It’s hard to show me a backyard build that truly impresses me anymore. I’ve spent too many years on the internet writing about cars; I’ve seen it all! Or so I thought. No, yesterday while browsing the interwebs I spotted one of the most puzzlingly hilarious vehicle builds I’ve ever seen, and the fact that it is legal on U.S. roads just makes me laugh. Behold the 1982 “S-Jeepamaro hellifiknow.”
Let’s break down the name a bit. The “S” is there because there’s a 1988 Chevy S10 pickup truck bed on the back. The “Jeep” is there because the cab is from a 1982 Postal Jeep. The “amaro” refers to the 1974 Camaro front clip. And the “hellifiknow” refers to how baffling this thing is, with its Cadillac grille and awkwardly amazing proportions.
“It is sitting on the S10 frame with a 350 V8 engine and a 350 turbo automatic transmission,” the Facebook Marketplace listing reads. “Runs and drives really well with lots of power. The only thing it needs to be a daily is the lights wired up.”
I’m going to quote that again: “The only thing it needs to be a daily…”
Hell yeah. I respect that.
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“It has a Holley carb and new brakes. It is for sale or trade… Unfortunately I am afraid that brain cells were damaged in the making of this substance abused, late night, weekend, stress related, cry for help, rebellious, cartoon inspired, poor decision making backyard creation!” Sure, but many of the greatest artists made their masterpieces in less-than-optimal headspaces, so this sort of tracks.
As you can see in the images above, the Postal Jeep’s rear door has been retained (but trimmed), and swings open over the floor of the S10 bed. The taillight housings are wide open; I’d probably shove some lights in there for good measure if it were me.
You can see that both the Camaro front clip and the S10 bed are significantly wider than the Postal Jeep mid-section, so they sort of “blend” inward, giving the vehicle a bit of a sporty Coke-bottle shape. Sort of.
The front is amazing. The modern Cadillac grille just works on that 1974 Camaro face. And the slim nose on the giant boxy cab just creates this amazing awkwardness that I can’t stop looking at:
Here’s a look at the motor, if you’re curios. Click the listing to hear it idle (it sounds decent, actually).
And here are a few close-up shots to show some…interesting build quality:
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It’s a masterpiece in its own way, even if there appears to be an unused engine mount behind that front left wheel.
All Images: Tim L Brown (Facebook Marketplace)
It’s like an Avanti and a phonebooth had a baby. Not a particularly pretty baby, but a baby.
Curious if you will add this to your collection of curios.
I, for one, appreciate what you did there.
As someone else mentioned, they did a pretty good job with the metal work flaring for the merging. Am I the only one that wants to see this mocked up as a Camaro-cabbed ute without the postal jeep? Perhaps Adrian or The Bishop will do a render but I’m not holding my breath. Then again, maybe there already was a Holden Camaro ute in the 70s; though it still wouldn’t have had the flairs.
David, you should buy it! Where will you ever find another one like it?
Some Genius Put A Camaro Nose, Cadillac Grille, And S10 Bed Onto A Postal Jeep And I’m Totally Obsessed
There, I fixed it to conform to the Autopian style guide.
I think it’s a more cohesive design that the Kia Tasman!
I was about to mention the same. Kia has been real quiet since this dropped.
This is one of the most “I don’t know, I thought it’d be funny” things that has ever been.
I am both disappointed and delighted that I live in a country where this never would’ve been even remotely considered road legal in any capacity.
I’m impressed by the sheet metal work to merge the front and back pieces with the narrower center section. That’s impressive. As for the rest, ah… maybe not so much. But hey, to each their own. Congratulations on the impressive build I know I could never equal.
PS – note to the editor. U missed a u in a commonly misspelled word. I was very curious, and that car is the curio.
Truly CT quality build.
I’d have gone with an 80s Camaro nose myself. Keep it properly square.
That is impressively ugly. My favorite detail isn’t the “Cadillac” grille made of mesh from wire mesh and a junkyard badge, nor the gaping holes in the cab pillar where the Postal Jeep taillights were. No, it’s the fact this has room to be a full 5-seater but there’s no back seat because just getting one other person to ride with you in it would be enough of a challenge.