Barn Find (sorta)
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 85
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From: Cental Fl
Barn Find (sorta)
Hi guys,
Been lurking for a while and thought I'd share my project. The first picture is of my 79 supercab I picked up in NC earlier this year. Plans are a 4wd conversion/restoration. Already picked up a better short bed, and a donor for 4wd for the converstion. Anyway, the reason for this post is a friend sent me a link to a CL post for a 79 grill, so I called and made arangenments to go look at it. It turns out that the seller has had this OEM grill shell in his barn for the last 30 years! When he bought a 79 truck new, the grill had a dent so the dealer gave him a replacement. With the exception of some dust it is flawless, I could not belive my luck and quickly handed over some cash and took off....I know the original tooled stamped aftermarket grills are about $500 from the various parts delears but was wondering what this grill is actually worth?
Been lurking for a while and thought I'd share my project. The first picture is of my 79 supercab I picked up in NC earlier this year. Plans are a 4wd conversion/restoration. Already picked up a better short bed, and a donor for 4wd for the converstion. Anyway, the reason for this post is a friend sent me a link to a CL post for a 79 grill, so I called and made arangenments to go look at it. It turns out that the seller has had this OEM grill shell in his barn for the last 30 years! When he bought a 79 truck new, the grill had a dent so the dealer gave him a replacement. With the exception of some dust it is flawless, I could not belive my luck and quickly handed over some cash and took off....I know the original tooled stamped aftermarket grills are about $500 from the various parts delears but was wondering what this grill is actually worth?
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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Holy cow! That is a good day. I heard of people spending over $700 bucks for one of those! That shell is $550 plus shipping out of Dennis Carpenter, I hear there the closest to the original fit. I plan on buying one for my 77 F250 4x4 one of these days but the cheep repo will have to do for now....unless I pull a horseshoe out of my butt like you!! Great find!!!!!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 999
Likes: 1
From: Davison, Mi.
OMG that's Beautiful!
You won't be able to replace it for what you sell it for so sell it and get $700 or so for it, then get a nice used one for $75 and use that one, or put it on your truck and never risk hurting it by never driving it.
That grille is for trailer queens.
You won't be able to replace it for what you sell it for so sell it and get $700 or so for it, then get a nice used one for $75 and use that one, or put it on your truck and never risk hurting it by never driving it.
That grille is for trailer queens.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
From: in country near Boone, IA
well i paid $500 for my OEM one, it was one of the last few that Ford stamped in the 80's and it's still in the original Ford box (no I didn't buy it from Ford) awaiting to go on my '78 F250 4x4 Crew resto project.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12,183
Likes: 18
From: St. Charles, Missouri.
Put it back in the box and put it in YOUR garage for another 30years, They don't make dentsides anymore, any by then it will be worth way more...
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
I disagree with the others. yes they don't make dentsides anymore... so does that mean we should put then in storage and never drive them? I say then what is the point. If you have it then use it or it's a waste all the way around. Nothing worse then all the wasted old vehicles now sitting in storage somewhere never to be driven again.
My wife was afraid to use what I bought her for christmas this year for fear of damaging it. My response? Well if your not going to use it, there is no point in having it so might as well take it back.... She uses it daily and glad she has it.
My wife was afraid to use what I bought her for christmas this year for fear of damaging it. My response? Well if your not going to use it, there is no point in having it so might as well take it back.... She uses it daily and glad she has it.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 83
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From: Athens, GA
Well it's like an investment, a 401G(rille)! I would put a crappy one on to get beat up unless I had a show truck. I am all for using things, but i'd rather have two of something so I can use the crappy one and keep the other nice. Best of both worlds. I think everyone would be pissed if I put that nice grille on my beater truck (for example), and would rather me not use it rather than just let it get beat up.
Josh
Josh
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Wingo, Ky
I disagree with the others. yes they don't make dentsides anymore... so does that mean we should put then in storage and never drive them? I say then what is the point. If you have it then use it or it's a waste all the way around. Nothing worse then all the wasted old vehicles now sitting in storage somewhere never to be driven again.
My wife was afraid to use what I bought her for christmas this year for fear of damaging it. My response? Well if your not going to use it, there is no point in having it so might as well take it back.... She uses it daily and glad she has it.
My wife was afraid to use what I bought her for christmas this year for fear of damaging it. My response? Well if your not going to use it, there is no point in having it so might as well take it back.... She uses it daily and glad she has it.
I just thought it would be a good idea to keep that nice original shell out of harms way. I think I would probably actually use it to make a scene on my wall in the house. Hang it up and also hang up headlights/bezels and parking lights with it to make a conversation peice.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
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From: Big Sky Country
Personally speaking i would just put it on ebay and sit back and watch the bidding war and then put the 600-800 bucks you get for it into other areas of the truck, 78/79 grille shells in really good condition are not uncommon finds in most junkyards for under 100 bucks if you don't mind a few scratches and dings.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 85
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From: Cental Fl
Barn Find
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Wow! I kinda thought is was worth around $600 but $7-800 
You guys definitely have a lot of interesting opinions and I like something about each one, thanks for the input....Although the $$$ I would get for selling it would be nice, I will most likely never come across another deal like this one. I can't imagine what it will be worth in another 10 years. I do have another original grille shell that does not have any dents however it has some scratches and needs sanded and polished (need to learn how to do that). I guess I'll decide which one to use when the time comes, until then I'm gonna polish it, wrap it up with some padding, put it back in the box, draw a treasure map and hide it, LOL.
You guys definitely have a lot of interesting opinions and I like something about each one, thanks for the input....Although the $$$ I would get for selling it would be nice, I will most likely never come across another deal like this one. I can't imagine what it will be worth in another 10 years. I do have another original grille shell that does not have any dents however it has some scratches and needs sanded and polished (need to learn how to do that). I guess I'll decide which one to use when the time comes, until then I'm gonna polish it, wrap it up with some padding, put it back in the box, draw a treasure map and hide it, LOL.
