The value of our trucks will be going up

[Vintage Windmills]

If I lived in Oregon or washington I'd save a bunch and have a yard full of 67-72's. So many nice ones there, like the one in post 1.

[JWall]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Don't be afraid to spend a little on what makes you happy.

Right on.

[2badgn]

Sorry I posted this in the wrong year forum but it's still about restoring/preserving Classics!

Lil hudlum- U said it great- Its expensive restoring these trucks BUT its more expensive to buy a new truck. Sure i like the new trucks- even though lots of people on here say that the new engines are great but the bodies are crap but a Brand new truck is somewhere in the $40,000 range and up.

For half that, I restored my dad's original 1984 GMC Sierra 3500 2wd PickUp. It was getting old bc everybody was borrowing the truck and nobody was taking care of it. I looked around in online classifieds at newer used trucks- 1995 and up and I couldnt find a nice 1 Ton for a decent price. Sure the interiors looked comfortable but I wasnt so sure that these newer trucks were as Strong and solid as my Dad's 84 Square Body Longbed 1 ton. My dad always says: "They dont make trucks like that anymore."

So my choice was to either junk/sell a great hard to find 1 ton truck or fix it up. I went all the way and first made sure that the motor was safe and had the timing chain changed. Then I ordered all the body parts and interior- fenders (inner & outer), patch panels, weatherstrip, seat, dash, door panels, etc. and then it was off to the bodyshop.

Still need to do a few misc. things but the main work is done. These projects need to be done in stages in order of Priority.
A buddy of mine that has a 1976 GMC 1 ton dump truck told that for loading purposes the old trucks are better bc they sit lower than the new trucks.

Before:

During:


After:



I put alot of research, time and $$$$ into this Truck but I think it was worth it. Now, nobody asks to borrow the truck and my dad and I still use it as a truck: pick up firewood, trips to Home Depot, pick up wine grapes, pick up tomatoes, etc.

After I restored it, my money was low but now a few years later, I have earned more $$ and i still have this great truck. And to just think that my 85 year old dad told me several years ago: "When this truck dies, Im not going to buy another one bc I dont work much and i dont have the money to buy a new one."

If u can't restore or fix up an old truck, sell it to someone who can. Don't junk it.
New trucks have lots of comforts but our old trucks are classics that were probably built a little better.
And in the end, I don't have a monthly truck payment!

[50bomb]

I dont care what people do. I already got my 67 chevy c10 longbed. I am way thankful for it. and its not even road worthy yet. Baby steps

[specialtyretail]

Very good conversation. Great ideas and observations,, just another reason i like it here.. Find em, fix em and drive the wheels off em.

[Dunenutt]

I was lucky. My truck has been in the driveway since it was built. I have an extreme attachment to these trucks. If I had the land, I would buy every one I could get my hands on.

I agree that most people don't know what they are up against when restoring one. It takes gobs of time, and cash! My truck was rebuilt to be a driver, and looks great from 20'. I set a time line, but no $$ line. I blew by the time limit about 6 months ago. 2 1/2 years of working on it, minimum of 3 days a week, every week. Spent a stupid ammount of money on it, but it's all mine. It's almost done, and I am looking foreward to putting some serious numbers on the odometer.

In AZ, these trucks were favorites for landscapers. They would totally ruin them, and go buy another for $500. It breaks my heart to see hundreds of rust free AZ trucks beaten, and left for dead.

On the other hand, I am seeing ALOT of them freshly restored on the streets! People probably think I'm some psyco road rage guy. I try to catch up with them, just to see it cruising down the road.

[ItsRandy]

Do you guy's really restore/hot rod these trucks because of what they might be worth to someone else? I'm building my truck for me, because of what it's worth to ME! If I were building it to sell...to make a profit, there are many things I would have done differently, spent less time and money on.