All Original 72 Dilemma

[CastIron]

I've been contemplating the same thing on my 1969 GMC for the last 15 years. I bought it from the original owner who had taken really good care of it. I have done lots of thing to it that aren't exactly original, but could have been. I added power steering, a front sway bar, and just installed a crate motor last year to replace the tired 307. It drives better than it did originally, but looks mostly stock. I figure it's perfectly fine to modify an original truck, as long as anything you do is reversible and you aren't cutting anything up.
If I had that truck, I'd probably put HEI on it and just drive it. It looks great as it is!

[El Dorado Jim]

welcome to the site, it is your truck to do with what you want, but I hate when guys lower their trucks and cut up the frame....to me they ruin the trucks forever, I hate lowered trucks.....just my opinion

[Ironangel]

Welcome to the forum! You made a rare score that will not only turn heads and bring comments, it will increase in value! Like many of us here, you will one day become a multiple 67-72 truck owner. Bide your time and the right truck for modding will come and you will never regret preserving that survivor. I waited 40 years to get both of mine, "Belle & Nasty Sally"...

[Already Gone]

Welcome to the site and forums. It looks to me like you scored very well with your truck. Original trucks are getting scarce and yours being a Cheyenne in a super colour combo and 100% original would be a great truck to own. Its your truck to do with as you please but an original truck like yours will only appreciate in value. There are lots of things you can do to the truck to enhance the driveability without taking the original look away. As far as appearance goes your truck has the original P01 full wheel covers on it. You could put the P0!'s away and install a set of 80's rally wheels that look so right on theses trucks. If the truck doesn't have front sway bar install one and you won't believe how much better the trucks handles it one simple mod. My last suggestion is don't be in a hurry, drive the truck and get feel for it before you decide what you want to do.

[zach_carver]

WELCOME!!! If that truck was mine theres no way Id do anymore than getting it good and road ready. Maybe good buffing/cleaning, and drive that thing! Everyone has beautiful, restored trucks anymore. Original is only original ONCE. I think its a sin to modify or tear that truck apart IMO. Nice find, I love it.

[Hart_Rod]

Nice truck!

[Ken B]

I agree with the others, I'd keep it original. I wouldn't be in any hurry to sell it if it were mine, clean original RUST FREE trucks don't pop up too often.. If you sell yours you might be searching for a long time! I wasn't looking for a long bed truck when I was searching but when this all original and 100% rust free 70 Longhorn popped up on Craigslist I snagged it.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Ken B

I agree with the others, I'd keep it original. I wouldn't be in any hurry to sell it if it were mine, clean original RUST FREE trucks don't pop up too often.

That's what I was thinking when a few people said to sell it. I was thinking, wtf, it's hard as hell to find a truck that nice/clean. No way would I sell it and try to find someone else's basket case.

[Coley]

Great looking truck...but more pics please!
That said, I'm with the 'leave it original' group for sure.
One element of tearing up a truck for resto/mod/etc reasons is the near complete lack of experience people have in putting it back together....despite the enthusiasm and excitement most don't do this type of work for a living...and the results often show.
So if you have a truck that is very nice, unmolested, original....and built by GM pro's...I'd leave it that way because they are getting harder to find.
Its easy to find middle of the road trucks that can be turned into just about anything the imagination can conjure up....maybe go that route if your vision is drastically different than the great example you have in front of you there.
My two bits.
All Good
Coley

[Crappie Hog]

WOW!!! Id like to give each and everyone of you a really big THANK YOU!!! for all your warm welcomes and great feed back. This is just incredible for me to have such a group to give such meaningful thoughts into my dilemma and I really really really appreciate it.

And I must say that I'm also in agreement with the vast majority of you guys that say keep it original. And I'm sure that's what Ill do for at lest the next 6 years.

[Coley]

...the only thing really wrong with that truck so far....is the name on the title is wrong.
It should be mine....lol.

All good
Coley

[Lanman1972]

Part it out! It's a Long Bed!

Oh wait, so is mine!

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by Coley

...the only thing really wrong with that truck so far....is the name on the title is wrong.
It should be mine....lol.

All good
Coley

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

Part it out! It's a Long Bed!

Oh wait, so is mine!

Ouch!! Lanman1972 talk about a slap in the face. But hey I'll take that seeing how you did it with such a GREAT LOOKING CHEVY. I'm thinking the same thing Coley said about me but to you sir.

[mike16]

there will always be fewer and fewer origonals out there. its wrong to butcher one up just to appease a temporary whim. nobody is offended if you preserve an origonal. others will be offended that you ruined an origonal truck, and still others will disagree on your taste with regards to the modifications you did make.

keep it or sell it but there are plenty of non origonal trucks out there you can modify.

[Hustontractor]

""IF"" it was mine, it would get wheels and then it would be an awesome driver. It seems like in my area, you can buy a 67-72 c10 for $500-$1000 that will need paint, motor, and tires. I would much rather start with a pickup like that and make it into a restomod type.

[70STOVEBOLT]

As far as value, it is just like anything else. It is worth exactly how much someone is willing to pay. It is your truck and you can do whatever you want with it. That being said, I like the truck as it is and I would clean it up and fix what needed fixed and drive it.

[SKT]

.
.

Here is another vote to keep it original - great find BTW!

There are so many modified trucks out there to build what you have in mind, I would definitely keep this one OG!

.
.

[projectking]

Lets hear what your plan would be if it you were to modify the truck.

[Crappie Hog]

Originally Posted by SKT

.
.

Here is another vote to keep it original - great find BTW!

There are so many modified trucks out there to build what you have in mind, I would definitely keep this one OG!

.
.

SKT the more I look at it. The harder it becomes for me to do anything to it.

[1972RedNeck]

Maybe just swap in a really hot SBC or even a BBC that is dressed up like original and have a sleeper truck...

[dfwright]

Originally Posted by Crappie Hog

the more I look at it. The harder it becomes for me to do anything to it.

100% agree! It's very nice just the way it is!

[35boulder]

Welcome...I'd have to agree with most of the above and keep it original. Make it safe and drivable and then enjoy it. Good luck!

[mike16]

I bought my 72 c10 long fleet side off the son of the origonal owner. it had a 3 speed/307 and 71k miles on it. New tires, rear panhard rod and an hei. It has 107k miles on it 6 years later. pretty much a daily driver. restoration makes the choice easy, and affordable. rally would not trade it for anything.

customized and modified tucks are a very very personal choice, only a mother could love. origonal is best and has the best dollar for dollar resale value

[Elliot949]

Welcome aboard... First and Foremost... These truck are just animate objects... The love of them is in the eye of the person that is holding the Truck...

With that being said... I understand your dilemma... I would have to think long and hard on transforming a original 41K rust free truck... I believe that These trucks are the next Chevelle or Camaro... So taking that original 41k truck and doing anything to it may be taking a 100k plus truck and destroying it...

Now... I also believe that if I own it I am going to do what I want with it and enjoy it...

I hope this clears things for you but I suspect it will only add to your agnguish of what to do...

In the ends... I wouldn't touch it... I would leave it as it is with a great clean up and detail then find me a truck that would be close to what my vision would be for a "Hot Rod"...

I am five years and close to 60K in building my Dream Hot Rod Pickup...

[tommys72]

Keep it original and drive it! Its way to nice to mess with.