1978 GMC Jimmy High Sierra

Description

This 1978 GMC Jimmy High Sierra is a surefooted all-purpose workhorse that's come through the years in great fashion. It offers all the classic '70s nostalgia you could want in a very sturdy package and still features its original colors both inside and out, along with an original, numbers-matching drivetrain. It's running strong and is very much up to whatever task you point it towards, whether that's performing as a daily driver that's bound to draw plenty of admiring nods while on the road, or as your trusty steed ready to take you on future chapters of off road adventures.

The two tone paint job, which combines Cordova brown with broad swaths of white along the sides, looks pretty fresh and is likely the result of a freshening up over the years, but it's a faithful recreation of the color scheme this Jimmy started life with and certainly makes a good first impression. It is, at its core, a work vehicle -the ultra-beefy front bumper harbors a heavy-duty winch as a reminder - and in that spirit you can see some small badges of honor chronicling its years of service, but nothing to detract from its rock solid appearance. Its body panels remain well positioned and you'll find nice even gaps surrounding the hood and doors. Its array of badging sits securely in place and presents well, and clear glass surrounds both the cabin and the removable hardtop that adds yet another element to this versatile vehicle.

Climb inside and you'll be surrounded by a buckskin tan interior that's in surprisingly good shape for its age, showing far less wear than you'd expect and free of any glaring tears or other imperfections. You'll find the bucket seats still have plenty of padding for comfort and the door panels to each side have also weathered the years well, as has the dash area, which carries a collection of readable gauges in its instrument cluster and a nice, straight dash pad on top, although the HVAC blower to propel cooled and heated air into the cabin looks to probably need replacing which isn't a big undertaking. The rear storage area is also in good shape with upholstered sidewalls and carpeting over its floor and inner wheelhouses that has plenty of life left in it. Partly by virtue of its elevated, High Sierra status, this Jimmy has a nice array of comfort and convenience features on hand, including a tilt column, cruise control and power locks and windows that continue to perform just as intended.

The engine compartment is another feature of this venerable workhorse that shows markedly less age than you'd expect. It's been kept up nicely and still carries the same 400 cubic inch V8 it began with 40 years ago. The powerplant puts on a great show, starting easily and pulling strong. Behind it sits an also-original TH350 3-speed automatic transmission with the same high level of functionality. The 4 wheel drive feature on this GMC is in good working order and its control knob is within easy reach inside the cabin, so with a flick of the wrist this dependable vintage SUV is ready to veer off the asphalt and onto less forgiving terrain. Power steering makes this stout vehicle easy to navigate, while power brakes at all four corners bring its set of 15" stock GMC wheels wrapped with Prodigy H/T tires to prompt, low-effort stops.

The combination of its no-nonsense look of yesteryear and a level of functionality that's very much of the present makes this 1978 GMC Jimmy High Sierra a welcome find. Call today!