- Here’s a rare camper built into the bed of a GMC Jimmy.
- With a V-8 and 4×4 capability, most backwoods campgrounds should be within reach.
- It’s had a thorough restoration with some cosmetic upgrades.
With the official start of summer just around the corner, maybe it’s time to bug out into the wilderness, toast some s’mores, and—best of all—rewind the clock back to when things seemed a little simpler. Sure, you could do so with all the modern overlanding conveniences, but that might be missing the point. Instead, let’s hit the campsite late-’70s style. Bring a TrailerThis 1977 GMC Jimmy High Sierra, fitted with a Casa Grande pop-top camper, would be just the trick, and it’s up for sale right now on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). The truck itself is square-jawed and handsome, with V-8 torque and a proper 4×4 drivetrain to get you just that little bit farther away from the madding crowd. The camper conversion makes it more of a home away from home, complete with mini-fridge, gas burners, and a sink.Bring a TrailerThe Casa Grande was the twin to the Chevrolet Blazer Chalet, both of them products of Washington-based Chinook Mobilodge. You can see why the Pacific Northwest would produce a camper-building specialist: Who wants to deal with rain-mildewed tents when you can roll up to your mountain campsite and pop the top?Bring a TrailerThese rigs weren’t cheap. They were five-figure builds that doubled the MSRP of the pickup they were based on. As such, only a reported 225 were made. This one has been comprehensively restored, but with a touch of flourish that’s a little bit more zip than you got in the original. The golden paintwork has more metalflake than would have been found when new, and the graphics are a little brighter too. Think of it this way: This truck is more Hollywood’s idea about what the 1970s looked like than things actually were. It’s got a bit of a glow-up.Bring a TrailerThe 350-cubic-inch V-8 sends a slow-rolling 165 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque through a three-speed automatic with four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case. The alternator and batteries are new, and the truck rides on 15-inch wheels with Goodyear tires.Imagine rolling out of bed and instinctively reaching for your smartphone, only to discover that you’re out of the service area. Open the door and let the fir-scented air in, throw a moka pot on the burner, and enjoy a more peaceful morning. Maybe put on Neil Young’s Live at Massey Hall acoustic set. Sometimes unplugged is best.The auction ends on May 21.Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Source: caranddriver.com
