Idea for spotting fake shortbeds

[71K20chevy]

Originally Posted by HemiChallenger71

I have nothing to add other than I could never understand the fascination of a short bed over a long bed.

I agree. You guys just keep cutting LB's so they end up being worth more!

[NurseBen]

I converted mine from a short bed to a long bed, in the end it will be more valuable.

[A.Bursell]

From what Dad tells me he remembers, the thinking back in the day was that the short bed trucks were kind of a poor mans truck. If you could afford it you got the bigger, nicer long bed. Now he likes the short beds. I think it just goes to show how things can change and how different perspectives can be.

[67swb72klb]

Originally Posted by NurseBen

I converted mine from a short bed to a long bed, in the end it will be more valuable.

great job!

[jjzepplin]

Ever since I was 17 when I drove an old guys 72 lowered shorty I wanted one. I guess that's one reason I converted my Blazer to 2wd as my shorty is jacked up 6". Man that thing was as fun to drive as a car. Not sure what all was in it. But that baby cornered nicer than my 66 Chevelle. Prolly cuz it was shorter. Now that I do a smuck load of working with my trucks I would definitely take a long bed but I got a trailer so I can keep my shorty. I am not doing all that work to another truck.

[volksworld]

usually if you actually had to make a living with your truck you got a long bed...if you wanted a car you could occaisionally throw a bale of hay into,you got a shorty....one other "cut down" point that i dont think was mentioned...what if it was a stolen longbed that got cut to match another door tag to resell?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by A.Bursell

From what Dad tells me he remembers, the thinking back in the day was that the short bed trucks were kind of a poor mans truck. If you could afford it you got the bigger, nicer long bed. Now he likes the short beds. I think it just goes to show how things can change and how different perspectives can be.

I don't remember it like that.

Originally Posted by volksworld

usually if you actually had to make a living with your truck you got a long bed...if you wanted a car you could occaisionally throw a bale of hay into,you got a shorty....

This is more how I remember it.

SWB = parts chaser, drivin' to work at the factory, pulling a race car or a cotton trailer.

K

[aris_unlimited]

Random question about all this. Are any of these trucks really that collectible? I mean I can't see one being completely restored being worth much more than $30-$35k. So what would be the point in trying to fake it, or even caring if it is faked so long as it is done well and it's what you want.

[Malamute]

Originally Posted by aris_unlimited

Random question about all this. Are any of these trucks really that collectible? I mean I can't see one being completely restored being worth much more than $30-$35k. So what would be the point in trying to fake it, or even caring if it is faked so long as it is done well and it's what you want.

Look at some of the $$ they are pulling in right now. Some go over that range, some are in that range and some are way low. I will say that there are some trucks in my area that don't look that great with some inflated asking prices. If they get those amounts, good for them. I think it's good for any of us that own these trucks.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Malamute

I think it's good for any of us that own these trucks.

It is til you sell it and then try to buy another. A similar thing is happening to VW buses. Before you could pick up a nice "splitty" for a couple of grand now since that one sold for $200K the rustiest POS is fetching $10 or more for a desirable model. Dont even mention buying stock middle and rear seat, a nice early middle seat is getting over $5K!! Think those buddy buckets are expensive now, wait til the general public catches on to "old trucks"

Enjoy it while you can.

[72 tigger]

Originally Posted by Livrat

I wondered that too. I have been around these trucks for over 30 years and only noticed that about 10 years ago.
Funny thing that its only 68-72 long beds that have that curve, All shortbeds, 1967 longbeds, all Blazers and Suburbans do not.

So are the repop short bedsides squared off? Are the repop long bedsides curved? Seems like a lot of times the repop parts don't get the small detail right

[HeavyD]

Agree with white whale. Having prices skyrocket will just kill the enjoyment of the hobby. Look at what hAppened to the musclecar scene. Basket cases can be worth 20k..bleh

[Kennuck]

72 tigger, my Woodall repops are squared off, can't tell you about the LWB?

[CUSTOM/10]

I went to the Goodmark site and going just by the pictures they seam to have the detail correct for the trucks anyway. Short fleet are squared off, 68-72 long fleet rounded, 67 long fleet square !

[no1udknow]

hwa hwa hwahhhh... well I looked at the bed sides on my truck... and damn you guys for being right, the passenger side (68 ) is rounded, and the drivers side (67) is not... so now my truck is a complete bastard. its 4 different colors with 2 different bed sides.

so now I have to decide if I want to find another 67 used fleetside bed panel in good enough condition to cut down to a shortie (probably no luck there) or find another 68-72 bedside and cut it down. ( more likely but the corners will be rounded giving it away as a conversion.

[67ChevyRedneck]

They make the lower rear patch panels for the beds, just get one of those and cut out the curved area for a square area. Much cheaper/easier than trying to find a new bed or bedside. I've never used the patches, so I can't vouch for how well they fit or how accurate they are.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by A.Bursell

From what Dad tells me he remembers, the thinking back in the day was that the short bed trucks were kind of a poor mans truck. If you could afford it you got the bigger, nicer long bed. Now he likes the short beds. I think it just goes to show how things can change and how different perspectives can be.

I agree. My grandfather and dad both use to say the a SWB truck was for city slickers and poor man type people on a budget and that LWB trucks were for the working man because they could haul more hay and grain or whatever. If you could afford it and made a living with a truckyou bought the LWB. My my my how things have changed over the years.

I wonder if in today's time, if the thinking is still the same. I mean short bed trucks are usually the same lenght as a lwb due to extra cabs and crew cabs. Anybody know about in todays time which is the more popular.

[65standard]

I think the term fake short bed is not the right expression. If it was converted from long to short, I can't call it fake. Non-original maybe, but not fake. More like a conversion or custom. It doesn't make it worth less. It's not like you are comparing a Shelby clone to an original shelby here. An original restored shortbed is not going to bring 3 to 4 times the money as a restored converted shortbed in equal condition.

I cut an original shortbed down 7". Does it make it worth less or more that it's now a custom.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by 65standard

I think the term fake short bed is not the right expression. If it was converted from long to short, I can't call it fake. Non-original maybe, but not fake. More like a conversion or custom. It doesn't make it worth less. It's not like you are comparing a Shelby clone to an original shelby here. An original restored shortbed is not going to bring 3 to 4 times the money as a restored converted shortbed in equal condition.

I cut an original shortbed down 7". Does it make it worth less or more that it's now a custom.

I agree. I don't think it affects the value with these trucks. Not like it's something really rare. Our trucks are just hot on the market right now.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Does it make it worth less or more that it's now a custom.

To a purist it is worth less, to the average yokel it depends on their brains to funds ratio.

Its true that there were a ton of these trucks built but as time goes on original examples are getting harder to find. With the price of scrap going up and the value of parts vs complete trucks the number will continue to drop.

[slow-1]

Originally Posted by 65standard

I think the term fake short bed is not the right expression. If it was converted from long to short, I can't call it fake.

A co-worker of mine, when asked if he thought a young ladies shirt fillers were real or fake said, "if you can touch them, they are real".