New here first post.
I have a chance to get a '68 f250 Flareside with a 300 six cylinder and manual trans with granny gear.
It has about 80k original miles. I've only seen a picture of it. It runs.
My questions are:
How hard is it to find parts for these?
Would it be safe to assume that these are some what rare?
Would this be a good choice for resto?
Is $1800 a good price?


thanks

 

Welcome to FTE

1968 F250 Flareside Pickup: 5,298 were assembled. This production figure includes 2WD's and 4WD's.

Do not trust what the miles on the odometer read for two reasons.

1) The odometer reads to 99,999.9 miles then returns to ZERO.

2) Used car dealers back then were notorious for (illegally) rolling back the mileage.

So...it could have 80,000, or 180,000, or 280,000 miles. Or who knows?

80,000 miles on a 42 year old vehicle averages out to about 1,900 miles per year. Ask yourself if this is plausible...or not.

Value is in the eyes of the beholder. It's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

The major concern is not parts availability, because most mechanical parts are available from autoparts stores, many trim items have been reproduced.

RUST is the major concern: Look for it in the cab corners, cab mounts, floor pan, rocker panels, lower section of the front fenders, radiator support, drip rail mouldings.

Use a magnet. Ppl for years have used bondo and undercoating to hide the sins.

The survival percentage that pertains to vehicles of this vintage is 10%. This means that there are only about 529 remaining.

The figure is even lower when you consider how many were 2WD or 4WD.

 

I work with the guy who is selling it. I think his Uncle bought it new and it has been in the family ever since.

He said it had a small patch of rust on the left fender.

All the points you made are good sound advice.

I'm going to try and look at it tomorrow.

Thank for the help

 

I've owned over 300 old rolling piles of misery, so...I know what to look for!

Does TN use salt on the roads? If so...make an extra effort when searching for rust.

Rust is not usually a concern where I'm located (except for the fracatta drip rails). I'm in LA LA Land aka Los Angeles CA.

btw: The 2010 F100 Super Nationals Truck Show and Swap Meet is being held the 13-15th of May in Pigeon Forge NC.

I went to the 2008 Nats (it was held at the Knoxville zoo's parking lot). There's enough stuff to look at...to keep y'all busy for a week.

 

I live in S.E. Tn. We don't get much snow but when it does they salt main roads and hiways. Where this truck is at probaly has never seen a salt truck.

Might have to check that show. I'm about 2.5 hours from Pigeon Forge. that's in TN. It's almost in N.C.

I grew up in Ca. La Puente and Walnut Through the 9th grade. Left in the early 80s.

 

I'm actually in Hacienda Heights, which you know is S of La Puente, WSW of Walnut.

The only new car dealership left in La Puente is the Ford Dealer (Ed Butts, formally Abbott, formerly Ken Roggy). All the rest have closed or moved.

The Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealer moved to a brand new multi-million dollar facility in Industry just as the Recession began. 10 months later, it went belly up.

No NFL in LA LA Land, but a private investor just bought a huge chunk of land in Walnut just north of the 60 freeway and is going to build a football stadium there.

Now...all we need is a team.

 

Bill your knowledge is fantastic I just got a 68 f250 step side 6 cyl 4 speed its been sitting a long time I had no idea it was so rare thanks for your imput