Unusual find - super low miles

[Kens1990K2500]

Hey all, I saw this GMT400 for sale on my way home from work. At first, I though the sign on the windshield that read 800 miles was a typo, until I read the printed info on the driver's window, describing the truck's unusual history. The paint is a bit dull, but the truck appears very clean, with very little rust. The truck appears to have a current registration and inspection.

I think the asking price of $25,000 is pretty steep, especially for a 2wd. Just curious what ya'll think it's worth. I'd say maybe $12,000. I'm always a bit leery of vehicles that sat, undriven, for many years, as that can cause issues with calipers seizing, rubber seals shrinking, etc.

I do think the quad headlights on this 1988 truck are pretty cool, though. Interestingly enough, this week, I also saw another 1988 truck with the quad headlights, when I stopped at my local Harbor Freight. That truck, however, was in fairly rough shape body-wise, and had around 150,000 miles.

 

[df2x4]

Assuming that story is true...

The provenance is kind of neat, but I don't think it adds anything to the value for most people. It appears to be a VERY base model truck with some body/paint damage. Even if no one was driving it, it definitely looks like it sat outside somewhere for a while. IMO even your $12K ballpark seems high, the seller's asking price of $25K seems ridiculous. The only way I could see that going for $10K+ would be to a niche collector that had some kind of interest in that particular trade school or something.

As always, it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay. This is just my two cents.

 

[Caman96]

Assuming that story is true...

The provenance is kind of neat, but I don't think it adds anything to the value for most people. It appears to be a VERY base model truck with some body/paint damage. Even if no one was driving it, it definitely looks like it sat outside somewhere for a while. IMO even your $12K ballpark seems high, the seller's asking price of $25K seems ridiculous. The only way I could see that going for $10K+ would be to a niche collector that had some kind of interest in that particular trade school or something.

As always, it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay. This is just my two cents.

Well said ^^^ and I’ll pass. Other than that still kinda cool to look at it.

 

[Kens1990K2500]

As a wise man once said, everything is either priced to sell, or priced to keep.

 

[MIHELA]

This truck is probably also legally dubious, usually GM donated vehicles with the stipulation that they be destroyed when the school is done with them, and can never be driven on public roads. They are usually prototypes or have some irreparable build fault. We had several when I was in tech school, my favorite was an early prototype Beretta 3.1 5 speed that had temperature sensors all over the engine bay. It was used to evaluate the 3.1 in that platform which was going to replace the 2.8. We may or may not have ripped around on some back roads in it.

 

[Caman96]

You’d have to think the kids “worked” on it through the years. So, to what extent?

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

This truck is probably also legally dubious, usually GM donated vehicles with the stipulation that they be destroyed when the school is done with them, and can never be driven on public roads. They are usually prototypes or have some irreparable build fault. We had several when I was in tech school, my favorite was an early prototype Beretta 3.1 5 speed that had temperature sensors all over the engine bay. It was used to evaluate the 3.1 in that platform which was going to replace the 2.8. We may or may not have ripped around on some back roads in it.

I was reading something recently, from a guy who worked for several auto transport companies in Michigan and Canada. He said that many of the school shop vehicles that were donated, were ones that had been damaged in transport.

 

[RichLo]

You’d have to think the kids “worked” on it through the years. So, to what extent?

Lol. 20 years worth of stripped threads, multiple sizes of Heli-Coils, lots of electrical soldering, brake lines flares and butt connectors everywhere, 'rebuilt' wheel cylinders and calipers, 'new' gaskets everywhere with questionable ways of scraping old RTV off of mating surfaces, etc.

I agree that its probably only marketed to an old student of that particular trade school that may have sentimental value.

If the new owner went through the effort to actually register it and then drive it for 750 miles and then sell it I bet he found out how many problems it has and wants to unload it before it looses the nitch of having low miles.

It is a neat story though!

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Is it just me or does it not look kinda bent.

 

[RichLo]

Is it just me or does it not look kinda bent.

I saw that too but its bent the opposite way that these trucks normally bend, lol.

That truck has spent a lot of time on a hoist!