Having repainted the 54 panel , I have been thinking of a winter project . Surfing craigslist has scared me , Has everyone gone crazy ? prices for scrap trucks are through the roof . $3000 for something that has more rust than metal , and the prices of drivers $15,000 or more . I may have to give up on trucks and start pottery classes . I also have to think about putting the panel up for sale , just throw a crazy number out there and see what happens . From asking prices of other trucks $25,000 - $30,000 would be in the ball park . If I could get that I would have to sell .

 

Tough to know what to do. Always remember "You make money on the buy", and if sale prices are now high... Collectables go through phases, certain cars (and now trucks) fall in and out of favor. And who knows what happens to prices 5 or 10 years from now. Nobody ever went broke taking a profit though.

 

As good cores get fewer and fewer the prices will continue to go up. Trucks are at a premium right now, I think four door sedans will be the next hot item. The days of finding a coupe or roadster are all but gone.

 

Those are asking prices. I doubt many, if any, sold for that. I didn't pay close to asking price for my two project trucks.

 

There are deals to be found on craigslist. They just don't last very long. The high priced stuff ends up staying out there for a long time.

 

Pretty sure things Like "Gas Monkey Garage", "Misfit Garage" and a zillion other similar shows that pay exorbitant prices for scrap ain't helping the normal automotive hobbyist find those $500 barn finds. Even abandoned or lost interest projects are too high for most guys wallet. But then again, Have you priced a new truck lately?

 

My son hijacked my truck and will probably take it to college with him. My wife mentioned me getting a truck after he leaves or when our youngest gets her license. So, I looked at trucks for a minute. DANG! I think I need to get my 55 set up for any truck work I need, or sell my youngest.

 

I said the same thing when I began looking for a truck. Same thing then, rusted trucks asking 4-5 grand. So I just watched the sales and came up with Henry at the price I wanted to pay. But if you look real close at the internet, there are probably 15-20 sites selling old trucks. I looked at every one, every day. There is one that I think was called Midwest trucks that had all kinds of trucks at realistic prices. But a lot of them were stake bodies and bigger trucks.

I recall one guy that had a really rusted wreck that was sitting in the dirt that kept relisting it for some ridiculous price. After four or five listings I contacted him and we had a very frank discussion about his truck. He finally lowered the price because he just didn't know any better. He sold it and he thanked me for setting him straight. So like stated above by others, make an offer. You never know what might happen.

Or just wait and watch like I did. I wound up with a truck with restored interior and ALL of it's original sheet metal (except the tailgate) with NO RUST! This is a once in a lifetime find. And in case you haven't seen my post about it, it has a 351W with cam and headers. Henry is out getting a Mustang II front end with power R&P and sic brakes.

Later!
Mr. Ed

 

Good point about the price of current trucks, this is going to bleed over to some degree on the price of older iron. There's a certain floor price that any running truck in reasonable condition is worth, simply because it can always be used as a truck. A competently restored truck represents good value, usually the owner will not get back anywhere close what he put into it in terms of labor alone. The collectable angle adds lots of "blue sky" but if the demand is there prices will be strong. Old trucks can be fun within their limitations and far easier to work on and still do what they were designed to do.

 

You're just looking in the wrong driveway

 

I hear you.

I scour craigslist once in a while. I originally wanted, and still do, an F100. I tell myself I'll sell the 250 if I find one. But like you said, total rust buckets (I'm in the SE USA) that don't even run for 3k. Ones that I could drive without having to work on are easily 15k+.

 

There are some smokin' deals out there, but they're mostly on "90%" trucks.
Compare these:
1952 Ford F 150
1952 Ford f100 custom

To these:
1951 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck
1950 Ford f150 Rat rod
56 ford

You'd be time and money ahead buying a truck that's finished or 90% there. Not the same experience, but...

 

Yep.. Although, if the body on the last "56" is decent, some wheelin and dealin might get you a good deal. Too bad he doesn't even know what year it is.

 

1955 ford f100 f1 pick up truck

Check the pictures. Then read the description.

 

Unsure of engine condition probably means it is stuck. No doubt in part due to the lack of an air cleaner...