Summary

Powered by a 383ci stroker engine with headers and mild cam, and a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. Fitted with a custom camper designed by and built for Merle Haggard. Has air conditioning, power steering and brakes, power windows, tilt column.

Details

This 1977 Chevrolet C10 long-bed custom pickup is powered by a 383ci stroker engine, fitted with ceramic-coated headers, a mild cam and carburetor, backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission, and painted white. The pickup was purchased in 1986 and then customized, because Merle wanted to drive a 10-year-old pickup thanks to the song he had written years before "Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)." The original pickup was loaded with options from the factory, including chrome bumpers, custom front grille, air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control and tilt steering column. It rides on 15-inch Rally wheels with newer BFGoodrich T/A tires. The pickup features a custom interior with a Cadillac Steering wheel and smaller custom features, such as the interior upholstery and bucket seats Merle had covered in silver Naugahyde, to go with the song. The pickup cab features a cutout and boot above the driver and passenger, where when you look up you see a mirror in a 45-degree angle. From the side of the camper, this angle is for wind and Haggard had this designed, so that while driving you can see the blind spots on the side of the pickup. The custom Lobo camper was designed by and built for Merle Haggard, who always called it "The Camper" that he used for camping mostly on Lake Shasta and local lakes near Redding, CA. The camper was built from scratch with 2X4-inch walls and insulation throughout, wired for 120 volts and included breakers, overhead interior spotlights and one bright area light, and grey carpet. Painted white with blue and silver stripes, the camper customization includes a custom sound system with an aftermarket head unit, a 600-watt SoundStream 5-channel amplifier, and Boston Acoustics speakers, including a 15-inch subwoofer under the queen-sized mattress, speakers in the dash and tweeters in the doors.