV truck was borrowed from the Japanese automaker, Isuzu. Demand for compact trucks was increasing in the 1970s and

Chevrolet

wanted a piece of the pie. The first model was released in 1972.

In the 10 years that followed, improvements were made to the Chevy LUV truck. However, none of the

modifications

were enough to set it apart from the competition. Buyers preferred the price and features of Nissan and Toyota. Its outdated aesthetic and lack of speed eventually led to the end of this General Motors’ “light utility vehicle” in 1982.

A history of the Chevy LUV truck

The Chevy LUV was essentially an Isuzu Faster with North American badges. According to

MotorBiscuit

, nearly half a million units were sold over the course of its decade-long production.

With a 102.4-inch wheelbase and a ladder frame, the miniature pickup truck still managed to sport a six-foot bed. It could carry a payload of 1,125 lbs on its solid rear axle, leaf springs, and drum brakes. The front suspension had unequal-length A-arms.

The Chevy LUV had a four-speed manual gearbox. A three-speed automatic transmission was available in 1976. The only engine was a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder with an output of 75 hp. It gained 5 hp when the second generation of this model was released in 1980. The 2.2-liter engine that was introduced that same year had just 58 hp.

What was the Chevy LUV truck lacking?

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Despite the Chevy LUV being one of the few compact trucks to offer four-wheel drive as of 1979, it still didn’t manage to outshine the competition.

It traveled 0 to 60 mph in 17.4 seconds and had a top speed of 64 mph. The truck was sluggish, a frustrating pitfall considering Chevrolet was capable of building fast cars back then. Drag racers that were handy with a wrench could swap the motor for a Chevy small-block 5.7-liter V8. But that wasn’t an option for the majority of buyers at the time.

Neither was the price tag.

HotCars

reports that the Chevy LUV truck sold for roughly $2,700 at the time. Comparably, buyers could get a new Datsun pickup truck for under $2,000. Considering the truck’s best gas mileage of 34 mpg and the oil crisis in the 1970s, it was no longer an economical option.

Archaic interior features and a generic external appearance further solidified general consensus that the mini truck had run its course. The Chevy LUV truck was retired in 1982 and succeeded by the Chevrolet S-10, which was much more desirable.

Insuring a compact truck

MORE:

The Most Fuel-Efficient Used Compact SUVs All Have 1 Thing in Common

With the recent popularity of compact SUVs, we must wonder if mini trucks will soon make a comeback. One thing that never goes out of style, though, is car insurance.

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