Don't Ruin The Value Of Classic Trucks

[72BlckButy]

I just need someone to point me in the direction of the next cheap rust-free deal...

to the board!

[theslawdawg]

This seems like a fun topic to chime in on. I'm actually glad it is easy to find a good old truck, otherwise, I wouldn't have mine (which I paid 2000 bucks for). I live in CA where you can find these trucks everywhere. You can find a beater for 4000 and one that is near showroom for the same price. I've seen a great truck for 1500 bucks and just a rusted frame (no engine) for the same price! So...in some ways, it depends on interpretation and availability. People I know that have seen my truck are shocked that I paid so little for my truck. In fact, they have unsuccessfully twisted my arm in selling it for three to four times the amount to make a profit. However, when it comes down to it, I bought the truck for all the reasons previously mentioned: Old School, easy to maintain, made of actual steel, and just resonates America.
On the flipside...
I saw a stepside the other day that looked pretty awesome and I was interested in possibly trading mine for it. The dude wanted 20 grand for it and really saw no difference other than a better paint job (which is what 5000-7000 for a higher end job). That's when I was a little upset with the difference in price ranges. I'm not sure why truck prices are so different. Also, I can't imagine paying any money for a 2009 minivan forty years from now, if any are still drivable then.

[prostreetC-10]

Originally Posted by Shane

they were millions of these trucks produced and the current market & prices reflect that.
these trucks will never be on the same level as chevelles, camaros or corvettes.

they're trucks.

Better watch it Shane. I made a comment about a year ago that went something like this ".....it's not like these are Camaros!" and Special K jumped all over me!!!!!!!!! LOL

I do agree it's pretty cool how cheap you can get these even for parts. A wrecked '69 Camaro still goes for BANK and one of these goes for about $200-$300.

[capev86]

unless you have the name coddington or foose, you aren't gonna see a full return on your investment unless you get the right buyer. just look at the money you spend on maintaining a regular (modern) daily driver.....it can be a sizable percentage of the original cost of the vehicle. now, you take your rusty vintage truck to be restored which will require A LOT of specialized work and parts all at once. I like to see classic vehicles become popular so that they will be saved, but on the flip side when everyone wants into the club the price goes up!

its like with oceanfront property. 100 years ago middle income families could afford them because the super rich all stayed at fancy victorian hotels and thus the demand wasn't there and the price was reasonable. back in the teens, my great grandparents bought a big victorian on the quiet southern end of old orchard beach (saco, maine). in 1990 my grandfather had to sell it because the taxes were through the roof and only made what would build an average starter home today for it. a year later it was resold to a couple that only wanted the land and they tore it down to build some ugly modern house not in keeping with the location. the property next door just sold for 2 million and the house wasn't nearly as vintage as ours had been. it was the same idea.....the demand for ocean front land that requires a millionaires salary to acquire now. money has truly become the bane of human existence. if you have enough of it, you can do ANYTHING you want. don't even get me started on politics!

[Kel's 72 GMC]

Yeah our trucks seem to me go way below the value of what it should be. When you compare it to a chevelle in the same conditon. If you look back at the Barrett-Jackson auction from Arizona this year there where a bunch of classic trucks going for big money. But they where mostly 48-early 55 c-10's and 55-59 c-10's. Which where bringing around $50,000 i think one 5 window went for $100,000. But you cant really go buy that because usually it comes down to 2 people who really want they truck and money is almost no object. But our generation of C-10's go for around $10,000-$30,000 pending on how loaded up and condition it is. I will say our trucks make an awesome substiute to a high dollar muscle car when very few average hard working person cant afford anymore which is sad.

also Barrett-Jackson is this weekend at Palm Beach. Thurs-Sat!!! This will be my first Barrett-Jackson Auction!!!

[67ChevyRedneck]

It's supposed to be a hobby. For the most part, hobbies can be expensive. I have a friend that has many thousands of dollars in an 8'x8' Lionell display. Very cool and not for everybody. Some have told him he's crazy, but he loves it.

I don't want these trucks to "jump" in value. To me, and I think a lot of people, that's what's so great about them. They're affordable for the average guy, and it's a pretty realistic assumption, at least in my opinion, that they are by far, THE most popular classic pickup in the US, and have been for quite some time.

Think of it this way... if they get too expensive for an initial purchase of a restorable truck, then chances are, fewer trucks will be restored. Fewer aftermarket parts being bought leads to higher prices, and a lower chance that a "new part" (like the recent longbed fleetside bedsides) might not ever get "made."

I've wanted a first gen camaro or firebird forever. I grew up around first gen firebirds. I LOVE THEM. They're what made me "get into" cars. My dad has had quite a few over the years, but hasn't bought "another one" since the late 80's. They're too expensive to buy restored, and unless you get super lucky, the initial purchase price for a "pile" is pretty dang high too. I finally convinced my dad to let go of one of his 67 hardtops to me If it wasn't for that, I'd probably never get to own a car I love. With an initial purchase price of zero, I can afford to build a decent car.

You take away affordable 67-72 trucks, and we'll all be forced to restore square bodies

With the Vintage Air and 700R, I think I spent somewhere around $8,000 on my truck to get it where it's at today. Nothing was farmed out, so that's all parts. If I were to sell it (WHICH I AM NOT) I feel a fair price for it would be around $6-6,500.

[bad6772]

I love my chopped up Classic Truck.......And it is not for sale.lol

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Kel's 72 GMC

I will say our trucks make an awesome substiute to a high dollar muscle car when very few average hard working person cant afford anymore which is sad.

The $64,000 question is why we own a pickup truck?
Did we buy a pickup because we can't afford our first choice, a camaro or chevelle etc? Did we buy the pickup to transform it into a muscle car with a bed? If we pour money into a pickup to create a muscle truck, are we speculating they will be as collectable and valuable as a muscle car? Or did we buy a pickup to use as originally intended by GM. I know my answer.

[big mike71]

[QUOTE=72swb_327stroker_?;3892266]LETS ALL STRIKE!!!

... Crap, that's the wrong sign, isn't it?....
oh well...
STRIKE......STRIKE......

Give me beer is never the wrong sign.

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

. A wrecked '69 Camaro still goes for BANK and one of these goes for about $200-$300.

Yep..just saw this today:
http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/1669629280.html

[bad6772]

I bought my truck....Because its what I wanted......Never been to much of a car guy.......Not a muscle car at least.....late 20s and early 30s ford....yeah I could see my self building one of those one day.....

[Longhorn Man]

the last 8 years or so I've been complaining that the prices of trucks have been getting too high.
That's one of the attractions of these rigs, good looking body lines, endless posibilities of how to build them, good aftermarket following, very recognisable, and low cost. Its a win win situation.

[Hubscrub]

The higher it goes the more us common folk can't do it i have never fixed up my junk to make a profit, i did it to ENJOY it yes they are money pits but a mans gotta have a hobby

[Jacfourteen]

It's a truck, you aren't gonna turn a profit on it, but you can have a good time wrenching on it. I like that these trucks are cheap that way if you need a parts truck you can get it cheap then turn around and part it out and make a few bucks.

[OARNGESI]

Id rather see the value drop even if i sold one of mine id still want to replace with a similar one the less there worth the easier theyll be to enjoy

[67ChevyRedneck]

It's also interesting to see that these trucks were around $2,500-3,000+ when new.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=374018

Which is around $16-19,000 in "today's money."

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi

Kinda neat. So, with that in mind, my truck, IMO, is still only worth half of the initial purchase price... just something to think about

[rob32472]

Hey guys all of you make very good points but here is my view........ We do not hesitate to go and spend 35,000 on a new truck that looses 5,000 the minute we drive it off the lot, then only to pay higher insurance, interest, tag fees, maint costs only to have it be a beater in ten years and loose all the money we put into it.... however put the same money into one of these trucks updating it with the comforts of a new one, still with cheaper insurance, tag, and maint costs and loose alot less and get to enjoy it....

[70cst]

Originally Posted by factorystock

The $64,000 question is why we own a pickup truck?
Did we buy a pickup because we can't afford our first choice, a camaro or chevelle etc? If my BB 70cst was a BB Chevelle...I couldn't afford it in 1970 and I couldn't afford it now.

Did we buy the pickup to transform it into a muscle car with a bed? Instead of spending $20-25,000 on a new truck I am restoring my old truck.


If we pour money into a pickup to create a muscle truck, are we speculating they will be as collectable and valuable as a muscle car? Or did we buy a pickup to use as originally intended by GM.
When I grew up trucks were a way of life on the farm. My 70cst will never be the fastest veheicle on the road and I could care less...but I will still have that sound of a BB vehicle.

I know my answer.

Now you know the rest of the story.

[prostreetC-10]

Also got to remember that when your wife comes looking for you, you can't jump in the engine bay, shut the hood and continue to work on your Camaro. I don't really car about the truck market myself. I'm just glad I hit the Camaro market right just before It started to go down. The Camaro below was just a roller (no motor/trans), had a bend frame, needed both quarters replaced, needed interior done and I still got $6000 for it. Hard to get that for a truck that's completely done! It was also not an SS or RS....I actually think it was a 250 6 cyl.

[dan42]

The "milions" quote is a little misleading; if you count only the shortbed fleet and steps, there were less than 500,000 made. Some of the 4WD models had runs of 1,000 vehicles or less. (Source - Chevrolet Pickups,1946-1972, John Gunnell). So there are a few fairly rare trucks out there. But if I were buying vehicles to make money, I would not have bought my trucks.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by dan42

The "milions" quote is a little misleading; if you count only the shortbed fleet and steps, there were less than 500,000 made. Some of the 4WD models had runs of 1,000 vehicles or less. (Source - Chevrolet Pickups,1946-1972, John Gunnell). So there are a few fairly rare trucks out there. But if I were buying vehicles to make money, I would not have bought my trucks.

Why would you just count shortbeds?

[Shane]

Originally Posted by dan42

The "milions" quote is a little misleading; if you count only the shortbed fleet and steps, there were less than 500,000 made. Some of the 4WD models had runs of 1,000 vehicles or less. (Source - Chevrolet Pickups,1946-1972, John Gunnell). So there are a few fairly rare trucks out there. But if I were buying vehicles to make money, I would not have bought my trucks.

there were a helluva lot more than 500,000 1/2 tons trucks built between 1967 and 1972, i don't care what John Gunnell says

[68GMCCustom]

I still can't get over how much traction this flamers post got...and still the post count is "1"...meaning they didn't even care to respond to the comments. LOL!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

I still can't get over how much traction this flamers post got...and still the post count is "1"...meaning they didn't even care to respond to the comments. LOL!

I find this thread very interesting with thoughts from various perspectives.

[evilways]

I am personally happy with the price area these trucks are in, Now this is only my opinion and I choose to find the not so choice trucks that are not so overly priced, be it for parts or maybe a new toy. I am in that financial slump as many of you guys are too, so it is nice for me to be able to go to a swap meet and still find some cheap priced pieces for my truck new or used since if price of the truck goes up so will the parts. My truck is a hobby that I drive daily, sure it don’t have shiny paint job or a ton of aftermarket parts, but that is fine with me, I am just glad I have a truck that is affordable for me to play with, talk about, meet new folks, and above all drive and enjoy. So if the prices do go down on these trucks, that’s fine by me. I am not in the mode to build and sell, so profit means nothing to me. For some of you it will be a punch in the gut.