Truck Value/Fuel Prices

[special-K]

I see alot of reference by members to the wonderful fuel prices we`ve been greedily graced with making it hard to get sell or get good money for our trucks.I disagree.There have been fuel consumption concerns for over 30 years and minimum mileage requirements increasing every so many years.In the`70s great American cars could be had for dirt cheap while owners went out and bought econoboxes.With each major price increase we are traumatized,then get used to it.Now,this thread isn`t about fuel prices or whether we`ll ever get used to these prices.It`s definately way past a "get used to it" price,there`s no argument it is a world changing event.
What my point is...who`s buying these trucks for economy?How many are bought for daily drivers or sole transportation?I`ve been running mine somewhat daily in spring summer and fall for many years.But,with present fuel prices,I see myself plotting my driving more,thinking twice about running around,and maybe just using them less.But,I don`t have anything newer that gets any crazy-good mileage anyway.The fuel prices may be effecting late model gas-guzzler resale values,but I don`t see any change in desire to own what we like.I`ve always said,"If I lived somewhere that won`t rust my truck I wouldn`t need a late model."If I lived where driving a 67-72 daily was possible without ruining the body,I`d be looking to work closer to home.We can`t all do that,but that`s what my solution would be.I can`t believe I`ve spent so many years living where I had to stop running trucks in the winter.If it were up to me,my location would be based around being able to just run old stuff.That`ll finally change,I hope.
I just see these trucks sitting/resting more.But desire not residing at all`except for the relatively few that use these trucks as their sole transportation.Heck,if I lived in Arizona of other sunbelt state,I`d just spend more time running my Harley whenever I didn`t need to carry much of anything.That would be my enjoyable way of "averaging out" the expense.
We see guys swapping-in late model running gear and increasing fuel economy to comparable to anything new.It can get expensive.But,not as much as what a new truck costs that will decrease to 1/2 the sticker price before it ever begins to age.I expect to see more upgrading in the future.Cuz we really want to drive these trucks and no stinkin`oil baron is gonna take that away!!!!!!

[mrein3]

There are so many ways to respond to this post.

1. You really shouldn't be using a truck like this as a daily driver. I wish I could. I love the power and acceleration in my 383. However I'd have to put $100 - $200 worth of cab insulation in it and a 700r4 before I'd even consider driving it to work every day.

2. I see you live in MD. I live in MN. I'm guessing that in MD you put your car away for the winter if you like it just like here. I've learned to deal with that fact. I purchased my 1972 Chevelle in 1984, 2 weeks before I had a driver's license. It has not seen salt since 1986, the first winter I could afford a "winter beater". Winter beaters of the past become parts cars of the future. Trust me, I lived in Phoenix one winter. Making me move there would take an increase in salary that nobody would pay so that isn't going to happen. I've been to LA, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa, CA. Once again, you couldn't pay me enough money to live there. I wouldn't even consider raising a child in those environments and I have a 3-week old baby. So it is 18 years before I'd even consider a move to the SW.

3. You don't need to spend a lot to get a car that gets "crazy-good mileage". I owned a 1994 Ford Escort for a daily driver for 288,000 miles and 14 years. It cost me 10k new and the maintenance was so low I hardly considered it an expense. When I GAVE it to a friend it was still averaging 38 mile per gallon. Yes I said 38 miles per gallon AVERAGE. I didn't drive it much other than to work and back and it is all freeway but facts are facts. You don't need to buy a hybrid to get decent mileage. Ask a Prius owner what they REALLY are getting for mileage and if they are truthful you'll see that those fictional 50+ mpg numbers are one time on a 55mph highway the rest of the time they get 40-45mpg tops. So now ask your self is it worth a hybrid premium to get slightly better mileage than something made here in America. Plus they are ugly.

Long story short - I've owned this truck for 14 years and don't see any reason to sell it. Oil baron, eco-nazi, or other.

Last night my truck (4x4) pushed two docks in the lake. Yet another reason not to live in the SW. Every day after work I go home to my lake home - something not to many folks down there get to do on a working man's salary. I'll take 4 months of salt and ice in trade for 8 months of fishing every day, no pollution, a lot less crime, and a reason to own more vehicles (winter cars and daily drivers).

You know what they say, the grass is always greener...

Stay home. Keep your truck. All is good in the world.

[gcburdic]

Can I get an AMEN??!?!?!.....those posts made me feel like I was at Sunday morning church!!!...

[Chevyholic]

I believe that fuel prices simply eliminates the "casual" owner. The person that has always liked these trucks, but otherwise wasn't necessarily a "passion". Someone who would have turned our trucks into a daily driver for the sake of trying something new. Those are the people who are missing out now. The people who grew up with these trucks just like having them around, kind of like a security blanket. They remind me of simpler times.

Growing up my Dad owned a 47' that we used for camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains every Summer. Later it was a 63', then a 71', then a 75', so on, and so forth. I mean, can you even remember what new car smell was like before plastic? Remember how the old leaded gas smelled? I love the sound those old heavy doors make when they close, or the hood coming down. I love the fact that I have only two seat belts in my truck and have three kids begging me to let them be the one to ride with me to Home Depot. I hope my old truck rubs off on them like my Dad's rubbed off on me.

To me, the thing is, these are more than transportation, so I don't even look at them as such. These are time machines, memories, hobbies, passions, frustrations, and nostalgia all rolled up into one glorious .

That's worth a lot more than $4.00 a gallon and always will be.

[Down south truckin]

Here's my way of thinking,I think that the fuel prices have affected the value of our trucks because usually they are a hobby or a extra in life,and since all of our extra money is going into our tanks we have no extra money to spend on these awesome trucks so in the long run the price of gas has affected the "value" of these as well as other classic cars and trucks ...Mike

PS I know this is true for me because if I had the kind of loot that I had 7-8 years ago I would be buying up these suckers left and right.There are tons of good deals to be had.

[jcdeuce]

Well lets see, My daily driver gets about 13 MPG and my 68 gets about 15MPG. I live in texas...Gulf Coast. I live about 7 miles from work and have found that the only time I dont drive my 68 to work is when it is forcasted for rain. I have loved these truck since I can remember and of all things gas prices would never change that. Besides the value of my truck is to me, if Joe Schmoe says my truck is only worth 10 dollars well then its only worth 10 dollars if i sell it to him..

[pumpkin]

Driving my truck is one of my pleasures in life, so I drive it as my daily driver. People spend huge money on new vehicles to drive. Whats a new SUV cost? I can put $20,000 into my truck, have something nice, that I enjoy driveing, and will hold its value based on the condition I keep it in. Life is to short for me to spend my time driving a piece o crap econo box. Gas may be getting up there, but in reality, I think its just been priced low for too long. If you look at what percentage of you parents, or grand peratnts pay check went for gas, vers what persentage we pay now, I think we are getting a better deal. I remember my parents haveing to budget for gas. I just fill er up when its empty. When I weigh the factors, I still come up with the sme thing. Hell the thousand bucks a year I'ld have to pay just to insure the piece o crap buys me about 4 months of gas. Plus the maintanace, repairs, and smogg testing for something that I realy don't like anyways.

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by Chevyholic

I believe that fuel prices simply eliminates the "casual" owner. The person that has always liked these trucks, but otherwise wasn't necessarily a "passion". Someone who would have turned our trucks into a daily driver for the sake of trying something new. Those are the people who are missing out now. The people who grew up with these trucks just like having them around, kind of like a security blanket. They remind me of simpler times.

Growing up my Dad owned a 47' that we used for camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains every Summer. Later it was a 63', then a 71', then a 75', so on, and so forth. I mean, can you even remember what new car smell was like before plastic? Remember how the old leaded gas smelled? I love the sound those old heavy doors make when they close, or the hood coming down. I love the fact that I have only two seat belts in my truck and have three kids begging me to let them be the one to ride with me to Home Depot. I hope my old truck rubs off on them like my Dad's rubbed off on me.

To me, the thing is, these are more than transportation, so I don't even look at them as such. These are time machines, memories, hobbies, passions, frustrations, and nostalgia all rolled up into one glorious .

That's worth a lot more than $4.00 a gallon and always will be.

You Have Summed it up Rather Well................

Thanks, Rick

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Can I get an AMEN??!?!?!.....those posts made me feel like I was at Sunday morning church!!!...

Amen!!

[chip46wis]

67C-30 my thoughts exactly---people just dont have the frill money and prices are reflecting this

[BB72CHEVKT]

[QUOTE=mrein3;2704302]There are so many ways to respond to this post.

1. You really shouldn't be using a truck like this as a daily driver.

I sold my 06 crew to drive my 69 45 miles round trip per day. I surely did not think gas would get this expensive. The 69 is not running so great and has a bad exhaust leak and is getting 9-10 mpg. My truck payment was $300 a month with a good down payment and good interest rate. I am still saving money because the cost in fuel between the 06 and 69 is not $300 more per month and I am only carring liability insurance. Please give me your reasoning as to why my truck should not be a daily driver.

[streetstar]

::[quote=BB72CHEVKT;2704410]

Originally Posted by mrein3

There are so many ways to respond to this post.

1. You really shouldn't be using a truck like this as a daily driver.

I sold my 06 crew to drive my 69 45 miles round trip per day. I surely did not think gas would get this expensive. The 69 is not running so great and has a bad exhaust leak and is getting 9-10 mpg. My truck payment was $300 a month with a good down payment and good interest rate. I am still saving money because the cost in fuel between the 06 and 69 is not $300 more per month and I am only carring liability insurance. Please give me your reasoning as to why my truck should not be a daily driver.

I think he was referring to places like Minnesota, where he lives, and other rust belt states ----

--- your in Texas and i'm in Oklahoma, so we can rock on

I mainly get paranoid about other drivers --- even if its my new $2400 "beater truck" ---- if it gets wrecked hard, its gone forever. If it gets damaged otherwise, then my un-restored, un-molested truck has now been officially molested

I love driving it though, but mainly use it for chores (between my place and my mom's, i take care of 15 acres in the spring and summer),

It does take me back to a simpler time and reminds me of my dad's old truck, just like a previous poster said, --- you can't put a price on that

It is funny that my near 40 year old truck is in roughly the same shape as my dad's was in the early 80's. These trucks had rocker panel issues, even when they were only 12 or 13 years old.

[BB72CHEVKT]

[quote=streetstar;2704445]::

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

I think he was referring to places like Minnesota, where he lives, and other rust belt states ----

--- your in Texas and i'm in Oklahoma, so we can rock on

I mainly get paranoid about other drivers --- even if its my new $2400 "beater truck" ---- if it gets wrecked hard, its gone forever. If it gets damaged otherwise, then my un-restored, un-molested truck has now been officially molested

I love driving it though, but mainly use it for chores (between my place and my mom's, i take care of 15 acres in the spring and summer),

It does take me back to a simpler time and reminds me of my dad's old truck, just like a previous poster said, --- you can't put a price on that

It is funny that my near 40 year old truck is in roughly the same shape as my dad's was in the early 80's. These trucks had rocker panel issues, even when they were only 12 or 13 years old.

I get it now. I can't imagine having to deal with that so the thought never came to mind.

[Blue_71]

[quote=streetstar;2704445]::

Originally Posted by BB72CHEVKT

It does take me back to a simpler time and reminds me of my dad's old truck, just like a previous poster said, --- you can't put a price on that

i felt the same way the first couple times i drove my k20 to work, which it is now my DD because of problems with the 89, but anyways.. ive noticed that even though im in my 71 k20, i feel rushed and like im thrown into a crack-pot of a world every day while driving it to and from work... we drove it this weekend to go get a truck from southern indiana, and i have to say other than a few mechanical problems it was the most enjoyable trip ive had in a LONG time!

and with TBI fuel injection hidden under the hood, i got 11 mpg hauling a 16 ft trailer, a 72 C10 lwb fleetside, a 6 cyl engine, and a cab shell

[Number98]

Well said man.....

Originally Posted by mrein3

There are so many ways to respond to this post.

1. You really shouldn't be using a truck like this as a daily driver. I wish I could. I love the power and acceleration in my 383. However I'd have to put $100 - $200 worth of cab insulation in it and a 700r4 before I'd even consider driving it to work every day.

2. I see you live in MD. I live in MN. I'm guessing that in MD you put your car away for the winter if you like it just like here. I've learned to deal with that fact. I purchased my 1972 Chevelle in 1984, 2 weeks before I had a driver's license. It has not seen salt since 1986, the first winter I could afford a "winter beater". Winter beaters of the past become parts cars of the future. Trust me, I lived in Phoenix one winter. Making me move there would take an increase in salary that nobody would pay so that isn't going to happen. I've been to LA, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa, CA. Once again, you couldn't pay me enough money to live there. I wouldn't even consider raising a child in those environments and I have a 3-week old baby. So it is 18 years before I'd even consider a move to the SW.

3. You don't need to spend a lot to get a car that gets "crazy-good mileage". I owned a 1994 Ford Escort for a daily driver for 288,000 miles and 14 years. It cost me 10k new and the maintenance was so low I hardly considered it an expense. When I GAVE it to a friend it was still averaging 38 mile per gallon. Yes I said 38 miles per gallon AVERAGE. I didn't drive it much other than to work and back and it is all freeway but facts are facts. You don't need to buy a hybrid to get decent mileage. Ask a Prius owner what they REALLY are getting for mileage and if they are truthful you'll see that those fictional 50+ mpg numbers are one time on a 55mph highway the rest of the time they get 40-45mpg tops. So now ask your self is it worth a hybrid premium to get slightly better mileage than something made here in America. Plus they are ugly.

Long story short - I've owned this truck for 14 years and don't see any reason to sell it. Oil baron, eco-nazi, or other.

Last night my truck (4x4) pushed two docks in the lake. Yet another reason not to live in the SW. Every day after work I go home to my lake home - something not to many folks down there get to do on a working man's salary. I'll take 4 months of salt and ice in trade for 8 months of fishing every day, no pollution, a lot less crime, and a reason to own more vehicles (winter cars and daily drivers).

You know what they say, the grass is always greener...

Stay home. Keep your truck. All is good in the world.

[bobthecop]

For me, when I get my truck finished, it will be a vehicle that I can repair and when it is done I will have no payment, so the price of gas really is not an issue since I'm not making a payment and buying gas. It takes a lot of gas usage to justify a 300-400 payment to get 5 or 10 more mpg in a daily driver.

[boundstaffpress]

I drive my 67 k10 most every day to work. It's only about 5 blocks, so I can afford it. Soon I'll switch over to my bicycle because the weather will be predictably nicer. These decisions are made based on comfort, not gas prices.

I think rising fuel cost will eliminate some excessive spending when it comes to buying one of these trucks, but I don't think we will see an overall drop in prices. Vintage hardly ever works that way. Like was said above, the casual owner will cap his spending, but the guy who want the truck cause it was like his dad's or because he always thought it looked tougher than any other will still buy and restore vintage iron. Whatever the cost.

[suville]

My 68 is a DD, gas is gunna be what ever the greedy moguls want to charge for it and when you consider the payments and manditory full coverage insurance on a new(er) jellybean with wheels just to get mileage you spend a bunch more than just puttin in gas in a vehicle that has no end to parts availability not to mention you dont need to pay a shop upwards of $100 per hour to fix it! I'llnever own anything newer than 72 cept my Harley its a 1974! Guess you could say I'm stuck in a time warp and happy to stay there! Enjoy your trucks yall!

[69long"n"low]

You guys are right on the money my truck is a DD and i love it. I do have to put it away for the winter but i dont mind the thing is a beast to drive in the snow lol. But this year with the gas getting more expensive it motivating me to start the restoration on it so the gas prices arent all bad.

[leddzepp]

I drive my truck every day, and plan on doing so no matter what gas prices are.

[Brock]

I've got a 2005 F-150 (I know...) its got the smaller V-8 and gets 16-17 MPG (I drive 16.5 miles to and from work each day= $7/trip), Payment is $374.18/Month, Insurance~$85 per month...I paid $249 for my truck, $20 for a running 307, a free 700R4 (gotta buy a rebuild kit), I'm expecting 15-18 MPG...HECK YEAH its gonna be my daily driver!!!!! as soon as it gets going the F@RD is history. I'll tkae that monthly savings and buy me a utility truck to pull the racecar and I'm set. Its gonna take some major gas prices to make up for that $450/month I'm shelling out on a truck I dont even like. Not to mention me with my mechanical-idiocy can almost work on these older vehicles.

[powell72]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I drive my truck every day, and plan on doing so no matter what gas prices are.

Amen brother!

[67_C-30]

I agree and disagree with parts of Tim's original post as well as a lot of others. It is simply nieve to think the the cost of fuel prices aren't hurting the value of these trucks, as well as the entire industry/hobby. Barrett-Jackson, the Moultrie, GA swap meet and every subsequent major classic car auction and swap meet this year has proved this. Its not so much about what the price of fuel costs for the collector car or truck, its the decrease in extra hobby/play/toy money that is the way bigger issue. In today's society, there are not as many communities as there once was that revolved around a central industry that supplied the majority of jobs for the community. Anyone who lives in a steel city or a cotton mill town can attest to this. Many more people every year have to commute further distances to get a good job as these industrial communities wither away. Just for example, the bi-city community where I live employed over 35,000 people in 9 different plants less than 15 years ago. The last plant closed it's doors this February. The ripple effect of other business that did work and services for these plants is immeasurable. 35,000 in 15 years are driving further to their jobs. My dad once worked there, and he commutes 80 miles round trip every day now. For most people, the first thing to get cut out when money gets tighter is your luxury, non-essential wants. For a lot of people, having and owning an old truck or muscle car is a luxury they can no longer afford. I have seen this also in my Ebay sales. Things that I could sell as many as I could find 2 years have become much slower moving. These are not just items in which the market is flooded now that I'm referring to either.

On the other side though, I agree that the hardcore enthusiast *raising my hand!* is not going to be waivered by it. I am in the catagory that has began to use one of these truck as my daily driver by choice. I have a 80,000 mile 2000 Z71 that rarely gets driven anymore. I have no plans to ever buy a new truck again. For years I spent thousands on top of thousands of dollars on several new trucks only to have their value drop like rocks in a pond. Some of them I loved when I got them and as time went by I wanted something else. The only constant has been my desire to own and truck one of these trucks. Fuel would have to go up to $10.00 a gallon or more to overcome the money I save driving my old trucks without a new truck payment.

As Tim mentioned in the first post, I am one of those lucky enough to live where I can drive mine everyday. I say c'mon down south buddy! You can buy better trucks for less money and enjoy them year 'round. My ultimate goal is to have a real nice daily driver (which is what I'm doing with my '69 C-10 now) and a top notch show truck that will see much fewer miles along with my dually, car hauler, Blazer, a few beaters and whatever other variation I decide I can't live without. (which reminds me, I still don't have a 'Burb!) My '69 SWB C-10 is getting a TPI 350 with Vintage Air, new paint, grill, body trim and upholstery - and I am going to drive the fool out of it. My show truck has got to be absolute perfect finest example of these trucks which my mind is a flawless black '67 SWB CST fleet with a body side molding, red interior and buddy buckets. The reality is though, with a newborn, a 4 yr old, a mortgage and $4.00 /gallon FUEL it will be a little while before I can realistically even begin to think about building or buying one of those. So for now, I'm gonna keep running and improving mine. The oil companies and tree huggers aren't banishing me to an Aveo!!

[straitnate14]

People dont understand until you slam there head into the back window the first time you give your truck a workout with them in it I love it when people go for a ride and are completly not ready for the asomeness of superchargers they dont say anything about gas prices after that

[67CHIP72]

Gazaline...


This post is making me think about collecting spilling fuel in a dirty hubcap.