1983 Chevy Silverado History

On May 5, 983 Wayne Tienhaara woke up in his small town of about 400 people in remote Oregon and drove the 20 miles to the locally owned Chevy dealership to pick up his new 1983 Chevy Silverado.

He’d drive the truck for an average of about a thousand miles per year for the next 33 years until his passing at 88 in 2015. The truck has about 34k total, RIGINAL miles now.

“Wayne” as the Silverado is now named in Mr. Tienhaara’s honor was clearly always given the best of care and never spent a night or even very many days sitting outside.

As a result, he dash is flawless, he bench seat is perfect, he carpet is just about as immaculate as can be. Even the glove box is as the day the truck came out of the GM factory. Tilt the seat forward and the storage area behind it is unreal clean as well. Just amazing.

The paint is all COMPLETELY original and glossy. NO RUST. There are a few scuffs and chips here and there but it really is phenomenal overall.

All the window rubber and moldings are like new. The roll up windows are so tight, ust as from the factory.

Everyone who sees Wayne is stunned by the original, antastic condition.

The original sales contract which shows Mr. Tienhaara opted to pay an additional $98 for undercoating and another $115 for a rear bumper (they were an option back then) is included in the paperwork. These papers are in the original Chevrolet/Sunset Motors Company envelope as put together by and signed off by salesman Bob Caldwell.

The original service contract application, ervice contract and new Chevrolet truck warranty card comes with and is in Mr. Tienhaara’s name as well.

Also included in the original paperwork: The General Motors Maintenance schedule, he limited GoodYear highway tire policy, he dealer vehicle inspection procedure report, he owner’s manual, he Chevrolet Owners oil and filter change interval information pamphlet, he Protect Your Investment service contract info, he original 1983 Chevy truck brochure (in which a truck these colors is highlighted in it) and the Fuel Economy Rating window sticker showing annual fuel cost estimated on gas costing $1.65 per gallon.

Also in the file is the original, ld school, mall note pad in which Mr. Tienhaara kept track of oil changes along with a National Bank of Oregon pen (try to find one of these anywhere) he used for entries.

The note pad starts with his first hand written entry at the mileage of 1,366 and goes to 9-29-93 and a mileage of 25,839 in which he did an oil change using Valvoline 10-30 and a PH13 Fram oil filter.

Mr. Tienhaara was 66 during this last entry and began driving even less after this.

There are also various receipts and warranty cards from Les Schwab over the years for oil changes, ires and batteries. At age 84, r. Tienhaara got a flat tire in the truck on 7-13-11 and had what appears to be his last visit to Les Schwab when the Silverado odometer read 31,774.

I was looking for a work truck to use between my beach property in Oregon and a remote California mountain property I have to haul firewood, eaves, unk etc when I came across Wayne.

The all original condition of Wayne was so nice, opted to pay a premium to have him picked up in an enclosed semi rig and transported to Los Angeles to my trusted mechanic.

Strict instructions were given to use only AC Delco parts from spark plugs on, nless not possible due to lack of availability. And, o keep any part or gasket replaced.

I’ve restored and owned 1963 to 1967 Corvettes for years and am a NUT about things being original and EXACTLY as they should be with any car/truck…especially a Chevy with all its matching numbers and date codes.

By the way, ayne started right up and drove great from the start, ut I wanted to make sure everything was up to speed so I can drive from the beach to 6000 feet altitude in the same day without any problems or worrying an original belt may snap from age. That said, had the following just done:

Complete tune up with plugs, ires, ir filter etc. Carb removed and rebuilt, elts changed, rakes checked (they were good and the mechanic says the rear are original with the factory seal still with them) and the muffler replaced. The AC system on the truck is all original yet now internally converted to the modern R134 fluid. It’s nice and cold. I also replaced the fuel pump only due to age. Again, want all my cars to be as original as possible and be drivable at any time.

So, ere’s where I’m at now. Everyone is hounding me that this CAN NOT be turned into a work truck (even by my mechanic) given the pure example it is of original greatness. While I have total OCD over my vintage Corvettes and Porsches being done to perfection mechanically so I can drive them, egardless of age, rom state to state…I never do as a fly might land on them and then I’d be all bent out of shape!

Well, hough it wasn’t the intention at the start, am starting to think that about this truck as the miles would get racked on and it would be a work horse. Maybe even have to stay outside.

Therefore, decided to put it on Ebay and see if there are like truck people to the way I am with my classic cars. I will see where the bidding goes.

I’d just hope whomever might get Wayne would keep him in his classic, riginal condition.

I’ve got the original title and all the paperwork so you’d be the second owner technically, hich is a great thing.

This is a 1983 C10 Chevy Silverado long bed pick up with the original 305 engine, /s, /brakes, c, utomatic, ual tanks, ilt, adio delete from new, 4k total original miles.

Two items left to tinker with would be the temp gauge. It doesn’t work and I think the gas gauges may not be reading correctly.

Feel free to email any questions you may have. Happy to talk on the phone as well.

The truck is sold as is.

Thanks.