Scrap It -- Or Drive It ??

[streetstar]

Dilemma with my '71. I know a lot of you guys on the board dig the patina thing -- and until i started checking out the boards, patina to me was just another word for neglect and old age. I posted a similar thread a couple months ago about this same truck and was told to keep it, but i figured i would submit a few more detailed photos this time. I

I originally bought this truck with the intention of scrapping everything but the rolling chassis, which i was going to use to convert a LWB i have to a shortie. Thing about it is - it is fun to drive - i took it to a cruise in and was surrounded by people who loved it because of its original "patina" - which i thought was weird until i checked out the boards-- the 6 is fuggly, but runs great. I could fix the floorboards, rockers and cab mounts to make a more weather proof drive, but with the rust on the roof, its really not worth it to spend too much effort on the cab.

After driving it awhile, i wavered back and forth on parting it and halfway decided to lower it and keep it among the land of the living, but now that its time to chop it and scrap it or not --- i dont know, so i figured i would get an opinion from the board after you guys checked out the pics.

If i keep it as is, i will never have any intention of making the thing "nice" i would just fix the floor and rockers and drive it

the frame and running gear is still good with nothing but surface rust -- the extreme condition of the cab is because a PO took a cb antenna off the roof without bothering to plug the hole -- decades of rain water will do that to a truck through an opening like that




left side


right side


250 straight six, albeit a greasy one


external fuel tank is kinda *****in' -- especially since the corrosion level matches the exterior to a tee


bed corner is mangled


Even the bed sides have problems



Front of cab roof is fried from an old CB antenna hole that wasnt sealed when the CB was removed



Roached out rocker panels on both sides -- cab mounts match


SO there it is -- Scrap it (and use the frame for something else) or drive it ?