Any Thoughts on this potential buy?

[mwildman]

Any thoughts about this 1972 C10? Not much data provided, seller says that it does run but the gas is old, whatever that means. See posted comments below.

Posted Description:
"This is a 1972 Chevrolet c10 deluxe with original 50k miles on drivetrain . Typical truck that need rockers replaced . Other then that its solid . Its a barn find and has been sitting a while. $5500 obo with bill of sale."

It's close to my home, so at the least, checking it out will be another leaning experience. I'll be crawling underneath to check for major rust issues first.

If the rust is minimal, and I move forward, what can I expect from dealing with a 45 year old truck with only 50k on it? My instinct says that every possible wear and tear component on it would need to be replaced, repaired, brought up to par basically, just to start.

Thanks for you input.

Best,

Matt W.

[71sierragrande]

Certainly a decent prospect. I wouldn't be anywhere near $5500 though

[mwildman]

Here's another image with some details.

[mwildman]

Originally Posted by 71sierragrande

Certainly a decent prospect. I wouldn't be anywhere near $5500 though

Agreed, $5500 is about my total budget for buying a C10 and bringing it up to speed.

[CG]

I would check out every part that easily shows wear. Seat cushions, pedals, around the ignition key. Arm rests, metal part of the door along the window where a person would rest his arm. So many people think the mileage is low when in fact the odometer has rolled over.

Runs but old gas? How could they possibly know what sort of condition the drive train is in if they are going by that explanation?

But it does look like it could be a decent resto/fix up truck. Price is a little steep for me and being in Washington state I could never buy without a title, but probably different in your state.

[dfwright]

Originally Posted by mwildman

seller says that it does run but the gas is old, whatever that means.

It sounds like it means it hasn't been run in a very long time, which is another way of saying "It ran when it was parked"?

Bill of sale implies no title? That may be of some concern to you, depending on what the DMV would put you through.

[flashed]

Price seems a little high but it has a lot to offer ,A/C cab and the A/C appears to all be there .Hard to find a rustfree truck in our area .

[mwildman]

Georgia just requires bill of sale for older vehicles.

The odometer rolling over is a great point.

[Grumpy old man]

What happened to the other truck you were looking at ?

[mwildman]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

What happened to the other truck you were looking at ?

To much rust under the cab, the stiffener was rusted out, the front bottom corners of the cab were really messed up. You could stick your fist through a whole under the left floor vent. Didn't even drive it.

[Big Block]

Looks more like a $2500-4000 truck to me. It's going to need everything. Old gas means the carb is done. Rebuild or replace. Ethanol destroys a fuel system if it sits for any length of time. Front bumper is tweaked and the grill shell is toast. The inner and outer rockers, doors and fenders are going to need rust repair. It is complete and that helps. Custom Deluxe with the Highlander seat cover. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Big Block]

Here is an all original truck. Numbers matching.
402 bbc with 400 transmission. Air conditioning, power brakes, power steering and two gas tanks.
Truck is great shape and interior is nice. Original wood in bed. Has rust in drivers rocker. Comes with a set of GM rocker panels.Has all paperwork including protectoplate. Runs and drives good. $6000. Thank you. https://greensboro.craigslist.org/ct...253472239.html Looked at this one today. Complete truck. Nice grill and front bumper. Originally from California. But ended up in Utah. Doors, cab corners, rockers, and one bed wheel well had rust. Need exhaust and tires to make it a daily driver. $6000 way over priced for me. Somewhere around $4000 would be more in the ball park. Its was a Cheyenne 20 and a Camper Special. Wasn't trying to jack your thread. Just think there's a lot of truck out there. Just posted to compare condition and price.

[engineer_gregh]

Wildman the blue truck is an Atlanta built Highlander, to me that adds value. With the amount of rust you found, I would have probably walked away just like you did. However if I could do my own paint and body work it would be worth trying to buy.

[In The Ten Ring]

If you get under it, make sure you have safety glasses on. You don't want to learn the hard way (like me) that RUST FALLS INTO YOUR EYES.

Also, watch out for black widows....a bite will mess up your whole week.

"Bad gas" means "remove seat and fuel tank, replace or have "renewed," make new fuel lines, rebuild carburetor." That's exactly what I had to do. (About $400.00). *Plus you get to get rid of the old gasoline.

[special-K]

It has been painted, so beware of what lies beneath. Most likely more rust than meets the eye.

[Coley]

....definitely not a perfect truck, if it has some rust. The fact that the fenders and doors aren't flapping in the wind is somewhat positive because the rust it has isn't overly apparent in the pics and contained to lower cab stuff....fair enough.
Around here....that truck would last about 10 minutes or less priced at $3500.
No matter how you cut it, it is a restoreable, driveable '72 C10 highlander and a nice option and trim package....and as well know and lament, these trucks are collectable.....particularly or at least, when we own them...lol.
$5000 might be a little high.....so somewhere between those numbers is a quality resell in my opinion.

Coley

[panhead59]

You say "agreed, $550 is about my total budget for buying a C10 and bringing it up to speed. " Depending on what you mean, "bringing it up to speed", I doubt VERY seriously that will/can happen for $5500. Think about it- lets say u buy a $3500 truck. New fuel tank,carb, lines etc., brake parts, tires, probably exhaust. you are already over $5500. and haven't even looked at the rust issues. And that's if u do all the work yourself. I'm not trying to bust your bubble, and that's a decent A/C cab truck to start with, don't get me wrong. This is exactly why a bunch of these trucks/classic cars never get very far in the fixing up process. It costs a BUNCH of money that most people just don't realize. In the end, it's more economical to buy one already at the mechanical/visual level that you want or can afford. It seems like a lot at first, and it is, but it's cheaper than rebuilding/restoring one yourself. If you're doing it for fun, go for it, but if you just want a nice/decent truck, buy one already "done". Just my opinion.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by panhead59

You say "agreed, $550 is about my total budget for buying a C10 and bringing it up to speed. " Depending on what you mean, "bringing it up to speed", I doubt VERY seriously that will/can happen for $5500. Think about it- lets say u buy a $3500 truck. New fuel tank,carb, lines etc., brake parts, tires, probably exhaust. you are already over $5500. and haven't even looked at the rust issues. And that's if u do all the work yourself. I'm not trying to bust your bubble, and that's a decent A/C cab truck to start with, don't get me wrong. This is exactly why a bunch of these trucks/classic cars never get very far in the fixing up process. It costs a BUNCH of money that most people just don't realize. In the end, it's more economical to buy one already at the mechanical/visual level that you want or can afford. It seems like a lot at first, and it is, but it's cheaper than rebuilding/restoring one yourself. If you're doing it for fun, go for it, but if you just want a nice/decent truck, buy one already "done". Just my opinion.

Words of wisdom-- but I still get involved in "just one more".

[mwildman]

I took a look at it yesterday. First off it's a guy selling it for another guy and that guy is a mechanic.?? So he obvoiuosly doesn't want to get into fixing up for some reason. He was sticking with the 50k original, and some things did look to be in really good shape but others were bad.
He didn't have the key to start it up.
The brake pedal went to the floor.
Some really fresh oil on the pan.
Some rust on the stiffeners, whats your opinion of this? It's starting to be the first thing I look for.
Bed rusted completing through.
Doors bottoms completely rusted.


I'm going to pass on this one,

[rcrahn]

Back East it's tough finding an old truck without rust. Why not consider a west coast vehicle to start with?

[rcrahn]

Here's an example of what's out in Cali now. Not mine nor anyone I know. I found it searching CL for about 1 minute.

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ct...272672860.html

[clay68c10]

Nice!

I'd say look out here too, even the local beater stuff in Colorado/Wyoming is cleaner than the one you posted.