Those of you who are regulars of the Rare Rides series will no doubt remember the thrashing we gave another similar-era Jimmy a while back. And if you’re not regulars of Rare Rides, then you’re doing TTAC incorrectly and your life is a shambles. Fix it!
Anyway, this Jimmy here is a custom vehicle, a one-off General Motors’ idea that didn’t make it to production. So come along now as we explore the rare wonder of the Gypsy Street Coupe.
That’s right, the full name for this is the GMC S-15 Jimmy Gypsy Street Coupe. Found here on Craigslist, it’s actually for sale by its owner in Boise, which is in Idaho. That’s sort of in the middle part of the United States, south of Canada.
I’ve only been able to find one ad clipping, which looks like it was meant for dealers. I’ve hurt my eyes zooming in on this so you don’t have to. Here are the special features of this “Traffic Builder.”
First, the exterior: It has silver-colored rocker panel extensions, two-tone stripes, and a raised hood.
The hood is one of the more interesting features, as according to the brochure image, these STREET COUPE letters are cast, rather than decals, “to add a touch of class.” And we all know when you specifically call out something as having class, it definitely does.
There’s also a unique, wrap-around rear spoiler, which follows the C-pillar across the roof and down the other side. I think that’s my favorite feature here, if I have to pick just one.
Moving on to the interior, passengers are presented with this rainbow Gypsy logo on the glove box. Once they pry their eyes from the lid, they’ll also see the special cloth seats, to “travel luxuriously to sports events, or errands about town.” Formal occasions are also in the mix, and you’ll understand why when you look just below here.
Think of your significant other in their formal wear, examining the comfortable passenger seat. They’ll see the word “truck” repeated over and over, and will certainly not think twice about plopping their bum right next to you. You get the feeling GM really thought of everything for this special edition.
The back seats carry on the sporting and stylish motif, and look unused in this 33-year-old vehicle.
The exterior shows some signs of wear (it does have 103,000 miles), but unlike the old Jimmy that was the subject of our other Rare Rides, the owner of this one is only asking $4,000.
Seems like a reasonable enough price for a rare piece of custom, not-meant-to-be General Motors history.
[Images via Craigslist]
Quick, who’s the ’80s TV character most suited for this fine ride?
1) “Faceman” from “The A-Team”
2) “Hawk” from “Airwolf”
3) “MANIMAL”
4) TJ Hooker
Winner gets a six pack of Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers.
I didn’t think anyone except Brad Jones remembered Manimal.
Simon MacCorkindale is still trying to forget. Oops, sorry, he passed in 2010 and is at peace.
I was thinking “Howie” from “Fall Guy”.
Trick question– The correct answer is “Rick Simon” from “Simon and Simon”.
I don’t think so. It isn’t big enough for Rick. He drove a big Power Wagon. If it were one of the Simons it would be AJ.
Howie from Fall Guy is the best fit so far.
Faceman drives a Corvette. He would not be seen driving a Jimmy.
It is the right A-Team color though. GM product with orange/red accents. Just like the Corvette and the van.
I’m thinking of this as Faceman’s more utilitarian second car.
But I’d still go with Manimal. Because…Manimal.
“I do not understand the question, and I will not respond to it.”
Clearly, this is a vehicle meant for MacGuyver.
Angus was a Jeep guy.
This is definitely Jan-Michael Vincent’s whoring wagon and vehicle in which he gets into and proceeds to get his DUI’s. Stringefellow Hawke gets my vote.
Short-lived,sketchy and mostly unknown today, JMV and this truck would be a good fit.
It’s got the right colors for TC from Magnum PI.
Howling Mad Murdock
Wait, no mention of the fancy looking zippered (P?)leather pouches under the back seat arm rests? Were they standard Jimmy fare? And if not, what are they?
If I recall correctly, those were optional on Jimmys and Blazers of the day, which had no rear armrests. That back seat was very narrow, too.
Standard as armrest.
My brother-in-law, a pretty well-to-do pulmonologist (lung doctor for you great unwashed) bought an ’84 4wd S-10 Blazer, red and silver, with a red interior, when he came out of residency, and it had the pouches. Seeing what a piece of junk his was, between the 2.8 V6 and the THM200R4 transmission, the pouches were best suited to holding the cash you had to hand over to the service department, to keep one running.
At the time they were new…good places for little white baggies of coke.
With their present owners, good places for un-packaged meth rocks.
“You found what? That ain’t mine, man…”
Pray tell, what powers this Chariot of the Gods?
The 3/4 of a SBC 4.3 ltr V6 or the woefully out of its element 2.8 ltr V6?
Probably 2.8, I don’t think 4.3 was available in 1984 in these trucks.
Quick wikipedia search – 4.3 V6 introduced 1985 model year.
The 2.8 is a dog in these suckers and for a while in the 90s GM was replacing tired 2.8s in S10/S15 and the S10 Blazer/S15 Jimmy with the fuel injected 3.1 ltr V6.
It made a world of difference. Dad had a 2 door 4×4 S10 Blazer 2.8 assigned to him, the poor thing could barely get out of its own way – especially if towing a small trailer with a garden tractor on it. When the 2.8 was due for a rebuild the local GM dealer talked Dad’s boss into doing the 3.1 swap. Made a world of difference.
Beat me to it PrincpalDan.
The 2.8 was terrible in these things. My company had several of these in 83 and 84. I rode with a co-worker in Florida from the east coast back to Tampa. On perfectly flat land at 75 mph the auto transmission could not stay in overdrive with the cruise set. It would lose speed and downshift into 3rd constantly. I remember the seats were very under padded or something. I could not ride more than an hour without getting out and resting my behind.
I was trying to go by memory, I didn’t know the 4.3 appeared that early in this series. I’m thinking the early 90’s when it became VORTEC’d and picked up some power maybe?
The 2.8, complete with its intake gasket leaks (coolant in the oil, anyone?) and other problems.
This^
I had just paid off my 89 Beretta and the gasket went. Too expensive to fix for a guy with a baby. Off to Fast Cash for Cars it went.
Nifty.
It’s a shame it doesn’t have its original wheels, though. Those are the same wheels that my ’95 S10 has. They look sort of out of place here.
My thought too. How about some American Racing Equipment “Star” wheels? Actually, gold “wagon wheels” would fit the character better, but most anything from the ARE Heritage series would work. The original GM Ralleye (Rally?) wheels are the best choice, gotta be some of them out there.
You got close. “Rallye.”
BAM! I wondered when someone was going to address the 90s wheels.
$3000 TOPS.
BTW the 4.3 first appeared in the S-10s for the 1988 model year. It came with the Astro Van for ’85; the full-size pickups got it for ’85 as well.
Seeing the Gypsy name, this would be a fitting ride for the Gabor sisters.
Olivaaaaaaaaah!
When I see that name, I just think of Fleetwood Mac.
Or Cher.
First why is it 4WD if it’s marketed as a boulevard cruiser? Especially if it’s truly a one off? Second what’s with the hideous gen 2 rims.
Needs original radio and wheels. Crack pipe.
There is a thing that strikes me as odd, and I’m curious for any of the B & B who are younger than this truck…what is your impression of older classic/outdated/so-ugly-it’s-cool 80’s cars?
I remember 60’s cars during the 80’s, with their Kangaroo-leather (Mercury) or nasty vinyl upholsteries, cardboard door cards, and bakelite plastic parts in the interior.
They had a particular smell tinged with oil and smoke and raw fuel, as well as a rumble or agricultural feel (V8 or I6 or even VW). They felt solid, even when worn out.
I get in an 80’s F-body (one of my former dream cars) and I’m amazed by the plastic toy quality of everything, with the stickers and brittle plastic even for heavily-used buttons. Nothing held up. Press on the console or dash and it might just shatter. These S-10’s/Jimmy’s were really cool when new, but look no better than Star Wars toys at the flea market.
How do you see them, having grown up on Japanese-invasion quality?
More pics of the red 350Z next to it please.
I don’t think Idaho is in the middle of the US.
It’s all about context!
My thoughts also. Being sandwiched between Oregon and Washington on the west and Montana on the east puts it a long way from Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The color scheme on the glove box seems more Leslie Jordan or Charles Nelson Reilly.
This vehicle is not one of one. I personally have seen 3 out in the world and a blue one on the TV Show “Riptide”. My mom owned one from December ‘83 to June ‘95 and I actually still have the dealer invoice sheet for it and several pictures. I have been searching for a while to find out the build history of this vehicle. We lived near Oakland and saw a black one there, our which was red and the third one which was a 4X4 version of our red one. I never understood how a “street couple” like the one shown in this article could be a 4X4. I did want to buy it off my mother when she traded it in and put in a fresh 4.3L instead of that 2.8L, but I never got a chance.