WHAT IS IT?
Small pickup trucks used to be entry-level vehicles. Chevrolet’s S10 (and corporate twin GMC Sonoma) were volume sellers for the company and base short cab 2WD models usually cost even less than compact cars. They were workhorse vehicles for gardeners and commuter cars for people who just wanted to be able to carry mountain bikes or motorcycles on weekends. The S10 was the company’s compact pickup from 1982 to 2004 and while it evolved and grew throughout this period, the basic formula didn’t change. They could be had in base 4-cylinder models, with manual transmissions, one could add a V6, an extended cab, long or short beds, etc. There is simply no modern equivalent when basic trucks all have four doors, short beds, and cost over $30,000.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
At first glance, this is nothing but a 24-year-old base-model 2WD pickup with a four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. They made a million S-10s but when was the last time you saw a really clean one? With only 25,000 original miles, purportedly owned by an elderly gentleman (then his grandson), original to Los Angeles, and completely stock it’s an eye-catcher. Finished in beautiful ruby red with only the slightest wrinkles on the factory cloth seats, it would still make a great work truck or commuter for somebody. Even the undercarriage images show a shiny and completely rust-free chassis and even exhaust. There is slight fading on some of the upward-facing exterior plastics (notable on the front bumper cover), but these weren’t built to Mercedes-Benz quality levels in the first place, and the Southwestern sun can be brutal. It’s simply a beautiful example of a great unmolested truck in a style no longer offered for sale.
They made a million S-10s but when is the last time you saw a really clean one?
THE VERDICT
(Delivered by Juror Andy Reid)
Yes this S10 has some standard-type modifications such as the hood-mounted wind deflector, the steering wheel cover via Pep Boys, and the carpet dash cover but all of these are pretty standard and removable. We are betting that the dash and steering wheel are perfect. More importantly, it looks like the interior is perfect as is the paint and engine compartment. Even more interesting is the truck bed which looks like it has not carried anything that ever even scratched the inside of it. I have not personally seen an S10 this nice since they were new and you could find 30 1991 Porsche 911s this clean before you would find a 1991 S10 even close to as clean as this one appears to be.
Best on the Planet March 19, 2025 – Present
