Vehicle Details
- Year: 1978
- Make: Toyota
- Model: Chinook Camper
- VIN: OR52523
- Mileage: 44,538mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Walnut Metallic
- Seller: GarrettM
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Aptos, CA 95003
- Lot #: V-0018951
One of the oldest and most respected names in RV and motorhomes, Chinook started producing campers as a joint venture with Toyota in 1973 based on the Hilux pickup truck. This 1978 example received upgraded components from a 1980 Toyota 4x4 pickup during the early 1990s including the frame, suspension, front axle, and 20R 2.2-liter engine, as well as a repaint in Walnut Metallic. The fiberglass camper shell is equipped with a pop-up tent, a dinette with a fold-away table, an L-shaped convertible couch, dual overhead hammocks, a convection microwave, a sink, propane cooking elements, and a power converter. Acquired by the seller in 2021, this classic 1978 Toyota Chinook is now being offered at auction out of California.
The exterior is finished in Walnut Metallic and was repainted during the rebuild in 1991 along with replacement Chinook decals sourced from the factory in Yakima, Washington. The vehicle has also been fitted with a front brush bar, foglights, towing mirrors, tubular side steps, rear mud flaps, and a folding rear step. The seller reports some minor imperfections throughout including a quarter-sized blemish on the rear driver’s side quarter panel. Detailed images are provided in the gallery. The black 15” steel wheels are mounted with 31” Wild Country Radial XTX Sport tires.
The cab features Recaro bucket seats upholstered in tan vinyl with corduroy inserts and Chinook embroidery on the seatbacks. Amenities include an AM/FM radio with Jensen speakers, a Nippondenso air conditioning system, power windows, auxiliary gauges in the center stack, a Wayfinder digital compass, and an overhead control panel with a CB radio. Cruise control was added later on but is currently inoperable. The fiberglass camper shell includes a pop-up tent, a dinette with a fold-away table, an L-shaped couch that can convert to a bed, dual overhead hammocks, window curtains, a power converter with auxiliary power outlets, wooden cabinetry, a sink, dual propane cooking elements, and a convection microwave.
This Toyota is powered by a 2.2-liter 20R inline-four sourced from a 1980 Toyota 4x4 pickup, equipped with dual Mikuni side-draft carburetors, K&N air filters, a COMP cams 268 camshaft, oversized valves, an LC Engineering exhaust header, an auxiliary oil cooler, a three-core aluminum radiator, a dual battery setup, and a Mallory ignition system. The suspension has been modified with a 3” lift kit in the front and 4” in the rear, rear air shocks, heavy-duty sway bars, and the front axle from the same 1980 Toyota Pickup, converting it to four-wheel drive. A G52 5-speed manual transmission was sourced from a 1985 Toyota 4x4 pickup and drives all four wheels through a dual-range transfer case. This Chinook was recently inspected and serviced in preparation for sale including a new muffler and oil change.
This sale will include a clean title.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $35,000
- Auction End: May 18, 2022 07:10:00PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 20
Comments (30)
Congratulations @tjparker,
You saved yourself $5K by winning the bid here vs the $40K no-sale on another auction site.
Sold for $35,000
The Reserve has been removed!
Good luck bidders
Bid in the amount of $35,000
Bid in the amount of $27,000
Bid in the amount of $20,000
Bid in the amount of $12,540
Bid in the amount of $12,250
Bid in the amount of $12,000
@CurtGT3RS Yes it was slightly out of alignment in the videos. That has been corrected.
Thanks
In the driving video, the steering wheel doesn’t appear to be straight - does the truck need an alignment?
Bid in the amount of $7,169
Bid in the amount of $6,099
Bid in the amount of $5,500
Bid in the amount of $5,140
Bid in the amount of $4,800
Bid in the amount of $4,550
Bid in the amount of $4,150
Bid in the amount of $3,800
@bpfresno It drives good on the highway, I would typically cruise at a safe speed of 65-75. I never attempted to smog it in CA so I am not 100% sure.
@WRENCH.56 The previous owner I purchased to chinook from did not include any manuals or maintenance records. I have service records from when I purchased it but not from when it was converted in 91. I was told that it would not be too difficult to bring the ride height back to stock, but I never got any quotes or pricing for this work. I have used it in the winter and the furnace definitely keeps the inside warm. The AC in the front works well when driving in hot weather but does not work for camper purposes.
It's a great rig, hoping to find a good home for it.
Thanks!
Bid in the amount of $3,500
Bid in the amount of $3,250
Do you have the instruction manuals for the Chinook camper unit? Maintenance schedules for the truck and/or replaced engine? Any service records or receipts?
I will say that this thing seems to be in outstanding condition and, being an engine replacement, I suppose one might just have to figure out maintenance for one's self. That certainly doesn't scare me.
Lastly, how difficult/costly would it be to restore the stock ride height? I likely would prefer that as I doubt I would take it off-road.
Does the heater cut it for winter camping at ski areas? Does the under-dash AC unit cut it for summer use?
Thanks in advance for anything you can answer.
How does this do on the highway? Will it cruise at 80-85 ok? Also, I see the Montana plates. Any issue with California registration?
Bid in the amount of $3,000
Super cool build! Don’t see alot of these around anymore but we’ll worth the efforts!
GLWTA seller!
Bid in the amount of $2,250
Bid in the amount of $2,000
Bid in the amount of $1,000