This Clean V8 Chevy Pickup Is One Of The Last Of Its Kind

With GM recently overhauling its pickup line to include newly electrified models of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, many wondered if we’d see the return of another, less popular GM model that went out of production with a special Black Diamond label back in 2013, the Avalanche. Well, we didn’t get an EV Avalanche, at least not yet, so if you like the style that attempts to merge more of an SUV with a pickup, you’ll have to buy used. Luckily, one is up for sale through Mecum in Houston next month.

Black Diamond Means The End Of The Line

The Chevy Avalanche pickup always lagged behind in sales against its GM siblings, thus it ended production with no replacement at the end of its second generation in 2013, after the first generation was introduced back in 2002. The second-gen, introduced in 2007, was offered in three trim levels: LS, LT, and LTZ, and all three got the final Black Diamond treatment at the end of the production run, named after the hardest ski run on a slope mostly just to sound cool.

The LT’s engine is GM’s 5.3-liter V8, good for 320 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the 2013 Chevy Avalanche LT came with an original tow rating of 8,100 pounds. A two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing was also offered, but it’s not equipped with this truck, which comes with the standard single-speed transfer case. Additionally, if you wanted a six-seater Avalanche that was offered, you’d have to swing down to find the LS or do an interior swap for the front center folding bench setup.

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Where To Get It

This example for sale on Mecum is an LT, which means it comes equipped from the factory with front bucket seats, Bluetooth connectivity and Satellite Radio, interior wood trim over leather, and some models even got an upgraded Bose sound system, though it’s not listed on Mecum’s features for this truck. Mecum details the lovely Blue Topaz paint job over the tan interior, multi-zone climate control, equipped cruise control, and a set of black aftermarket wheels as features of the pickup auction.

The auction is listed for Thursday, April 3, so next week, in Houston, Texas, if you’re interested. The listing is selling with no reserve, so it’s anybody’s guess what it’ll go for, but according to Kelly Blue Book, these are worth around $12,000 at present. There are several affordable modern pickup alternatives out there, but none of them have a V8 or as much luxury as this, so move quickly if you’re interested.

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Source: Mecum