For comparison, I recently bought my '55 1st Series Chevy in somewhat
similar condition except a lot more stock and sort of drivable. Still it
had some less-than-perfect modifications, rustouts in the cab corners, and
the bed wood/upholstery/paint was (is) wasted. I paid $1400 near Reno,
Nevada. Harry
----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin & Deana Brown <MGTRAutoXr@sprintmail.com>
To: oletrucks <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 6:39 AM
Subject: [oletrucks] Is this truck worth buying?
> I need some help from you guys so I can decide if this truck is worth
> buying. Its a '51 3 window pickup with a Ford 9-inch rear axle and mid
> '70 coil spring IFS front suspension, 4-speed transmission, nice looking
> aluminum wheels, decent tires, new glass and rubber seals, tilt
> steering, bucket seats, relocated master cylinder (no power booster and
> still set up for drum brakes) and set up for a V8 (original had a 283
> but threw a rod). All of this work was done years ago. When the engine
> threw the rod it was parked in inside storage for at least 5 years and
> the guy who has it now has had it for at least a couple of years so the
> work was done at least 8 to 10 years ago. At the time the engine blew
> the truck was a driver so everything should work. The work on welding
> in the front suspension isn't as pretty as it could be but looks solid,
> the same with the tilt steering installation - solid but not pretty - a
> lot of wires hanging down etc. The body is good and straight,
> definitely not show quality but could be a driver as is. The original
> chrome grill but has a few nicks in it, the chrome bumper is straight
> but has little pin pricks of rust on it. The fenders look to be rust
> and bondo free except for just a couple of the mounting holes where the
> bolts go through to the body, the running boards are solid but have a
> few pinholes in them - right where the paint would have been wore off
> when getting in and out of the cab. The only place I found rust was in
> the cab corners and even that isn't too bad, the area around the cowl
> vent and hood hinges is solid. There may be a little bondo in the area
> right in front of the driver's door (where the side vent is on my '49).
> The sides of the bed are in great shape, in fact I suspect that they
> were replaced when the truck was originally fixed up, the bed wood and
> metal strips are solid, the wood looks like it would in a working truck
> - not all varnished up. The tailgate is a good original, the rear
> bumper is bent in the middle some but I think could be straitened fairly
> easily. The truck was painted red but the paint has faded so it looks
> like red primer, there are some nicks in the paint that show a little
> rust, but nothing deep. The hood has been sandblasted to bare metal and
> needs priming and has a few extra holes where somebody mounted a fake
> hood scoop.
>
> The glass and all the rubber seals look as if they were replaced when
> the truck was fixed up. The original instruments look very good, a new
> headliner had been installed, the cloth covered buckets look decent
> (also I guess the original seat is available), the paint on the dash is
> good. It has a later model heater and electric wipers installed.
>
> Included with the truck is a mid '80s 305 V8 (that would bolt right up
> to the 4-speed that was in the truck with the 283) and a mid '80 BOP
> (Buick-Olds-Pontiac) 307 V8 and BOP turbo 350 transmission (he bought
> the BOP engine and tranny before finding the 305). Both engines look to
> be in good condition and are supposed to run well. The 305 has a GM HEI
> distributor (I'm not sure about the 307) but I would have to supply a
> carburetor.
>
> What do you think the truck is worth?? I'm thinking with the 305
> installed and the hood primed and installed with the truck in running
> condition it would be worth at least $2,000. Right now we are still
> talking price but I know I could get it for $1,200, could probably get
> it for $1,000 and might even be able to get it for $900 (which was what
> I was thinking of offering). What do you guys think? Thanks for the
help.
>
> Kevin Brown
> '49 Chevy 3/4 ton wrecker
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
|