The *pedestrian* meaning of rare.

[Longhorn Man]

So I was running my boss over to pick up a freightliner so we could get it back to the shop... on the way, I spotted a 70 panel on the side of the road for sale. (bondo bucket POS....with a barret jackson price tag) He spotted it and said "hey, isn't that a suburban from your truck's generation?"
As we blasted by it at 50 MPH I calmly stated it was a panel truck, and the cat was askin WAY too much.
He repeats the last part... but with a question mark... "A PANEL TRUCK?? I've never heard of that."
(by-the-way.... the boss man is 52 years old, has been involved in wrenching ince he was 12, involved in drag racing from early teens till his late 30's, run a shop for the last 20 years, been to the barret jackson carnival and even bid on a couple cars.... he knows the ins and outs of generally everything automotive)
After explaining it to him, he states... "Well, it's worth the $3800... I've never seen one... it MUST be rare."
I commented that it was worth 2500 tops (I had already looked at it the day before).. and the seller has been watching too much barret jackson.
My boss looks to me, and says... (This is where it gets funny)"Look, there's over a million ppl here in the greater columbus area.... I've never seen one here, so it's like the only one in town.... THAT my friend... is rare.

So.... by his definition, my truck is SUPER rare being that I've only seen one other longhorn here, and it was in a junk yard... crushed years ago now. I know where there are 3 or 4 panels in town.


Some ppl are idiots, and it's kinda funny to see some of them actually say something so stupid.
By the way... in 70, there were almost 4000 made. While that's not a whole lot... I don't think I would sayit is super-de-duper rare.

[sighlurr]

Classis story!

I'm starting to see why Barrett Jackson does so well. A lot of un-informed people pay top dollar for something shiny.

[Biff]

Once again you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge of trucks!!

[Zoomad75]

Rare is a funny word to gear heads. The 1 of 1 or 1 of 200 muscle cars get a lot of attention. 4000 trucks out of the thousands of GM trucks built in 70 is most certianly less common than a Standard SWB or LWB truck or for that matter a Suburban from the same year. The difference is you can have a low production quantity car or truck, but if it is still just a rotton rusty hulk it's still not worth the priemium it could be if it was solid.

That certainly doesn't stop knuckleheads from thinking they have the truck/car equivalent to gold or something. Just look at Ebay for examples. Even parts. I look up stuff on ebay for my 69 Nova and every hi-po part listed usually has COPO or Yenko or SS in the ad just to make you think it's worth more. I swear there are more Yenko parts on ebay right now than they ever built back when they were new.

Some people are going to try and cash in on the fever of the collecter car/truck market. Here's the cool thing about a free market, you don't have to buy it if you think it's overvalued. That guy is going to sit on that panel for months until he lowers the price or he accepts a cash offer for less than his asking price.

[stllookn]

"It must be rare because I have never seen on before!"

<<Extremely rare, limited edition, 1968 SS 454, 3-door Suburban! Numbers matching! I have never seen one of these and there are only rumors that any were ever made but this appears to dispell those rumors once and for all. Original paint and the odometer only reads 37,000 miles! I am selling this for a friend and it really looks like show truck! It has been stored in a barn for the last 20+ years and is a little dusty. All original with many peformance parts like Corvette valve covers,chrome air cleaner and racing tires! Don't miss out on this one...NADA lists this truck as $35,000 in this condition!>>

How many times have you seen a description like that on a real POS??????? I just makes me feel sorry for the person that wrote it and even worse for the person that purchased it!

[71chevylowrider]

I am always amazed at the stuff Longhorn man knows about our trucks, he should be a paid consultant or something, I know he's saved alot of people agravation, & money. Your information & honesty is always greatly appreciated Andy.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

i hate when people that dont know anything about cars whatsoever and yet try and tell you what they have or what you have or whatever other BS they try to talk

[SacramentoJoe]

Longorn Man. Been wondering what that 6-inch comment was all about. Been wondering what the longhorn club is. I checked the link and now I know! Good info. Thanks.

[CG]

I don't really consider any of our trucks more valuable because the production number was low. I wish panels were worth more since thats what I'm putting together right now. Value on our trucks is a popularity thing. Short fleets probably first on the list. You see a few of these trucks going for big bucks, but I wonder if anyone is actually making money building and selling 67-72 trucks.

[TRUCKER-TRUCKIN']

I think the money is made on the truck when you buy it right, around here everyone has the same attitude, its getting very difficult to find anything priced what its worth.

[timcos]

It is all about perspective.

[1969k10stepside]

I'd give $3800 for a rusty original 4x4 Panel ....

[Longhorn Man]

no, this was a 2 wheeler

[special-K]

Panels are rare,by most measures.Not one-off rare,but for a production GM vehicle...rare.How often does anyone see them?How often do we see them at shows?I`ve rarely seen them since they were new.
They`re rarer than 3-door Suburbans.

[retodd7711]

I've got the only 69 in my neighbor hood. Does that make mine rare?
Look up rare on e-bay 221,678 items!

[msgross]

You should get this book then..

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...egadgetbo0c-20

[68Stepbed]

A freind of mine has a RARE panel. It's a 67 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 327, 4 spd (bulldog 1st gear), factory heavy duty front bumper with a built in winch, and rear "barn" doors. He ran numbers and found out it was only 1 of 67 built with those options. He's been trying to sell it for about three years now and can't get rid of it. He doesn't understand why nobody wants it.

Well for 1. He's asking too much money for it.
2. It needs ALOT of work to "fix it up".
3. It's a work horse, not hot rod material like a swb 2wd, not that it wouldn't make a killer lifted mud slinging beast.
4. IMO It's ugly.
5. You can't find parts for it.
And 6. There are people willing to buy it, but only a select few.

The only thing the truck is really good for in it's current condition is a work horse(refer to point 3). It's VERY rough. Every body panel on it is beat up in some way. He bought new fenders, a new hood, new grill peices, another grill, the bedsides need to be replaced but you can't buy them(refer to point 5). The 327 is shot, and probably not rebuildable, so it needs an engine. The only good thing is a solid drivetrain and the factory winch.

I'm not trying to say anything bad against anyone who would buy it and spend time and money to fix it. It's just that most wouldn't. The only thing that makes a rare car worth alot of money is if it's desireable. Almost everyone would love to get their hands on a 69 COPO Camaro, but how many people really go out and hunt down 67-72 panel trucks?

[Spray-Bomb]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

So I was running my boss over

[charlie diaz]

I think we all share the same opinion. The 60's vehicle market is getting rediculously priced. Because of baby boomers retiring with tons of money, bidding wars on e-bay, and barret-jackson auctions (which I personally think is an incarnation of the devil), its getting harder for the average "joe-blow" to be able to participate in our hobby. I don't know how old the rest of you guys are, but I just turned 28. It's really depressing for me because I grew up during the turning point of the prices. I've ALWAYS loved the 60's cars and trucks, but was too young to buy one when they were all still affordable, but now that I'm old enough, everybody wants too much for them. I guess I cant complain too much. Ive already owned a 66 mustang, and now my 69 swb. But now on top of the rising vehicle costs, it costs an arm and a leg for gas. We gearheads just cant win!!!

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

A freind of mine has a RARE panel. It's a 67 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 327, 4 spd (bulldog 1st gear), factory heavy duty front bumper with a built in winch, and rear "barn" doors. He ran numbers and found out it was only 1 of 67 built with those options. He's been trying to sell it for about three years now and can't get rid of it. He doesn't understand why nobody wants it.

Well for 1. He's asking too much money for it.
2. It needs ALOT of work to "fix it up".
3. It's a work horse, not hot rod material like a swb 2wd, not that it wouldn't make a killer lifted mud slinging beast.
4. IMO It's ugly.
5. You can't find parts for it.
And 6. There are people willing to buy it, but only a select few.

The only thing the truck is really good for in it's current condition is a work horse(refer to point 3). It's VERY rough. Every body panel on it is beat up in some way. He bought new fenders, a new hood, new grill peices, another grill, the bedsides need to be replaced but you can't buy them(refer to point 5). The 327 is shot, and probably not rebuildable, so it needs an engine. The only good thing is a solid drivetrain and the factory winch.

I'm not trying to say anything bad against anyone who would buy it and spend time and money to fix it. It's just that most wouldn't. The only thing that makes a rare car worth alot of money is if it's desireable. Almost everyone would love to get their hands on a 69 COPO Camaro, but how many people really go out and hunt down 67-72 panel trucks?

There are two main reasons why something , whether it is cars, trucks houses, etc. doesn't sell. The first is like you stated that it is overpriced and the second is that it is junk. From your text on here it sounds like this panel is a combo of both reasons.

[1968SWBBigBlock]

Rare and desirable do not have the same meaning!

[sixtysevengmc]

just saw a 67 C10 with a "Rare" long wheelbase stepside bed on eBay

[JTK20]

Sounds like the boss man suffers from delusions of grandeur.