New "Big Truck" Owner

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 13, 2012 | 10:22 AM

51fordf5

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 515

Likes: 8

New "Big Truck" Owner

Hello all,

As the title says, I just bought a 51 Ford F5... It's got a non running Flathead V8 (239 I believe), 4 speed trans, and a whole lot of parts. Has 42,000 original miles. Body is straight, not too much rust. Paint's a different story. I'm going to pick it up this weekend or sometime next week. My main question is what is something like this worth (once I get it running)? I'm planning on getting it running good and strong, keeping it around over the summer, and then selling it around next fall. But we'll see, I may get attached. That being said, how rare are these? I can post pics once I pick it up. It currently does not have any bed on it, so it's just the chassis and cab. How is this engine? I'm more of a Dodge guy (daily driver is an 02 Dakota), but I have a 1930 Model A as well, and that has the flathead 4 cylinder and that's really easy to work on. I'm guessing this engine is really simple as well.

Thanks

Edit: Maybe this should be in the F1 and larger F Series forum? If so, can a moderator move it? Thanks

Last edited by 51fordf5; Mar 13, 2012 at 10:37 AM. Reason: Wrong forum?

Mar 13, 2012 | 10:00 PM

nevrenufhp

Cargo Master

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 2,341

Likes: 5

From: Sacramento

Around here we have to see one to believe it. No offense, nothing personal.

Mar 14, 2012 | 12:41 AM

rummur s.c.

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 290

Likes: 2

From: Seattle Washington

Value = what someone will pay..

scrap yards on west coast pay 7-11 cents a pound for a complete car.. 10K = about 1000 bucks. Depending on the markets.

If its restored to new condition, then you may find a high dollar buyer. Brand new, at a good auction you may get 10, 20 thousand bucks? More if you spend some money on a nice crane, or roll off/ back bed. Something to make the truck serviceable.

Mar 14, 2012 | 06:06 AM

truckdog62563

Marmon-Herrington Man

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 11,986

Likes: 446

From: Central Illinois

Trying to fix up and flip an old Ford big truck is a good way to turn $5000 into $2500 in those months of ownership. Wheels and tires alone to get it serviceable will be needed, and could absorb over $1000, since no prospective buyer who's done his homework will buy a refurbished early truck with its stock "widow maker" wheels. Old trucks are not investments. Too many guys watch Barrett-Jackson and see high selling prices without seeing the money invested (and commonly lost) by the seller. Stu

Mar 15, 2012 | 10:25 PM

SGT DuckButter

Freshman User

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

From: Bergland, MI

I got mine big (F700) truck for the price of scrap. 72 F700 Fire Truck, 25,000 miles, $1,500.00, Only real need is brake work, hose broke. Not worth anything but I'm one weirdo cuz I love that truck more than Toys costing thousands more, so I guess I'll ride it out and fix it up a bit, as far as I'm concerned even if I spend another 3500.00 fixing it up, it will be nicer than any 5,000 truck you could buy, you don't get much of a toy for 5k anyway.

Mar 15, 2012 | 10:49 PM

UrbanXX

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 2,498

Likes: 2

I'm not an expert by no means, but if the truck has no bed needs tires and dosen't run, it will need a lot of money spent on it in parts, starting with about 100.00 for a battery. You also can spend a ton on wheels and brakes.

To make it look decent you will need to sandblast the frame, wheels and repaint. This is work, time and expense. All the above and its still not running.

I live in East Tennessee and scrap brings 13.50 a hundred, so the truck will bring about 700.00, thats about what it would be worth here.

I would not consider it rare at all.

Regurdless what you paid for it you will need to spend about 2000.00 on parts and do a lot of hard work on the truck yourself to make it bring 3000.00.

So in reality its a hobby and somthing that is fun to restore to runnng order and I might add hard to make money on.

To make a profit on this type of truck is a task that is hard to deal with.

Mar 18, 2012 | 02:41 PM

51fordf5

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 515

Likes: 8

Hey guys, sorry to not get back sooner... The deal might not work out. I was supposed to get it for like $750. And yeah, the intent of getting this truck was not so much to make money. I knew doing something like this would not have much of a return, it's just a cool project, I've never really had a bigger truck like this before. If I end up getting it, I need to sell it in the fall simply because I'm going away to college and (obviously) won't be able to take it with. And no way do the 'rents want a big ole Ford sitting in their driveway lol. I'll keep you guys posted on what happens, if this deal falls through I'm definitely going to end up getting a different old Ford. Also looking at a 75 F100 Supercab Longbed with a 390 auto. Good shape, runs good, looks pretty good and they want around $1,000. I'll keep you guys posted though.

Edit: And yes, technically I already bought the F5, but it was on ebay and the seller doesn't have to sell to me if he can get more out of the other bidders, which it seems like he will do from talking to him.

Last edited by 51fordf5; Mar 18, 2012 at 02:43 PM. Reason: More details