Chevrolet LUV Pickup
The Chevrolet LUV was a compact, two-door, bedless chassis cab in 1977, and it had an 80 horsepower enhanced engine. It sold 67,539 trucklets in 1977, but it was still considered an underpowered truck and reduced in 1978 to two headlights. The basic LUV had a six-foot bed, and the optional seven-and-a-half-foot bed was built on a different chassis with a longer wheelbase. In 1978, sales of the LUV increased to over 71,000 units.
The LUV was a limited-production model. Sales of the first year were limited to 21,098 units. In 1973, a 2.2-liter diesel engine was added to the Chevrolet S-10, and its sales increased to 39,422. In 1974, Chevrolet stopped selling the LUV and produced the new S-10 and the GMC LUV. These were both successful, though the LUV failed to meet the expectations of consumers.
The LUV had a 6-foot bed, carrying capacity of 1480 pounds, and was powered by a 1.8-liter SOHC four-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual transmission. The LUV sold more than 71,145 units in 1977, and its sales continued to rise through the 1980s, reaching a peak of 77,452 vehicles. In 1979, Chevrolet introduced the Mikado trim package, which included striped upholstery, a three-spoke steering wheel, and an extra cab. Although the LUV was not as popular as the Toyota and Nissan pickups, it was still highly popular and a top choice among truck buyers.
The LUV was updated in 1977, with a 1.8-liter SOHC inline four-cylinder engine making 75 hp. The LUV also had a recirculating ball steering system and front and rear drum brakes. Its sales continued to increase, reaching 70,145 units by 1978. The second generation LUV was based on a three-speed automatic transmission, which brought it more attention and earned it the title of Truck of the Year.
The LUV was available with a 1.8-liter SOHC four-cylinder engine with 75 hp. The second generation was produced by Isuzu in Japan. It continued to be produced until 1988. The third generation of LUVs used a three-speed automatic transmission and the four-wheel drive was optional. The LUV was not as popular as its predecessors, but its popularity remained high.
The second generation LUV was updated slightly with a matte aerodynamic sheet metal skin. Its 1.8-liter inline-four engine produced 68 hp. Later, it was replaced by the Chevy S10. The Luv was a small truck for its day, but it was still popular in the 1970s. It was manufactured until 1982. The luv was a popular truck. It was also the most affordable truck in its class.
In the 1980s, the Chevy Luv was a popular small pickup truck, but it could not keep up with its competitors. It was a solid vehicle, but it couldn’t match the competition’s acceleration. Motor Trend measured its acceleration and determined that the Chevy LUV went from zero to sixty mph in 17.4 seconds. The quarter-mile test was 20.7 seconds. It reached 64.3 mph.