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Hagerty Insurance specializes in classic vehicles and, so, keeps an eye on market conditions. They publish values based upon supply/demand estimation for a range of conditions (concours to rough). You can use their valuation tools to learn what they think a vehicle is worth for insurance purposes. Here's what I found when I looked up my '76 F-150:
If that's the case I have a 77 F150 LWB 4X4 for sale first $15,000 takes it.
I agree with you. but if the flippers can buy good rigs, haul them east and make a good profit there's no reason someone as to be confined to their local market. they can expand their search area and get what they want at a better price, transporting a vehicle is cheap compared to what massive restoration can cost.
Agreed. I live in New Mexico, but will be expanding my search pretty much nationwide. But, I do prefer trucks that have lived out west if possible - they "usually" fair a bit better against the elements over time.
A 4x4 dent with power steering fetches the highest premium here in lower PA. The more upgraded and the less rust pushes it into the 13-18 range.... i can buy a 2wd for 2-4 grand all day around here. They just dont sell for much more than that. Just about every dentside i see thats readily driven has come from the north west around here. Mostly younger guys that buy them from a flipper locally. The profit margins for flippers is starting to shrink drastically, due to the increasing prices from the west coast. The desirability for dents has skyrocketed more than anyone I've spoken with ever expected... For me its the ever increasing aftermarket improvements. Its doesnt matter what motor you have or how sloppy your steering wheel is. It can all be fixed very nicely for a reasonable price... compare that to a modern day trucks cost, and i feel its obvious why they are being sought after...just my opinion
There is logic to that. plus the fact anyone with basic skills can work on these older rigs, no so with later models.
I'm not convinced these are ever going to be worth a fortune, but there are much worse investments. I'm going to continue to watch for rust free 4x4's and if I think they're a deal , which is getting rare, I'll just poke them in one of my barns and worry about what I'm going to do with it later.
Don't discount the 2wd short beds. In the last 5 years here in FL I don't see them last more than a day or two before someone grabs them. It might be the case that a lot of the 4x4's I see here are beat to hell and back from mudding, etc.
Don't discount the 2wd short beds. In the last 5 years here in FL I don't see them last more than a day or two before someone grabs them. It might be the case that a lot of the 4x4's I see here are beat to hell and back from mudding, etc.
I dont doubt it at all. Ive got a good buddy that moved here from Georgia. Lives and dies by his 2wd. Loads it up every snow storm with sand buckets and what not... in the northern states the 2wd trucks just dont garner the serious attention the 4x4s do.
" sit higher and have much better engines" yes and yes. why do you think they call them high boys ? and an FE is one of the best engines Ford ever produced, the 351-400 is probably the worst.
That '77 short bed is on the high side even if it didn't have rust . I can see rust over the rear wheel well that would send me off screaming like my teeth are on fire. I would put it under 10k
This quite possible the most uninformed statement I have seen on this board...
The 335 series was the last pushrod engine Ford designed. It incorporates better base engine geometry Bore/Stroke/Rod-Length than just about any other engine made. The heads are the Cleveland pattern and work exceptionally well. The biggest problem with these motors as delivered was cam and ignition timing as well as a 2V only. A 400M with a 4v intake and RV cam will run circles around the 360 that was the only FE available in the "Hiboys"
Axles/Brakes/Steering/chassis-Dynamics/Transfercase/Fuel-Tank-Configuration/ETC/ETC are all vastly superior in the 78-79 F250's There is not a single thing the hiboy has over a 78-78 that a set of springs cant cure. The $$$ it takes to bring a pre-77 F250 4X4 up to the standard of a D60F equipped 78/79 are significant.
No wait what am I saying... The Hiboi's are the best truck ever, 78/79's are marginal, particularly those with that boat anchor D60 front end. Will give you scrap metal prices and come pick them up...
This quite possible the most uninformed statement I have seen on this board...
The 335 series was the last pushrod engine Ford designed. It incorporates better base engine geometry Bore/Stroke/Rod-Length than just about any other engine made. The heads are the Cleveland pattern and work exceptionally well. The biggest problem with these motors as delivered was cam and ignition timing as well as a 2V only. A 400M with a 4v intake and RV cam will run circles around the 360 that was the only FE available in the "Hiboys"
Axles/Brakes/Steering/chassis-Dynamics/Transfercase/Fuel-Tank-Configuration/ETC/ETC are all vastly superior in the 78-79 F250's There is not a single thing the hiboy has over a 78-78 that a set of springs cant cure. The $$$ it takes to bring a pre-77 F250 4X4 up to the standard of a D60F equipped 78/79 are significant.
No wait what am I saying... The Hiboi's are the best truck ever, 78/79's are marginal, particularly those with that boat anchor D60 front end. Will give you scrap metal prices and come pick them up...
I agree.
I have a 1979 F150 Ranger 4X4, 400, T-18 4-speed. One owner truck & all original. 292,000 miles on the original 400 engine--no issues. It isn't bursting with power but has had a long, respectable, trouble-free life.
I recently answered an ad for a ‘65 c10 stepside shortbed. I was first to view the truck which was restored 25 Year’s prior and been kept in the dry. He was an older guy and he was firm at his $5000 price. I bought it on the spot and have had several really nice offers since then.
The guy also has a 1979 2wd short wheel base F150 Lariat....what I believe to be a pretty rare package. It hasn’t been moved in 20+ Years. I didn’t see any rot nor dents on it. He was asking $2000 for it. Is that something I need to go take another look at? I’m pretty sure he said the engine had about 92,000 miles ad had a noticeable knock.
he also had a 1961 unibody sitting there that he said he’d sell but I don’t remember the price.
The only people who think a 335 engine is not drastically inferior to a 385 or FE series engine are people who are ill informed or feel the need to compensate for what they own.
I own them all, I have rebuilt them all. the 351 -400 is and has been from day one a sorry work of engineering this is a well known accepted fact since 1978 , I bought one new my dad bought 2 new. they were gutless short lived junk. . period. if I hurt your feelers whatever , it wasn't my intention but sometimes the truth isn't fun.
On the bright side there is a remedy, now days they make kits to drop a 385 series engine right in your 77-79. I had to fab my first ones from scratch and it was a PITA.
The only people who think a 335 engine is not drastically inferior to a 385 or FE series engine are people who are ill informed or feel the need to compensate for what they own.
I own them all, I have rebuilt them all. the 351 -400 is and has been from day one a sorry work of engineering this is a well known accepted fact since 1978 , I bought one new my dad bought 2 new. they were gutless short lived junk. . period. if I hurt your feelers whatever , it wasn't my intention but sometimes the truth isn't fun.
On the bright side there is a remedy, now days they make kits to drop a 385 series engine right in your 77-79. I had to fab my first ones from scratch and it was a PITA.
The 400M is not superior to a 385, nor is it better than many members of the FE family. It is however not drastically inferior to the 2V 360 available in the 73-76 F250 4x4's. If we are talking motor swaps thats a different conversation. And its a HELL of a lot easier (and cheaper) to improve a 400 to an acceptable level than it is to swap out: A low pinion drum brake closed knuckle 44, re-engineer the power steering system, convert to a married T-case, add sway bars, get rid of dripping exposed fuel caps and an in cab tank. Etc Etc.
And you last point makes my entire point. It is so trivial to upgrade the engines, there is not a single reason that the pre 77 F250 4x4's are better than the 78/79 counterparts.
(Now the really sharp guys will (correctly) step in here and say if you live in Ca the smog laws might make an early truck more desireable... Cant argue against that.)
And for the record my 78 has a slighty built factory installed 460...
(Upon Edit)
A little FYI on the Ford 400...... The FE was a great engine and had a great reputation especially during the 60's having the luxury of being a pre emission engine so I'm not diminishing the FE in any way shape or form here OK? 400's were associated with the 351M (which WAS junk) so MOST people who don't know any better are surprised to see a 400 easily walk away from competitors. In stock form the emissions 2V 400 was not a strong performer and ultimately was a victim of the CARB era emissions so sadly 400's didn't stay around long enough. But be careful saying 400's were total junk and couldn't be fast for you would be wrong and make yourself look dumb. Did you know that 400's were really great racing engines and could be totally badass? Yes sir, ask Bob Glidden. Bob Glidden won 10 National Championships, 5 consecutive Championships and when he retired in 1997 he was the winningest NHRA driver with his 400 Ford. Yep a 400, not an FE or 335 or even the Windsor. The 400 Ford. (no "M" btw). Starting in 1974 thru the 80's Bob Glidden's Pro Street engine was a 408ci 400 ford engine. Glidden said of the 400 Ford, "the bore, stroke, and rod ratio was perfect for racing adding that the Cleveland style heads could be hogged out to out flow Big Block Hemi's." The NHRA Pro Street engine size limit was 500 cubic inches but gladden LOVED his 408. He did eventually beat ALL the competition for years with his little 408. He also said the 400 was the best looking engine Ford ever produced. To date no one person has won as many National Events (85) or National Championships (10) with an FE or ANY other production Ford engine. The Ford 400 has its place in racing history as one of the fastest and winningest Ford engines ever......like 'em or not.
Last edited by squeezer; May 23, 2019 at 01:04 AM.
Reason: (adding a bit of history)
you swapped in a 460 ? seems like lots of folks do that. but they never swap a 335 in place of a 385 series engine. why do you suppose that is?
The high boy is more desirable because it sits higher and has a better engine. and because it's a " highboy" . just like your 400 argument you can't win this one because you never see a seller advertising " Lowboy ! " to attract buyers to a 77-79 do you ? we can debate the merits of the high boy but not the market facts.
I own my dads free wheeling 79 " lowboy " and I own a '76 highboy. other than the junk 400 I replaced with a 429 the '79 is a better pickup from a strictly functional standpoint. but by the same token my 2018 F350 King Ranch is better than any of them in every way so that argument is irrelevant.
The subject is values, and a comparable highboy is worth more than an equal 77-79. this is just a fact of market desirability. I know where you're coming from though, my new '79 had an automatic and I really wanted a 4spd. so 'I told everyone 4spds sucked and I wanted an automatic. I've been there too.
