1987 Canadian Wrangler Shortbed

[lcann75]

Hello everyone, I have been searching for "just the right" 73-87 for a few weeks and today I may have found it, or better it may have found me.. I placed an ad looking for a short bed truck and had a gentleman reply to it this morning. He's got an 87 with 125,000km (about 75,000mi) on it and it is factory original and its almost rust/dent free, and has lived it's life in a garage. The spare tire has never been on the ground. He wants $4000 for it. This being a last year of this gen, plus being a Canadian Wrangler model I would think this has to be a bit of a rare truck, and being in this good of shape it is a bit of a time capsule. There is very little info on these Wrangler editions that I can find. I'd post a picture, but I don't think it's a good idea until I actually own the truck. Will update more if/when I get it.

[1774btcrew]

From what I have heard about the rust issues in your area and the prices shortbeds so for there this sounds like a great deal. I would definitely pick this up if it is within your price range and is what you are looking for. Good luck and keep us updated!

[dieseldawg142]

my wife's dad just sold his red & beige 2wd long box Wrangler last year. and yes, the Wrangler was only in canada. they had some paint & options not available on non-Wrangler trucks, so maybe collectable, but i dont think rare, i still see lots of Wranglers kicking around. in fact i see the FIL's all the time, guy 2 blocks down bought it. ticked me off, didn't know he was selling it, or i would have snagged it for a daily (350 on propane).
the '87 Wrangler trim came in different levels (A, B, C, D ). A, B, & D were trim, paint, & cosmetics packages, C was a heavy duty (GVWR 6100) upgrade, HD shocks, springs, brakes, battery, stabilizer bar, 4 spd man. or 3 or 4 spd auto overdrive

[motornut]

sounds nice for 4G. there are a few around here,not shorts tho
here (ottawa)87 is smog exempt too,last year

[Rubble]

Was the Wrangler package a Chevy thing too? I have 2 GMC parts trucks in the wrangler trim,but can't remember about Chevy. How many years were they offered too?

[dieseldawg142]

ya, both GM & Chevy had the Wrangler package, any C/K, R/V, & s10 & s15 could be had with it. i'm not 100% sure, but i think it was a '81-'87 model. could be wrong on that, but i've personally never seen a round eye Wrangler.
all Wranglers i have come across have been long boxes, so a shorty could be a little more collectable

[motornut]

Stolen from the internet......so it's gotta be true eh! lol

It is indeed a Canadian-exclusive vehicle. It was, to some extent, similar in concept to the Chevy Bonanza/GMC Royal Sierra packages (and later Sequoia Special discount pricing schemes) frequently seen here on U.S. market Chev's/GMC's. Like those packages, several different Wrangler package "levels" were offered, and on a variety of vehicles, including C/K/R/V series vehicles and S10/S15 pickups. The Wrangler packages were available, and so designated, on both Chevrolet and GMC products.

One major distinction, other than Canadian market exclusivity, separated the Wrangler concept from the Bonanza/Royal Sierra/Sequoia packages, however. The Bonanza/Royal Sierra/Sequoia models offered essentially nothing other than a grouping of regular production options priced at a discount, and- -from '76 to '79- -substitution of appropriate nameplates in place of the "Scottsdale/Sierra Grande" plates found on equivalently trimmed standard issue pickups. The Wrangler models, however, offered some very interesting features that were totally unavailable on non-Wrangler Canadian (and US) pickups, including special exterior decal and paint schemes. They are truly unique vehicles, and, I would think, very desireable from a collector standpoint. However, I don't think they are particularly rare, at least not in the Canadian population of '80's Chevy pickups, judging from what I have seen on visits to Canada over the years.

Here, as an example, is what was included in the various Wrangler packages (labeled "A, B, C, and D") offered for 1987 on R/V pickups:


Wrangler package "A" (offered on 10/1500/20/2500 fleetside pickups) included the following with a $250 cdn discount):

*Scottsdale/High Sierra interior trim
*Wrangler nameplates on the front fenders and instrument panel
*Wrangler hood ornament (an N.O.S. example sold on ebay recently)
*Bright wheel opening moldings
*Color-keyed headliner (a Wrangler-exclusive item, normally seen only on Silverado/Sierra Classic models elsewhere)
*choice of two paint treatments. Standard treatment included monotone paint with a Wrangler exclusive color (colour?)coordinated 5-stripe upper body side decal. This decal ran the length of the vehicle, and included a stylized "W" at its termination point on the rear of the bed. Or, for additional charge, a very distinctive Wrangler-exclusive two-tone paint treatment, could be purchased.


Wrangler Package "B" included the following additions or substitutions to those features in Package "A" above, with a $575 discount:

*Silverado/Sierra Classic trim (offering a choice of std. carpeting, or a Wrangler-exclusive combination of this trim with a rubber floor mat. Also, the usual Silverado/ Sierra Classic lower bodyside moldings were deleted to accomodate either of the Wrangler-unique decal/paint treatments described above).
*Sliding rear window
*Ralley wheels for 10/1500's; full wheel covers for 20/2500's
*Stainless steel below-eyeline mirrors
*Wrangler-exclusive leather wrapped steering wheel


Wrangler Package "C" was offered only in combination with either "A" or "B" for C10/C1500 pickups and offered the following with a $600 discount:

*equipment necessary for maximum GVWR of 6,100 lbs, including 4 speed manual transmission with or without overdrive OR 3 speed or 4 speed overdrive automatic transmission, heavy duty power brakes, extra-capacity rear springs, P235/75R15 radial tires, heavy duty shock absorbers, heavy duty battery, and front stabilizer bar.


Wrangler Package "D" was offered in only in combination with either packages "A" or "B", and could also be ordered with or without package "C". It was available on 10/1500/20/2500 series models, and offered the following for a $750 discount:

*Air conditioning
*Tinted glass
*AM/FM stereo radio with opportunity to upgrade
*Tilt steering wheel
*Interval windshield wipers
*Electric clock
*Electronic speed control (except when 4 speed manual overdrive transmission was specified)


Again, this listing is for the '87 line, and so there are some variations for other years, including with respect to exterior decaling and paint. But this description, reflecting info included in Canadian '87 Chev pickup catalogue, gives you an idea.

I have some pictures of these models; maybe someday I will have the energy to figure out how to attach them.

Food for thought: The Canadians enjoyed some really unique variations of '75 to '87 series Chev's, thanks to distinctions like the Wrangler packages, and engines largely unencumbered by emission tuning/controls- -including catalytic converters- -until the '87 model year! And only in Canada could the buyer specify a 350 in a two wheel drive 1/2 ton pickup between 1981 and 1986!

[Rubble]

Good info Motornut & Dieseldawg!! Only in Canada eh!!!

[lcann75]

Interesting information here guys, And come to think of it.. I've seen a ton of long box wranglers as well living in the Canadian Prairies (truck country) but I also don't recall ever seeing another shorty wrangler. Searching for "C10 Wrangler" in google also shows very few pictures and all that come up are long boxes... hmmm...

[Axle]

Originally Posted by motornut

And only in Canada could the buyer specify a 350 in a two wheel drive 1/2 ton pickup between 1981 and 1986!

Unless they repaired their database, Cr-py Tire will tell you that there is no such thing as a 1983 Chevy C10 with a 350...

Alex.

[dieseldawg142]

^^ yeah, or an '86/350. used to go get parts for FIL's at lordco instead.
motornut, not quite sure what you mean. i know a bit about Wranglers, but not so good on trim, asked my buddy (who is an afficiando) & basically reprinted what he emailed me. he helped us figure out FIL's Wrangler had the heavy gvwr package. his stuff is usually good.
next time i go over there, ( FIL), i will see if he has some pic's of it, i've only seen a couple in my time that had the beige & red paint like his did. i do remember him hauling his buddy's 9 ft camper across town for him with it once.

[stoneguy56]

. Trying to put up picture of 86 chevy Texas edition

[stoneguy56]

Does anyone know if this could possibly be the "wrangler paint"? Since there is no paint code and it says -special order paint.

[superwade57]

Looks like it. Also looks like its parked in your house? Never mind I see the door opener now I was confused by the plumbing. You have a better pic of the side? There's a glare on the front fender so I can't tell on paint for sure

[motornut]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

motornut, not quite sure what you mean.

just wasn't sure how accurate it was

[stoneguy56]

Superwade57....I'll have to get some pic's out side, I'll post them when i do.

[Gordonr1973]

Lcan75: buy that truck for $4,000 or please send me his phone number via PM & I'll buy it!!

[lcann75]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

Lcan75: buy that truck for $4,000 or please send me his phone number via PM & I'll buy it!!

I almost agree that I NEED to buy it, but on the other hand, I am feeling more and more like this truck should be left untouched, and I want a bit of a toy.. I'd like to lower it, maybe build an engine, and play around.. It would be a crying shame to do that to this truck, even though its a very clean base to build off of... Anyone understand what I'm feeling here?