Ultra-rare Chevrolet Avalanche prototype crops up for $125k

An exotic Chevrolet Avalanche prototype is up for grabs in the USA right now. Its owner claims the show prototype was made in late 1990s, around two years before the Suburban-based pickup went into production. It has 3,150 km (1,957 miles) on the odo and comes with an asking price of $125,000.

Per the seller, the automaker had originally intended to use this ‘beta prototype’ to test out certain technologies in the field. In the end, however, the car was rebuilt into an off-roader for adventurers and became a show queen. Dubbed the Avalanche Basecamp, it first hit the spotlight at the SEMA-2002.

Unlike the production truck (see video), the beta version had a yellow paintjob, original exterior trim, a DVD player inside and an added port for an auxiliary power battery. Camping accessory racks were also included in the package along with two Nokia phones (reportedly no longer functioning).

The tailgate is hollowed-out and manages to accommodate a portable stove inside along with a kitchen sink, a cutting board and a GPS navigator. A tent is also included for those rainy days out in the wilderness. Power is sourced from a six-liter engine mated to an automatic transmission.

It is unknown why Chevrolet ended up auctioning off the prototype in 2006 instead of destroying it, which is the standard procedure with such cars. Since it was sold, the truck has changed hands multiple times and ultimately arrived in Canada. We are told that its current owner decided to get rid of it because he likes to drive the cars in his collection – something that is impossible to do with this never-certified pre-production vehicle.