what would YOU offer for this (very original 54)

[jocko]

Been looking for a 54 or 55.1 for a while now. Not exactly in a situation where it's "easy" to own multiple vehicles - in military, move too often, etc etc. But I have been looking for a "decent" shape, somewhat untouched truck - one that I wouldn't need to do much to the body (not exactly a HUGE patina fan just for the sake of patina, but this truck has it in heaps, and I like that about it very much).

The goods:
- EXCELLENT original body with original paint. It DOES have some surface rust along bottom of the doors, etc. But no rust through and the drain holes are clear, and the cab corners/rockers/hinge bosts are just about perfect (except for surf rust on bottom of OUTER doors - and I don't mind that).
- Interior is completely restored, unbelieveably nice.

The "others"...:
- Undercarriage appears pretty rusty
- It does NOT run
- It's all the way across the country from me
- I'll be paying for monthly storage to leave it here in the desert when I move so it can be in a time capsule til I retire (not very far away).

Now, the last three things do NOT figure into the offering price, of course.
I would wait til I retire, BUT trucks like this are just plain getting hard to find.

So, it's a strange combo - body completely original and shows it - but the patina is perfect and I would leave the body just like it is (the surf rust you see in the pic below is typical all the way around the truck, but it's truly just surf rust - not bad at all) - the interior is perfect - but the frame is crusty pretty bad. Not worried about the motor - will either fix or replace with an old school small block and T5.

What I want to do:
Leave the body as is.
Re-do chassis, possibly IFS, lowered slightly all around, new black steelies, no caps, maybe wwws, maybe not, re-do bed wood (welded plate over it now) and then fix the 6 or swap in an old school small block that I have been hangin onto with a vette dual quad setup.

Just plannin out loud....

So, what would you offer for this?

Once I get a few ideas - I'll tell you what he's asking. But it's more than I'm willing to pay - but think he is flexible. And I can add about $1500 to the price tag to get it shipped to CA. Awesome. Odd that I live in the desert and am considering getting an original paint truck from NC...

Already have a 66 so not real keen on over extending myself - this really is just a project for after I retire. Retirement, by the way, is really just growing up and getting a real job for me - but at least I will get to stop moving and can accumulate some Sanford and Son yard art for a change...