Is this a good deal?

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Hi, I have a friend who is willing to sell an old 1949 Chevy truck for $500. It is rough as one would expect for a truck of this age. It is complete but it has cancer, rusted cab mounts and lower cab corners etc. Clean title and the frame is in good shape. The stovebolt is complete and rotates. I was just wondering what the going price of a project truck is. Thanks for your time.

[rebarjoe]

If you want it bad enough $500 is a good deal. If your on the fence then maybe your not really interested. If you don't want it I garantee some one will come along and grab it. So do what your heart says. All things aside I would have to say it is a fair price.
Joe

[Blue Beard]

Take cash in hand, start at $300 and see where it goes....

Totally depends on how much you want a project....

[sider68]

Its not a good deal to you at least if you don,t need it.I,ve been down that road with a 62 I just had to have and figured one day I might restore.Ended up selling it for $200 as I needed the room.
My first project was a 68 and I got it for $600 then ended up pouring a fortune into it as well.My own stupidity.
If you most importantly have some skills and free time,then it would be worth it.Truck parts are available as others.Good luck.

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

I am prepared for the work. Having restored my 74 GMC, and am almost done restoring the wifes 67 Mustang. This will be the next project, just didn't know what the going rate was for this truck. Thanks for the replies.

[solidaxel]

Add another 15 - 20 thousand to that 500 and you will have avery nice new truck!!

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Shhhh... Don't tell the wife.

[BUXMAN66]

go for it dude!! you gotta love the classic lines of the '47-54 series....okay,okay...'47-'55 (1st) series!! lol

[solidaxel]

Just tell the wife that you ordered a new SSR and it will be in in 12 months and you got it for half price because the top did not retract, and look at all the money you saved. I have been doing this for so long that I can justify all of my new projects!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TATE228]

$500 is a good deal seeing how they are so cool and they won't really go down in value like a new truck would. say you put 10,000 into it on paper you have 10,500 into it but the truck will still be worth that in 20 years. think of a new car you spend 10,000 on it will be worth about 3 quarters and a bag of potato chips in 20 years.

[bpmcgee]

People are always talking about how much it costs to fix up "cheap" trucks.

Well, having now fixed up two trucks -- my '75 silverado and my '71 Blazer that were NOT $500 trucks, I have to say, my next truck is going to be cheap.

Why? Because I think it costs as much to fix them up if they're $2000 trucks or $500 trucks. Now maybe that's just me -- I tend to be pretty anal about the quality of the sheet metal. I'm apt to replace panels that other people might bondo up and call good.

Brian

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Right, I'm the same way. The only original pieces are likely to be the cab and frame. Looking at new drivetrain all around and safety upgrades. Will be the father son/daughter project (this helps sell it to the wife!!)
I also love the smooth body style of the first series.

[solidaxel]

Sooooo, what kind of budget are you looking at, for the finished pick up

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Well, If it goes anything like the Mustang restoration. Who knows. I doo everything myself which saves alot on cost. Been working on the mustang for four years now. Been goinh to school so haven't had an awful lot of time. Will be the same way on the truck. Figure about $2000 a year till completed. (this will not break the bank) What companies have you guys/gals used for replacement parts? And any complaints of quality? The searching I have done shows that the replacement parts ar a little more spendy than they have been for the 'stang or '74 GMC, but that is to be expected.

[solidaxel]

All the companys sell about the same items and the prices are competive so deal with the one that gives you the best deal or has best shipping to your location and don't give up !!!

[rebarjoe]

Get all the catalogs you can and conpare prices along with shipping costs. I have a '49 and want to change over the knee action shocks to standard shocks. There are kits for this conversion but they are pricey so I fabricated my own mounts. I have all the steel laying around my shop and naturally a welder. The welds may not be pretty but they are strong and I don't expect anyone to stick their head under the fenders to examine them. Got my shocks from local NAPA.