What TF happened to square prices in the US?

[ozkiwi]

I have not been keeping up with prices in the US since I bought my C10 out of NY 9 years ago. I payed $7500 at the time so when I had a bit of a browse on ebay I came across this truck and cannot believe the asking price!

Is this really worth 25k??
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284179703537?ul_noapp=true

[5Tractorguy]

Over the past year or so, the prices shot up drastically. I scan FB Marketplace daily for them. Here in the North East you can't touch a K20 for under 6-7K in running/driving/fair condition, C30 dually 3+3 pickups are going for for 7-8K minimum in driving cond, a K5 Blazer for 8K - 10K... it's nuts. Never mind badly rotted parts trucks, 1.5 - 2K... Granted there are some good deals found in between, but they seem to be harder to find.

Compared to Ebay prices, those probably sound great. I suppose popularity, the truck flippers and part out guys are driving the prices up though. Can't tell you how many guys told me that back in the day you couldn't give these away, or could pick one up for $2 - 300 bucks.

I'm just glad 1-ton cab and chassis are still somewhat reasonable since that's what I have the most of!

[SKR]

There's a few things here, I think.

First, if you don't have a stupid asking price, you won't get stupid money. I've listed a truck for what I thought was a pretty high price. I've also listed one for a more than fair price. Both sold almost immediately, and I wonder how much more I could have gotten if I listed them for higher. You don't get it if you don't ask, and you can always bring your asking price down.

Second, all it takes is someone looking for that exact thing. For me, for certain exterior or interior colors, there's no price low enough that would interest me. For other colors, like black on red in this example, I'm willing to pay a lot more because that's the way I'd want it.

Third, there's a value on having something you can twist the key and go. I know for a lot of people, there's a lot of joy and pride that comes from building something themselves. For me, I've worked on enough junk on the farm growing up that I never want to do it again. If I can find something with the right color, the right wheels, the right driveline, the right stance, there's a lot of value there in jumping right to the end of a build and getting a chance to drive it. I don't think one approach is any better than the other, it just depends on what you're into.

Having said all that, I wouldn't be interested in it for even half that price. The color is right, but I don't like the wheels, it's not low enough, it's not a GMC, it's only got single headlights, it's not an 81-82. If it was all those things though, I'd be awfully willing to pay a premium over what it cost to build it just to jump to the end of the line where I get to drive it.

[Mattchu60]

I have also noticed a big increase since summer. No idea whats driving it, maybe all the stimulus money or possibly people needing a hobby due to staying at home more so they are looking for a classic truck to play with.

I bought a worn out 87' short box 2wd 3 years ago for 1k here in Iowa. Now they are bringing 4-5k for something similar.

The rusted out hulks are asking 1k now, trucks that probably should be in the scrap yard. Those were 300 bucks a few years back.

If you find a nice one (basic resto or nice original) they are usually over 10k.

[ozkiwi]

[QUOTE=Mattchu60;8878408]I have also noticed a big increase since summer. No idea whats driving it, maybe all the stimulus money or possibly people needing a hobby due to staying at home more so they are looking for a classic truck to play with.

Prices have not caught up with that trend yet here in Australia but guessing it wont be long as the importers are going to be paying the US market price.
Generally American cars and trucks are outrageous prices here but that truck would cost 45k AUD to land here at that price and I don't think it would be good value.
Maybe I should lower mine and send mine back?

[Dead Parrot]

Basic supply and demand. The supply is shrinking as trucks are scrapped, parted out or simply rust away. Demand is increasing. Price follows.

A lot of folks nearing retirement drove one of these in their teens and twenties. Fairly common for vehicle families in the 30~40 year old range to go up in value as folks retire and want to revisit their youth and have the money and time to make it happen.

Many folks are willing to pay $10+K for a decent older truck with a full sized bed vs $40~60k for a new 'sedan replacement' truck with a crew cab and short bed.

Others are trying to avoid the "Always connected personalized tracking devices" many new vehicles have become.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ozkiwi

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284179703537?ul_noapp=true

Built in Flint, Michigan; I might have put the fenders on that one.

K

[TKCR]

7 years ago, I payed $13,500 for my 86 SWB. I get comments ranging from, I payed too much to I got a pretty good deal. Let’s face it, there are people out there that just will not pay over a certain price for a truck that is super nice. And on the same hand, you will have someone that will pay that price.
Sometimes I do think maybe I paid a lot for my truck 7 years ago, but “it is” rust free. I went over every square inch of the body with a heavy duty magnet. There is no bondo anywhere. I like to think, I got a pretty nice truck for the money. I have seen some trucks that people have bought, and the nightmares that come with them, or the surprises they get.
It’s not original, the PO put a 350 in it, cowl induction hood and some ugly wheels. The interior was a mix match of Reds with the wrong seat. Since I have had it, I put a NOS hood back on her, dressed up the engine some. Put a stock grille back on it. Got rid of those ugly 20” wheels, and totally redid the interior. So if I was to sell it, I would ask more, because of the money I have put in it.
Here are Before & After pics. From the day I bought it, to how she sits today. One thing I haven’t done, is put the fender emblems on. I have them, just haven’t installed them.

[lolife99]

I believe the high prices of 73-87 trucks is directly related to the crazy prices the 67-72 and 60-66 trucks are bringing.
It’s just a domino effect.
People started building 73-87 trucks, burbs, and blazers because they were more affordable.
The aftermarket industry jumped in this new market and prices of clean trucks have sky rocketed.
So now the OBS 88-98 trucks are increasing by leaps and bounds.
And OBS trucks have never been more popular.
The next group to see this will be the NBS 99-06 (and 2007 classic).
They are still fairly affordable and with LS engines there is endless possibilities for power.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I believe the high prices of 73-87 trucks is directly related to the crazy prices the 67-72 and 60-66 trucks are bringing.
It’s just a domino effect.
People started building 73-87 trucks, burbs, and blazers because they were more affordable.
The aftermarket industry jumped in this new market and prices of clean trucks have sky rocketed.
So now the OBS 88-98 trucks are increasing by leaps and bounds.
And OBS trucks have never been more popular.
The next group to see this will be the NBS 99-06 (and 2007 classic).
They are still fairly affordable and with LS engines there is endless possibilities for power.

I agree.

[Warrens69GMC]

I believe car and truck prices soared on the 1990 and earlier at the start of the pandemic because people needed something to flip to make money and created a huge demand.

[kipps]

On a related note, interest in LS swaps in these trucks is at an all-time high. I'm a member of a facebook group dedicated to LS swaps in 73-87(91) GM trucks. There's 68,000 members in that group(and no, that's not a typo). There's shortages of certain parts, such as the 1987 fuel senders, because of the popularity of LS/square mashups.

My impression of that group is that a lot of the members are not highly-skilled mechanics. More than a few of them are young bucks in their 20's, and are just trying out their hand at serious wrenching for the first time. These LS swaps are being presented as beginner friendly(they can be, if you don't get carried away).

The squares are the high value trucks right now. I expect that within 5-10 years, the gmt400 trucks will be outpacing the squares in "coolness factor." The high value will follow shortly after.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 5Tractorguy

Over the past year or so, the prices shot up drastically. I scan FB Marketplace daily for them. Here in the North East you can't touch a K20 for under 6-7K in running/driving/fair condition, C30 dually 3+3 pickups are going for for 7-8K minimum in driving cond, a K5 Blazer for 8K - 10K... it's nuts. Never mind badly rotted parts trucks, 1.5 - 2K... Granted there are some good deals found in between, but they seem to be harder to find.

Compared to Ebay prices, those probably sound great. I suppose popularity, the truck flippers and part out guys are driving the prices up though. Can't tell you how many guys told me that back in the day you couldn't give these away, or could pick one up for $2 - 300 bucks.

I'm just glad 1-ton cab and chassis are still somewhat reasonable since that's what I have the most of!

A local mechanic advised against rebuilding the engine in my 76 because it was only worth about $500

That's probably true around here. Especially no one wants a 2wd.

[dagnabbitt]

I've been following what some board members have mentioned they paid for their squares and have been surprised. Usually stuff in Canada is much more expensive than in the US: these trucks seem to be the exception. A true square shortbox up where I am in Canada would go for about $7500 US in "pretty good" condition. ie crate engine, 10 year old paint job, some hidden problems you find out about later etc. The truck cited by OP is nice but is priced at about $35 000 Canadian dollars. You could very easily build it for less.

I wonder if its because as you guys improved your roads and highways so quickly, as more people moved to cities: at a much faster rate than we did. If you sold fewer trucks per capita over the years it would have led to a shortage of good examples 40 years later.

Importing new or newish trucks to the US from Canada is a big industry, we have dealerships who pay top dollar for used trucks just to send them to parts of the US where there are shortages. I sold my own 2012 Ram to a guy who ships them to Seattle for sale. He said that pickups are rare there and dealerships will not stock them, whereas "even grandmas drive crewcab 4x4's in Alberta". Maybe a little off topic but there you go.

As to me, I found myself the proud owner of a couple squares while I searched in vain for the 67 I wanted. Maybe that's all it is, demand for 67-72's being compressed and squeezed up one more generation.

[MalibuSSwagon]

It's crazy. 11 years ago I was given my C10 shortbed, it was ugly but mostly original and rust free, I even drove it home 60 miles. Nowadays with the paint, LS swap, tko600, soon vintage air and rebuilt rear, it should be north of 10k which is nuts to think about. Not that I would ever sell.

But I've been looking for a crew cab C30/K30, the prices are crazy. I found one in Texas, was talking to the guy since I had family close to it. Guy wanted 7k, it was in good mechanical shape but had a little rocker rust and dents. Sold that day. Like damn.

[dagnabbitt]

I've also noticed that people who are interested in the squares nowadays mostly skip over the 73-80 models and go right to 81-87s.

Better or more plentiful examples available, and a few extra creature comforts, I suppose.

[MalibuSSwagon]

been kinda hard to find 73-80s in my search for a crew cab. I'd prefer one as I love the 73-74 front end, but hard to find.

[dagnabbitt]

been kinda hard to find 73-80s in my search for a crew cab. I'd prefer one as I love the 73-74 front end, but hard to find.


Same: I am just going to do a front end swap on my 81, it's such a frankenstein anyways.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I...

Importing new or newish trucks to the US from Canada is a big industry, we have dealerships who pay top dollar for used trucks just to send them to parts of the US where there are shortages. I sold my own 2012 Ram to a guy who ships them to Seattle for sale. He said that pickups are rare there and dealerships will not stock them, whereas "even grandmas drive crewcab 4x4's in Alberta". Maybe a little off topic but there you go.

...

That's just Seattle / west coast / big city

Alberta down to Texas there's plenty of pickups. When I was getting my topper "installed" there were more women than men in there looking at truck accessories.

[ACS]

Originally Posted by lolife99

...
So now the OBS 88-98 trucks are increasing by leaps and bounds.
And OBS trucks have never been more popular.
The next group to see this will be the NBS 99-06 (and 2007 classic).
They are still fairly affordable and with LS engines there is endless possibilities for power.

I was just looking at GMT400’s the other day. Getting harder and harder to find original trucks that someone hasn’t messed with.

[truckin 79]

Finding good used parts for squares is pretty difficult to come by as well. There are usually 3-4 new squares at the junkyard and are stripped as quick as they come in. I will say LMC Truck has pretty much any Chevy Square part you need all except maybe delay wiper module. I was talking to a guy at the junkyard and he said that alot of these trucks end up in Mexico. They love trucks down especially 2wd trucks. I can understand someone wanting to take these vehicles on as a project, so much room in engine bay, standard cab interior easy to replace and low maintenance

[wazzabie]

plenty of non driving square body trucks that are rust and beatup to be found. big bucks is not for those trucks

[5Tractorguy]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

But I've been looking for a crew cab C30/K30, the prices are crazy. I found one in Texas, was talking to the guy since I had family close to it. Guy wanted 7k, it was in good mechanical shape but had a little rocker rust and dents. Sold that day. Like damn.

One of those has been on my search radar too... some day when I have room for more trucks! If you're on FB, here's a couple leads you may want to follow up on...

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...rral_code=null

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...rral_code=null

[44th Miss Inf]

Around here (SW MS / SE LA) it has become the yuppie / cool thing to have. I know several who never cared for the square bodies when we were in school (they were the current body style) and now have to have one. Those types (around here) are the ones who don’t know how to change a tire, check oil, etc. they just put gas in it and go. If it doesn’t go, they call a wrecker.
I’ve got 2 crew cabs, 3 rc swb, and a 65 c10, and get bothered about them all the time.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I've also noticed that people who are interested in the squares nowadays mostly skip over the 73-80 models and go right to 81-87s.

Better or more plentiful examples available, and a few extra creature comforts, I suppose.

Less rust on the newer models while being the same body style = a possibly cheaper overall investment. The 10yr difference between a 73 to 83 can be big when it comes to rocker/cab corner rust.

The truck in the original thread starting post is also listed on what is basically a 'specialty vehicle' used-car lot. Prices are usually higher there vs buying from an individual.