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Kei trucks are the antithesis of big, brawny American trucks, which makes them great conversation pieces as well as useful tools. They can fit places a full-size pickup never would, and consume a fraction of the fuel. They are a bit limited when it comes to payload, though. Thankfully, there are other options for trucks that reflect Japan’s unique automotive culture.
First spotted by patina.cars on Instagram, this 1997 Chevrolet C3500 dually rollback is currently for sale through Passion Co., Ltd., a dealer in the city of Oshu in northern Japan’s Iwate Prefecture. And it’s everything you could want in a custom truck. It’s slammed on air suspension, with clean-looking chrome five-spoke wheels that complement a very clean exterior. The shaved bumpers and trim, along with the billet grille, accentuate the simple-yet-handsome lines of this rig. Mainstays of GM’s 1990s lineup, the GMT400s are some of the best-looking trucks the company has ever produced.
Passion Co., Ltd.
The GMT400 generation was introduced for the 1988 model year, and some versions lasted into 2006 outside the U.S. The styling made the previous-generation squarebody trucks look as antiquated as they were, and today it shows that adding bigger grilles, more complex headlights, and muscular fender flares doesn’t necessarily improve the looks of pickups and SUVs. Their long production run and sheer number of variants also make this generation a great canvas for customization.
This heavy-duty C3500 has the 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) V8 that was also used in the 454 SS performance truck, which drives the rear wheels through a column-shifted automatic transmission. It can be yours for 7.8 million yen (approximately $52,000 at current exchange rates), plus the cost of shipping it from Japan if you desire (the truck is lefthand drive).
Passion Co. Ltd.
It may not be as easy to park, but depending on where you live, this might be easier to register in the U.S. than a kei truck. Despite the federal 25-year rule, some states are still blocking kei vehicles. And if you’re not sure about the legal status of a kei truck in your state, you could always haul it on the back of this truck until the laws change in your favor.
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Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he’s not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.
