Soap Box Thread

[Security guy]

A little rant about some things lately.. I've had a few trucks over the years, mainly the mid '80's style but also a '71 that I had to sell to move. I currently have a '86 that's mostly stock, but have been searching around here and there for a '71-'72. I saw some really good deals and really nice projects that just didn't work out (no money at the time, missed the deal by a day or two).. Anyways, it seems that there are two types of people in the truck scene. There are those that really love the style of these trucks, the handling of them, the rumble of a nice small block, the factory headliner with chrome trim and all the 'bells and whistles' on the spid.... and then there is those that see dollar signs. There is one truck in particular about a year ago that I tried to buy, but missed it by a few hours. It was a '72 Cheyenne Super, all in pieces, originally the yellow and white interior. A reasonable price at $3.5k. Needed work. Well, a guy called just a few hours before me, he looked at it and bought it. A week later, the same truck was back up for sale (although semi-put together) for 5.5k. To much for me at the time.. It lasted a week, then gone again. A few weeks later, back up for sale again, although spray bombed with Wal-Mart primer but a price tag of 9.5k. Still had the original yellow and white interior.. I know some people try to make a dollar here and there, and that's all good, but a 3.5k truck more than doubling in price for a few hours work on it and some spray primer? I see this happen quite often and even on here. If you watch the local papers for a few weeks, you will see the exact same truck, maybe with new tires, but the price more than doubled. Sorry for the long post, but had to vent my frustrations... so whats the 'real value' of what are trucks are really worth...

[leftybass209]

There isn't any, "real value" of these trucks. They're the most popular pickup ever made. They sell all over the map and sell often. The majority actually knows very little about these trucks other than they're popular and can be punted down the road for a quick flip, just as you've experienced. I would never sell my truck, but if I did I would refuse to sell it to anyone with intentions to flip it.

Flipping is one of the ways vehicle prices quickly become over-inflated. I don't look down on anyone who does it, but I won't contribute to it.

You just have to be vigilant and keep your money saved and ready so you can pounce on the next deal.

[picklito]

I hear ya. I hate to see a great family hobby get priced out of reach. The mega-auctions have a pretty big hand in this, too.

[RenoKeene]

The value is whatever it SELLS for. I can't fault someone for trying to make a quick buck by flipping a vehicle but they aren't driving the market, only the buyers can do that.

[Security guy]

Yea, I'm not sure what the 3k now 9.5k truck sold for at the end, but I haven't seen it lately.. I assume someone bought it less than the 9.5k, but it's still a heafty price jump for what it originally sold for. It's just hard to catch the deals when others are buying them to flip. Everyone needs to make a dollar and that's fine.. I do the same when I sell my trucks, but I usually end up loosing money lol..

[indymachinist]

I have been a victim of this too and it pisses me off.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

The value is whatever it SELLS for.

Yep, and only the buyer and seller know that number...and most of the time they lie about it

Pay what you are comfortable with and then you don't have to worry about it.

[WIDESIDE72]

A few years back i sold a body off restored 71 gmc swb step for $8500. It was a
70k me truck, 250 6 cyl, 3ott, manual brakes and steering radio delete. I added a front sway bar 3.07 posi rear and period correct grill guard. Charcoal grey metallic paint. Nice velour seat cover. Dog dish caps. Guy i sold it to put a 3/4 drop oit, rally wheels, hacked aftermarket gauges into the dash, one size fits all aluminum radiator, then plagiarized my ad and listd it for $12,000. I think he eventually sold it for $10k.

[WIDESIDE72]

A forum member now owns the truck. I forget his "handle".

[68bowtie]

i know it all too well. gotta accept reality and keep searching. i'm told persistence pays off...

[imjeff]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

The value is whatever it SELLS for. I can't fault someone for trying to make a quick buck by flipping a vehicle but they aren't driving the market, only the buyers can do that.

Exactly!! Nobody can make a truck worth more by doubling the price, only by paying double.

[imjeff]

Originally Posted by indymachinist

I have been a victim of this too and it pisses me off.

Victim? Really? Did someone reach in your pocket and steal your money? I paid $1K for my first K10. Less than 40,000 miles and six years old. Should it never go up?

[Mmorgan32]

I sold my 71 gmc a few years ago really nice original short bed stock green and whitefor 8k to pay off some bills. Didn't want to sell but had too. I redid all the wiring guages and took it all back to stock. I sold it to a guy who seemed like he was in love with it and a few month later I saw it for sale with 20s on it for 15k same truck just new wheels. I was pretty pissed I put a lot into that truck and I sold it for a decent price to someone that SAID they loved it

[Boog]

Some people like to blame Barrett/Jackson and others for the high prices vehicles bring today. While they do make some really nice vehicles available to the public that might not otherwise get the opportunity to buy they don't set the sale prices of those vehicles. Don't blame the dealers for the pricing.
That responsibility falls squarely on the buyers shoulders. Any vehicle's sale price is a result of how much a buyer is willing to spend to own that vehicle whether it be at an auction, dealer lot or in someone's front yard. As is said many times, an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay on a particular day. Buyer's market. If the public isn't willing to pay the price it will come down. Some people buy to resell and some buy to hold onto for a while.
Like many I buy a vehicle to keep a while because I like it that much. When I sell it I would hope the buyer liked it as much as me and would not want to change it or resell it but I fully realize when the cash changes hands I have no further connection to it and what the buyer does with it is really none of my business. Flip it, keep it, change it, it's his now and he can do what he wants with it.

[specialtyretail]

This will probably hurt my popularity here,, but oh well. I buy and sell several of these trucks. Not the high end ones, most are well under the $5,000.00 mark. I do not try to beat the seller up on the asking price, if it is a fair price, I pay his asking price. I also do NOT waste a sellers time. If we show up, we have a trailer and cash in hand, no having to go to the bank, ask the wife or "can you hold it for me". I usually just clean them up, fix a few smaller items and send them down the road. Do I make a little money on them, of course, but I do not make a seller take my money, try to never insult him and for sure, do not waste his time.