What's a fair price for a nice old stock truck?

[Number21]

I've bought several square bodies in the past, but never paid more than $1200 for one. I'm starting to think I'd rather get a little head start on my restoration and get a nicer truck to start with. The prices on these things are all over the board, there are way too many delusional people on craigslist that think they will get every cent back that they ever spent on their truck.

Anyway, let's say I can find a good, all/mostly original 73-80 truck that would be considered "daily driver" type condition. Good body, nothing more than surface rust, original paint, no major issues, maybe around 100k on the clock, but nothing fancy either. How much would you say is a decent offer on a truck like that?

Or to ask a different way, an old beat up farm truck is about $500. A trailer queen is like $15k. What about the middle ground?

I'm starting to think craigslist is solely responsible for bringing up the price of trucks like this. Any idiot can post an add asking $7000 for a POS without the cost and trouble of running a classified ad like we did back in the dark ages...

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Number21

I've bought several square bodies in the past, but never paid more than $1200 for one. I'm starting to think I'd rather get a little head start on my restoration and get a nicer truck to start with. The prices on these things are all over the board, there are way too many delusional people on craigslist that think they will get every cent back that they ever spent on their truck.

Anyway, let's say I can find a good, all/mostly original 73-80 truck that would be considered "daily driver" type condition. Good body, nothing more than surface rust, original paint, no major issues, maybe around 100k on the clock, but nothing fancy either. How much would you say is a decent offer on a truck like that?

Or to ask a different way, an old beat up farm truck is about $500. A trailer queen is like $15k. What about the middle ground?

I'm starting to think craigslist is solely responsible for bringing up the price of trucks like this. Any idiot can post an add asking $7000 for a POS without the cost and trouble of running a classified ad like we did back in the dark ages...

Try city and county government auctions. Many agencies still have them up for sale at times. I bought an 84 for $600.00 with less then 100,000 miles about 2 years ago. SWB fleet with ac 250 six auto with no major dents in body or bed and no rust through. Drove it home and my son still drives it. I woud say anywhere for $2000 and under for one that is decent is fair for a basic stock 1/2 ton. We have paid as low as $200.00 for running 87's. One we bid on last month , a one ton went for $340.00 it had a 14ft bed and ran . we just did not need it that bad and stopped bidding. I would not give over 3 grand for a stock one unless it was great condition with a big block.

[mbgmike]

I just checked in the oregon and wash area and they don't have much right now but OSU has this up. its up to $1200 but it looks in good shape

[fiddy9apache]

down here in tx a good clean STOCK shortbed will bring good money. 3500 all the way up to 12000

[GM72K10]

check out the Scottsdale I picked up at a state auction. They are 20-30 years old now and most are being dumped just because of their age and not just because they are shot although both could be true. Best to preview the auctions if you can.

[mbgmike]

Yeah you can always find a high price one. The trick is to find the reasonable ones with a reasonable price. Not many people I know in Texas going to pay $12000 for a stock one in those years unless its in mint condition and heavily optioned. They are out there at reasonable prices. Send them here we can sell them some at those prices

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by GM72K10

check out the Scottsdale I picked up at a state auction. They are 20-30 years old now and most are being dumped just because of their age and not just because they are shot although both could be true. Best to preview the auctions if you can.

Where is it?
You have to be smart at bidding at auctions, thats how we get the deals. Everyone tends to bid on the newer trucks. When that 1984 came up there were only three bidders on it. Most times people think that its worn out, but Why would a major city offer a 25 year old truck up with a whole bunch of 2000 to 2001's up as well. We knew this truck had to be a supervisors truck with low mileage and good shape. It turned out that it was the Housing and Development Supervisors truck for San Antonio and he did not use it enough to qualify for a new truck. I had $2000 offers for it everywhere i drove it and it still had the city sticker glue on it from the removal and hadn't even been cleaned up. We buy at auctions all the time. Just don't fall for the ones who charge money cause its not needed. Some of the legit ones charge a fee for the first bid then refund it when you win an auction. We have been doing this for years now.

[fiddy9apache]

the 12k truck was a fully loaded 87 black shortbed. it looked perfect. 12k was high but remember theres an A$$ for every seat.

[tymbom]

I just picked up a really nice 1979 SWB C-10. 350/SM-465 W/ac. 76k The biggest downer is the Forest Service green paint. I got it for $600.00 and two loads of firewood. The guys at work always ask me where I find good deals like that. My answer is because I'm always looking. I can't afford another project right now, and my wife will kill me, but I still keep an eye out in case I know someone who might be looking for something.

[Driveway Dreams]

Way to go. My truck used to be the Forest Service mint green. I have thought about painting it back just for the fun of it. Show it off.

[Smokeshow_1984]

It really has a lot to do with location..
In Ma, I paid $2500 for my 74, with a bit of rust, but overall good condition

[slugish]

Originally Posted by Smokeshow_1984

It really has a lot to do with location..
In Ma, I paid $2500 for my 74, with a bit of rust, but overall good condition

Amen to that > supply & demand always has a major bearing on price <

Also ther is no way in hell that a square body in good- decent shape should sell for 600.00 - 1200.00 , when a 67-72 in the same condition would sell for 3500-6000.00. The people who sell them for this don't know what they have got . the 67-72 crowd know exactly what they have & are smart enough to price them accordingly.

Ok , my 2 cents only

[tymbom]

Here it is... The previous owner didn't really know what is was worth. As you can see it is stock as stock can be, complete with an owners manual in the glove box.

The second pic is my old race truck that I never got to run on the track. I plan on turning the green one into a street legal version. 15X10 steelies, side exit exhaust, maybe a nice 5 or 6-speed, truck arms, screw jackers, and lots of circle track parts. Auto-cross and track days should be fun.

[GM72K10]

Originally Posted by mbgmike

Where is it?
You have to be smart at bidding at auctions, thats how we get the deals. Everyone tends to bid on the newer trucks. When that 1984 came up there were only three bidders on it. Most times people think that its worn out, but Why would a major city offer a 25 year old truck up with a whole bunch of 2000 to 2001's up as well. We knew this truck had to be a supervisors truck with low mileage and good shape. It turned out that it was the Housing and Development Supervisors truck for San Antonio and he did not use it enough to qualify for a new truck. I had $2000 offers for it everywhere i drove it and it still had the city sticker glue on it from the removal and hadn't even been cleaned up. We buy at auctions all the time. Just don't fall for the ones who charge money cause its not needed. Some of the legit ones charge a fee for the first bid then refund it when you win an auction. We have been doing this for years now.

Same here. You have to know what your limit is, what you are bidding on, and what its worth to YOU. If you keep your eyes open there's more out there than everyone thinks.

[thump16]

try atlanta craigslist. You can pick up a a squarebody from 300.00 to 5,000.00 in good condition.

[sailed2japan]

Originally Posted by slugish

Amen to that > supply & demand always has a major bearing on price <

Also ther is no way in hell that a square body in good- decent shape should sell for 600.00 - 1200.00 , when a 67-72 in the same condition would sell for 3500-6000.00. The people who sell them for this don't know what they have got . the 67-72 crowd know exactly what they have & are smart enough to price them accordingly.

Ok , my 2 cents only

Also think about this:
67-72 6 production years
73-87(91) 15(19) productions years
Also the 67-72 are veiwed as more of a "classic" than the 73-87.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by sailed2japan

73-87(91) 15(19) productions years

Yep. By the time we finished these trucks up they were old enough to vote!

(lol)

[truckfan]

I'll tout www.govdeals.com.

i have bought some slick low mileage stuff off of there. its all city, county and state surplus w/ good maintenance. pickups are harder to find slick because they get used up. i posted soem fire trucks on here last week i found on there. i have found several very cool 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton fire trucks on there.

[Gemp]

Here in the rust belt....Most trucks are rust out, You are going to pay for a solid truck.

[Benelli]

http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDispl...43&acctID=1998

sweet little finds like this are what you look for....and when you have the cash, you never find them, but when you are in a pinch, they pop up everywhere.