Which truck would YOU pick?

[arks]

I've narrowed my search to 3 candidates, so I'd like some input on which truck you would choose and why.

The truck will be used as a (mostly) daily driver, and I WILL be using it as a truck to haul tools and light materials for my business.

All 3 are of these run 100%, are mostly stock, have SPIDs, and in the same ballpark as far as money. They are at classic dealerships and look very nice.

#1- 1971 Cheyenne, 350/auto, California spec, 2 owners, 97k miles, a binder with all repairs since new, 1 (nice) repaint, A/C, tilt, bedside toolbox, wood bed, updated stereo in glovebox, ochre and white. For sale locally.

#2- 1971 Cheyenne Super, 350/auto, 1 owner, 72K miles, no repair documentation, original paint (with slight patina), A/C, ochre and white. For sale locally.

#3- 1972 Cheyenne 402/auto, 2 owners, 55K miles, fresh engine rebuild, lots of documentation (but not all), A/C, tach, tilt, aftermarket in-dash stereo, originally ochre and white but refinished (properly) to blue and white. This truck is 4 hours away.

OPINIONS PLEASE!

[saxart]

It's really difficult to give an opinion without knowing the asking prices of these trucks. To me, that's a HUGE part of this equation.

[71swb4x4]

#2.
Are they all comparable? 2wd, long fleet bed?

[arks]

Yes, 2wd fleetside.
Each of them could be had for 17- 18k.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by arks

Yes, 2wd fleetside.
Each of them could be had for 17- 18k.

wheelbase? agree, prices high - at that price range, they should be pretty pristine or VERY original. The Super is the top of the line, but the others sound well optioned anyway. Will you ever restore it? If so, go with the Super. If you need to haul tools - what kind? A couple wrenches or a cement mixer..? i.e. sounds like a LWB is what you need for work reasons. Anyway, all things being equal - I'd go with the Super. Sounds as though you've narrowed by color - but prices sounds high for all unless the original Super is in very good condition.

[57taskforce]

Pics go a long way too!

[tommys72]

From reading this...#2

[71swb4x4]

IMO those prices are all pretty high. Pictures could maybe change my opinion, but with no pictures, based on your descriptions, the prices are high IMO.

[Ol Blue K20]

Pics? The prices seem a bit high though

[WorkinLonghorn]

"Mileage" means nothing unless it is backed up with repair invoices. This is especially true when dealing with dealers IMO. "One owner" or "Second owner" means zip without documentation IMO.

I would go with #2 at about 1/2 that price or less but I haven't seen the truck or driven it. -Brian

[Aruba1]

Which one would you choose if you had no pics and they are asking 17-18 for a 44 plus year old truck? :-)

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Aruba1

Which one would you choose if you had no pics and they are asking 17-18 for a 44 plus year old truck? :-)

If someone was asking 17/18k for a 44 year old truck and I had no pictures, I'd keep looking.

[68bowtie]

they all sound like very nice trucks (even though i'm not an ochre fan). but an original paint super would be pretty special, so i vote #2.

[tutone]

Its your money. I'm partial to original color combos and short beds. I don't want to see cut up dashes for a stereo and extra holes drilled anywhere. If you pay a premium, get a premium truck. A NICE restoration is going to cost you a small fortune, so buying a nice truck and paying a little more might be what you have to do. They may be a tad overpriced at the 17-19k range, but a nice one is a good investment. I have overpaid lots of times or should I say,
'bought in too early."

[special-K]

#2, with available info. I hope you don't plan to daily drive any of these in PA winters or you won't have a well preserved truck for long. I wouldn't worry about documentation. Original paint doesn't lie and the body is what counts the most. Repairs done 20-30 years go don't men a lot now. On #2 you will be able to tell if it's true miles by looking it over and if it has no mechanical issues now it will be the best bet.

Sounds like you've only looked locally. Maybe you should look farther. Adding a dealer's profit to the price of a truck doesn't make it any more reliable.

What's California spec on #1? Is that the extra emissions equipment?

[scooterpimp]

Get rhe ford. Lol. #2 sounds good daily use truck.

[Grumpy old man]

with no pictures this is like asking what color is white ? for 17-19 k it better be REALLY NICE .

[cypressbog]

#2 if it's a real Super. I don't like those prices at all.

[StoningtonQB]

This reeks of fiction.

[WorkinLonghorn]

They are at classic dealerships and look very nice.

Also remember the ancient adage; "You can tell when a used car dealer is lying when you see their lips moving"

[SoCoC10]

Originally Posted by StoningtonQB

This reeks of fiction.

[toolboxchev]

Without the pics a 350 automatic setup is hard to beat! oppps!


All appear to have had some work at one point or another. The real trick is how they did the repair work...Rust hides in unseen places. Unscrew the vents in the A pillar and have a look with a flashlight and inspection mirror. Also in the back cab corners, unscrew the sun visors and look in there.

If you have an inspection camera even better!

[Already Gone]

Here is a Cheyenne Super on EBay. 5150.00 and also a make offer box so you could probably get it for 4/4500. and yes to ship home to you. There is even phone number to call. To me this looks like an original unmolested Super Cheyenne. The only thing I see wrong from the pics is because its a Super Cheyenne that it would have came from the factory with chrome front bumper not the white one that is on it. Now with being said it could have come from the factory with the white bumper if it was one of the last ones built and GM was out of chrome bumpers. If you get serious about make sure all the A/C stuff is intact even if it is not blowing cold. A lot of times you'll find the A/C parts removed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272332794622...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Spartan]

Since you asked...
I'd go super like most but lately I've got a hankering for a 402 bbc.
The more original the truck is the more attention it gets from me.

Enjoy which ever you decide.

[arks]

I've been actively looking for almost a year. Around these parts it's hard to find one that isn't a project or trashed. All 3 of these are true survivors. The Super is not optioned as well as the 2 Cheyennes, which I thought unusual. I do like its originality, though
I find the big block truck interesting and will take another, deeper look next week when I'm in that area. My gut tells me that seller is motivated to move the truck because it's been in his inventory for at least 8 months.
I'll try to put up some images when I get to my desktop.