Truck Buyers: what do you look for?

[Coley]

After watching some of the great buys that have shown up here I got to thinking about the way each of us (all of us?) go about finding and choosing a possible 'buy'.
For me, I like the higher option trucks, definitely the 1/2 tons, prefer the 71-72 Eggcraters....and definitely like them in original condition.
I would probably take a stock engined truck (to start with) with all its stock equipment over another chrome air cleanered truck (with all do respect of course).
I have a hard time with stuff needing bodywork....probably because at this point, I haven't done much of it. I've been seriously impressed by a lot of you who have and your projects....amazing. Clearly some of you have no fear of something needing rockers, cab supports, floors, etc.
So do you prefer them finished ready to go? (somebody is buying those high dollar trucks). Do you prefer them as drivers? or tow homes? Do you love a project? or....does it have to be immediately useable? (yes for me).
What about budget? I've never met a guy who wouldn't quickly spend up to $3500 on just about any nice truck, whether he needed it or not.
Coley

[black_sheep454]

I would be nice if all I could find was straight rust free truck that were all original, and if I find one I'll do what I can to buy it. The less rust the better, even as a body man myself the less prep time you gave to do to get it nice the better. My biggest deal is to find one that has not been "patched" up, never like fixing someone else's mess.
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[re1]

You summed it up pretty good,
I also look for clean ,stock, original trucks that may not need that much work to get them on the road.

[Already Gone]

I like them as original as possible. I don't want someone else's dream that just "needs a few little things to get her in perfect shape". When Ii bought my truck 10 years ago I had looked at many ,many trucks before and what I liked about mine was the fact (besides the nice pink and white 2 tone ) that I could jump in and drive cross-county with it after the check cleared. If you get too picky in what you want ( like I am, looking for a Burb the last couple of years) you'll probbaly never find a truck.

[GRX]

My goal was finding one in unmolested & original condition. So many have been beat, chopped, hacked, you know the story. I spent about 18 months looking, and finally found the truck in my sig. It sat in a North Carolina barn for 25 years. The seller said everyone lost interest when discovering it was a 6-cyl. Fools.

[54belair]

To tell what I looked for I have to first tell what I wanted to end up with.

My goal was to end up with a 68 step side resto mod truck.

So, with that in mind I looked for as close to my end result as I could find. I preferred to buy someone elses unfinished project---PROVIDING the work already done was good quality work. And, I preferred to find one with as much of the body work done as possible.
It took 10 month of searching---- my 68 has many mods that I wanted , good quality workmanship (for the most part).
After rounding up a few more parts it will be time for disassembly and a lot of finishing!!

[teeitup]

I've started looking in Montana, Wyoming, Wash, Ore, Nev, Ut. I look for original ones, that way you know what your getting. They don't seem to rust out as much out there and also seem to have more options Paint jobs seem to hide alot of stuff. I've bought 3 out that way already and have been happy with all of them. Shipping cost some to get them here but well worth knowing your getting a original truck.

[Coley]

Whats interesting here is that most of the guys are looking to find one preferrably that has not been modified (yet). I get that.
I have to say that BlackSheep you're right...who isn't looking for a highly optioned, rust free, original truck?...I should have expanded on that a little more.
A few things that are show stoppers for me include the ol' aftermarket sunroof routine (there was a recent thread about this). As well seeing a poorly installed floor/performance shifter is another strike against it.
Or of course the 'mother' of all thumbs down changes for me...the aftermarket hood scoop.
Another thing I have a hard time paying up for is for high performance, not that I don't appreciate it. I just won't pay the seller what it cost him to do it.
Same goes I suppose for the heavy duty high end sound system element...again, I have a hard time factoring it into the trucks sell value.
As for wheels.....hmmmm, tough one.
Coley

[bollybib]

I looked for one with an original 350 with automatic, in decent condition, at the lowest price. Something I could "fix up" for a driver. I found everything I wanted and then some. I love my truck.

[67swb72klb]

i think the rust factor is the biggest thing the sunroof is rite up there too

[Already Gone]

I don't want to get off the subject here but I thought I'd post a pic of a truck I just bought. This is what I like, very clean and for the most part unmolested.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I don't want to get off the subject here but I thought I'd post a pic of a truck I just bought. This is what I like, very clean and for the most part unmolested.

...now thats what I'm talking about!!. I see a Washington Plate on it....did you get it out of eastern Washington...or?
But.....where is the L88 hood scoop?
Coley

[domeier]

Did anyone mention unmolested and rust free? Oh wait, nevermind.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Coley

...now thats what I'm talking about!!. I see a Washington Plate on it....did you get it out of eastern Washington...or?
But.....where is the L88 hood scoop?
Coley

It was on the Seattle CraigList, from Lake Stevens, and a board member posted a link to the ad and I followed it up. We haggled for about 2 weeks before I made the deal. I should have it here in early January. I would have loved to fly out and drive her home but crossing the weather on the Rockies in December, January and February can be brutal so Iam having it shipped. Oh yea, you can't tell fro the pics but its a 402 as well.

[Already Gone]

Coley, isn't there any nice trucks on the Island?

[RenoKeene]

I was looking for a factory 1/2 ton Big Block, and always wanted a GMC (because they only make trucks), I was lucky enough to find one in pretty good shape that was within my budget.

Let me back up a minute...my original goal was to get a period correct truck to pull my little 1971 Scotty camper. After studying up a bit I decided to get one that I could eventually turn into my dream truck, a factory big block short stepper with every option you could get on one.

So, back to your question...
1. purpose (towing, camping, daily driver, rat rod, show stopper, etc.)
2. short term goal (Chevy, GMC, long, short, step, fleet, engine, trans, options)
3. budget ($1500, $5000, $15000, $25000)
4. long term goal (what do you want to end up with...in my case I want to have a matching truck and trailer that I can take to the car shows).

Hey! I just figured out what I'm doing! Well, well, well.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Coley, isn't there any nice trucks on the Island?

Well...there are some very nice trucks on the island but they are usually the restored variety.
The 'off the shelf' street purchase usually has some salt water location issues.
Personally, I like the solid prairie trucks or I really love the southern ones. Whenever I am out in Alberta or Saskatchewan I am always watching the horizon for farm chevy's/GMC's....and there seem to be quite a few, compared to here.
As well, the 'local' trucks usually are pretty sparse on options and a lot are 3/4 tons. A ps/pb/auto truck with lower trim is often called 'fully optioned' by some of the locals.......which I don't quite get.
Do you have a shipper lined up? To bad I wasn't coming out to visit my inlaws in Regina....I could have picked it up for you
All good
Coley

[teeitup]

Here is one I bought out NW.
SWB 4x4 out of Nevada

[teeitup]

Here is teh eagle I bought of Western Montana
and the 72 blazer I bought out of Oregon

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Coley

Well...there are some very nice trucks on the island but they are usually the restored variety.
The 'off the shelf' street purchase usually has some salt water location issues.
Personally, I like the solid prairie trucks or I really love the southern ones. Whenever I am out in Alberta or Saskatchewan I am always watching the horizon for farm chevy's/GMC's....and there seem to be quite a few, compared to here.
As well, the 'local' trucks usually are pretty sparse on options and a lot are 3/4 tons. A ps/pb/auto truck with lower trim is often called 'fully optioned' by some of the locals.......which I don't quite get.
Do you have a shipper lined up? To bad I wasn't coming out to visit my inlaws in Regina....I could have picked it up for you
All good
Coley

I forgot about the salt water. I've looked at a few Califoria trucks that have been close to the ocean since new and they rust in the funniest places. I do have a local shipper lined up that will bring the truck right to Saskatoon in Bond so I can deal with the Customs Office here. As far as trucks go around here most are 6's with granny 4 speeds and if do find a p/s p/b 350 one that is decent they usuallyy have Barrett-Jackson fever if they decide to sell it. The other thing is there seem to be more GMC's than Chevs around here. I plan to sell this one locally when I get it and will be asking 8500.