Previous generations of disabled people lacked the mobility that’s commonly granted today—thanks to greater social acceptance and technological innovation. The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado LT now offered on eBay is an excellent example of what’s possible. The truck was ordered new by an active Illinois man in his 40s who doesn’t let the fact that he is paralyzed from the waist down confine his mobility.
The gullwing-style doors open fully.
The truck received a $32,112 post-purchase conversion that equipped it with hand controls and a very sophisticated exit/entry ramp that is operated by a key fob. The whole left side passenger compartment of the vehicle is hinged gullwing-style, and it opens outward to move the driver out.
The seat mechanism is complex—and ADA-compliant.
Given that an entry-level 2017 Silverado LT started around $28,000, the $42,988 Buy-It-Now price of this fully converted truck is a bargain.
The truck’s ramp will accommodate either the owner’s wheelchair or the factory front seat, which is mounted to a wheeled platform. An additional center console comes with it and can be pressed into service depending on which application is being used. The conversion, performed by a nationally recognized shop, is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The hand controls were installed locally.
This is the 1500 LT version of the Silverado, with all the amenities.
According to Chad Bordner, a salesman at The Auto Link in Bartonville, Ill., the new owner was happy with the truck—he moved up to an Acadia Denali SUV. “He’s someone we’ve known for a while, and he’s bought two or three vehicles from us,” Bordner said. “He enjoyed many miles of freedom in this truck, but he decided he wanted something else.” Indeed, the truck was well used—the odometer reads 51,455 miles.
The fully equipped vehicle is disguised as an ordinary—and sporty—Silverado.
Among the truck’s features are an automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, air, and flex-fuel capacity for the big 5.3-liter V-8. It benefits from a nice set of aftermarket wheels and a sports exhaust.
eBay Motors offers an extensive array of trucks and vans with equipment for the disabled, from Mercedes Sprinters to Dodge Grand Caravans and even smaller Scion xBs. eBay also has mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs and parts.
