Guys,

I have a 1980 -86 tailgate that was taken off in the late 80's and stored in order to put a slide in camper in.

The insert is perfect. The black paint has 6in scratch near the top and a very small dimple that the camera cannot pick up.

Located in COLORADO -- I'll be posting in classifieds if I ever get permission.

 

Salvage seem to be between 50-75. If I knew shipping cost I'd make you an offer. Do you know what it weighs?

 

hmm - salvage yards around here are at $300 for a mangled one. weights about 80-100 lbs

 

Shipping for me would be about $100. You'd do better to put it on a local Craigslist and get your $300 for it.

 

Way more than $50. I'd start at $200 or so if it was mine. That era is usually thrashed beyond usability around here.

Any yard that would charge $300 for a mangled tailgate would never see any of my business. It's cheaper to buy your own parts trucks at that rate.

 

That's what I was thinking as well.

 

The panel itself is worth more than the tailgate. Especially in that condition. It is not currently being reproduced. It was only used from 85-86 on the xlt lariats with the "protection package" which has the anodized aluminum front to rear. At Carlisle that tailgate as a whole would go for ~400.

 

Too bad it's in Colorado, I'll bet the new owner of yours would love it Matt.

 

About 11 years ago I backed into a dumpster and crumpled my original 83 gate (indented, no trim panel).... I searched every yard anywhere near me for a week or so until I FINALLY found one on a truck in a wrecker service yard that had never been severly dented or overloaded until the spot welds popped... I paid $75 and felt like I robbed them. I still had to have bodywork/paint done to it and then respray the bedliner on it. And like I said that was over a decade ago.

Your's is damn near a treasure, especially considering it's unique to 80-86 trucks and the trim panel is further unique to two years of that truck.

IMHO... put it on ebay with a reserve of $250 and see what happens. Easiest way to ship it would probably be via Greyhound if it isn't too long. I don't know if it'd be worthwhile to sell the trim panel seperate or not. It would be easier to ship, but then you'd have a perfect gate with mounting holes in it and missing the rare trim panel...

 

Sell it as a whole for whatever you can get for it. Does it do you much good siting around another 20 years? I would price it at $250the and go from there. That way to keep the lowballers away.

 

250 is way too low, 400 reserve is good.
Someone who really needs a pristine panel will pay it and maybe MORE! They "ain't makin' 'em anymore"
I used to sell NOS parts, external first-impression parts go for top dollar.

 

400 sounds good to me.
Lmc sells good quality repros for almost 500.
Crap ones cost around 150.
I paid 200 for a good shape 96 tailgate. Had to make it fit mine.

Some one restoring a truck needs that. Probably would pay more.

 

I bought a tailgate off a mid 90's truck from the junk yard for $20. Not a speck of rust and a small dent in the trim panel. There is a NOS Flareside (80-86) tailgate for sale in the adds here. Asking $400 for it and it's been there awhile (2.5yrs).

I guess my point is yea it may be hard to find another but do you really want to hold onto it another 20yrs till you get that $400 offer?? Plus you may have to ship it so the buyer is looking more at $500.

 

87-96 gates have a different profile at the top, along with latch and mid panel design... I have a nearly perfect (except for paint) on my $600 beater 92 Ford. If it was as rare as this pristine 80-86 gate, I'd sell it in a heartbeat and joke about my "free truck".

I'd try an ebay auction, worst case you're out a few bucks if it doesn't hit the reserve. It's been collecting dust for years, no need to get in a hurry now.

 

Thanks guys,

I'd let it go for $225 + shipping (if not in co) to whomever wants it. I think that is a fair shake to most.