Royal Sierra - What's it worth?

[Tynee]

Alright my "square body" friends. I just looked at a '79 GMC 4x4 Royal Sierra. Don't know much about options, all I got was a drive-by. Only rust I could see was starting to bubble on the hood.

Any suggestions on value?

What should be involved with the Royal Sierra thing?

[84 400]

man u got any pics. they allways help. need more info.

thanks

[Tynee]

I know, pics are the way to go, but I don't have my camera down here with me. I'm just looking for a basic ball-park. Forgot to mention I think its 350, I know its automatic.

4wd's aren't terribly common in this body style,are they?

[Captkaos]

4wd's aren't terribly common in this body style,are they?

Yeah, they are VERY common.

As for price, it depends on what it looks like, how it runs, etc...

[Tynee]

Its a decent looking daily driver with A/C and tilt. Lets assume its a 350 thats runs well and the transmission shifts smoothly. There are no major flaws to this truck, just a bunch of really minor apperance flaws. All I'm looking for is a range. Is $4000 a steal, or is it highway robbery? What about $3000?

[1985K10]

I have one...a 77K15 with the stock 400 and an auto tranny...the one you are talkin about is the third one i have ever even heard about....Royal sierra was just a marketing thing from what Ive heard...

[Tynee]

So, no special trim, accessories, or anything like that? Just a badge?

[1985K10]

I think it was pretty much just a couple fender badges(and the matching dash badge). Heres a little more info...
"The Bonanza/Royal Sierra/Sequoia models offered essentially nothing other than a grouping of regular production options priced at a discount, and- -from '76 to '79- -substitution of appropriate nameplates in place of the "Scottsdale/Sierra Grande" plates found on equivalently trimmed standard issue pickups."

http://www.73-87.com/Special_Editions/wrangler.htm

[84 400]

wow i did not know that thanks for the info 1985k10
i have seen many Bonanza trucks but like you said i have only heard of the royal serria.

[Tynee]

Well, it turns out the guy was selling it for a buddy of his. I offered him $2900 to his $4k asking price. I don't know what he'll say, but I felt like it was a decent offer. It was a 350 that did run perfectly as far as I could tell. The TH350 shifted fine, and the 4wd worked.

The only problems I could find were rust starting to bubble across the front of the hood, a rust hole about 1"x2" at the seam between the kick panel and the floor board on the passenger side, and bubbles on the passenger rocker. The 350 leaked around the valve covers enough to make me want to get that taken care of quickly. The driver's front had a wheel bearing or something going out, probably from having sat for a while now.

The things I liked about it were 1 year old paint retouch, tilt, A/C, sliding rear window, AM/FM (not working, and I guess that by '79 these were a little more common), decent tires and wheels, brand new dual exhaust.

[84 400]

got to see some pics when u get a chance, and sounds pretty good with a new rocker, maybe a cowl hood and some new paint. good luck and i hope "the fish bites for you"

[Tynee]

Originally Posted by 84 400

got to see some pics when u get a chance, and sounds pretty good with a new rocker, maybe a cowl hood and some new paint. good luck and i hope "the fish bites for you"

Thanks, I'll be home this weekend, and back up here next week, so we'll see what comes of the fish. If he does bite, I'll have a camera next week.