If your seats are torn up, check the junkyard. We found a mint condition split-bench seat out of an 80-something extended cab for $30.

 

Another good thing about having a classic as a daily driver: If you have to take it to a (trustworthy) mechanic, it will almost always cost less and be quicker to repair than if a newer car breaks down. Not to mention easier to diagnose.

 

The interior is almost brand new!

 

Not from my experience. Most of the young kids nowadays have no idea what points are let alone what to do with them. I watched one fight with a carb. Again no idea about what a choke was let alone anything else. They are raised electronic ignition (most of which is now distributorless) & furl injection.

 

Yeah, that's why I said "trustworthy." I'm fortunate enough to have a mechanic in my church I can trust who's a classic car guy. I'm 29 and have no idea how to keep my 96 Jeep running because any problem could be caused by one of a thousand sensors. However, the engine in my bumpside is just like every other carb/point engine... suck, bang, and blow. If it stops running like it's supposed to, there are only a few things that could be wrong, and almost all of them are easy to get to. That can't be said for some of the newer cars that you have to take the engine out to get to the spark plugs.

 

At the very least, if you can get the truck running, you will probably want to do a basic tuneup (plugs, plug wires, points, condensor, dist. cap and rotor...up to $75, depending on what you buy). Figure another $50 for fluids (antifreeze, brake juice, tranny juice, diff. juice, PS juice), then fan belts (another $50 or so), and probably another $50 for hoses (radiator and heater hoses). That's just to get it fresh and ready to put on the road again. Then there's tires, battery and anything else it needs under the hood...radiator, alternator, starter, etc., plus brakes, lights, radio (I know you'll want tunes in it). In other words you can drop $1000 plus into one of these old trucks pretty fast...so don't jump too quickly...check it out first and then do some figuring on what it's going to cost to get it road worthy...then wait a week or so just to think about whether you really like a truck that old and want to drive it every day...then look around and see what other vehicle you could get for what the old truck will cost you at first. You could get the truck rolling and use in on the farm, but have a newer other vehicle for your daily driver. Where are you in Texas? Don't forget that any vehicle will cost you about $75 a year in Texas just for an inspection sticker and registration, not to mention insurance. Post some pix of the truck you're talking about...we can help you get it on the road if you decide to go that route.