Suburban prices

[Corts60]

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/c...410194168.html

I'm not sure how everyone else feels, but $40k for a base model truck seems crazy. And I would expect it to be 100% un-molested. But this one clearly has had gauges swapped in the dash plus the add on gauges and wheels and front end....

[kipps]

What's clueing you in that the gauges have been swapped? They look stock to me, but I haven't been around the 1970's squares very much. Concerning the value, I think 40k is optimistic for 99.95% of the squares. There might be a handful out there that could command that kind of value, but they'll probably be really nice restomods instead. Around here in central Virginia, the Suburbans are worth quite a bit less than the trucks. Here, k10 and k20 pickups have the highest value.

[TKCR]

That’s SHARP. I agree I don’t believe the gauges have been swapped. I don’t care for the aftermarket ones that were added to the bottom of the dash. My truck had those also when I bought it, but it was one of the first things I yanked out.
Overall, it’s worth the money. Not that I would fork out $40,000, but someone will!

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by kipps

What's clueing you in that the gauges have been swapped? They look stock to me, but I haven't been around the 1970's squares very much. Concerning the value, I think 40k is optimistic for 99.95% of the squares. There might be a handful out there that could command that kind of value, but they'll probably be really nice restomods instead. Around here in central Virginia, the Suburbans are worth quite a bit less than the trucks. Here, k10 and k20 pickups have the highest value.

Look at the tach, it has the integrated fuel gauge which only ever came in the big trucks that I am aware of. And it it has four idiot lights which means the big fuel gauge Would have been where the tach is.

[57NAPCO]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-gmc-suburban-3/

CURRENT BID: $30,000 ENDS IN: 4 days

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-gmc-suburban-3/

CURRENT BID: $30,000 ENDS IN: 4 days

Now that is clean and original! I think that price is more palatable.

[Dead Parrot]

Hard to tell on prices anymore. What with the chip shortage, new car shortage and above average used car prices, it could well sell fast. And there are a lot of folks with piles of spare cash looking for their next interesting gizmo to purchase. Guess if the listing is still up a month from now, we will know that price was too high.

[Just call me Sean]

The tach is a desirable upgrade, even if it isn't stock to the truck.

[evan]

The prices for anything square is insane right now.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by Corts60

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/c...410194168.html

I'm not sure how everyone else feels, but $40k for a base model truck seems crazy. And I would expect it to be 100% un-molested. But this one clearly has had gauges swapped in the dash plus the add on gauges and wheels and front end....

My wife walked by while I had the pictures of it open and immediately started telling me how much she loved it and how we need to get one of these.

So I guess the prices are not surprising. I personally love Suburbans, I have a 2010 Yukon XL 2500 that is my daily in the winter and my trailer puller. I really like knowing I can pull over and sleep in it, haha.

This particular example is really nice I think. I like the poverty level "upholstery", memories of my youth.

[kwmech]

It's not really that hard to get up to that price pretty quickly. My 91 4x started out as a 1/2 ton. Anybody that tows with a Suburban 1/2 ton quickly finds out about the mediocre braking system even with good trailer brakes. I upgraded to a 14b full float in the rear. Then I was lucky enough to find a Dana 60 front. Did my own lift kit front and rear, got rid of the 700r4 that almost left me stranded and stepped up to a 4l80e, rebuilt the t-case with of course a 32 spline input and a slip yoke eliminator followed by driveshafts. Next came the tires with 285/75r-16s. Almost 13k in parts alone. Did a tach dash also. Adds up fast. Still needs paint badly

[52napco]

Suburban prices are only going up.. I had been looking for a clean 72 for
3 years..A good friend priced his at 31k when going over budget
on a new barn so I paid him..yes I paid a little too much but...I'm a sucker
for hubcaps and it's already 6.0 LS swapped and very clean Oregon
truck

[kipps]

Originally Posted by 52napco

Suburban prices are only going up.. I had been looking for a clean 72 for 3 years.. A good friend priced his at 31k when going over budget
on a new barn so I paid him.. yes I paid a little too much but...I'm a sucker
for hubcaps and it's already 6.0 LS swapped and very clean Oregon
truck

What tire size do you have on this Suburban? What brand and model of tire? I like the look of that rim/tire combo!

[52napco]

It's a 4" lift and 16x6 wheels 285-75 tires

[72c20customcamper]

Guess I should have held onto mine. But it wasn’t my style if it been a 4x4 it would still be in my garage .

[79vette]

Originally Posted by kwmech

It's not really that hard to get up to that price pretty quickly. ... Next came the tires with 285/75r-16

You can say that again. I have well over 20k into my 86 K5 camping rig, and by a lot of standards it a "mild" build for off road (ie not on 1 tons with 37" tires). And all my time was free.

air lockers front/rear with new gears/bearings, auto to SM465/NP205 swap with a Ranger overdrive box, new driveshafts to match, 33x12.50xR15 tires, new interior/sound deadening/upholstery, VintageAir A/C retrofit, solar panels, refrigerator, slide out stove, $1k+ in HAM radio gear, bumpers/winch, kinetic ropes/straps/winch extensions/pulleys/shackles, every brace/reinforcement from the ORD catalog, etc etc etc

I paid $2k for the truck running and driving and have been working on and off for 3 years, and its amazing how fast the money adds up. Not as bad as a gambling habit or a taste for nice wine or scotch I suppose, but still. If I were to sell it and even come close to breaking even on my time, I'd have to get at least 50k for it lol. I'd never pay it, but I understand why some of the restomods are so pricy

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-gmc-suburban-3/

CURRENT BID: $30,000 ENDS IN: 4 days

That auction turned into quite the bid war! Thing went for $52,250 in the end. I got caught up reading the bid and comment section, very entertaining.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Corts60

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/c...410194168.html

I'm not sure how everyone else feels, but $40k for a base model truck seems crazy. And I would expect it to be 100% un-molested. But this one clearly has had gauges swapped in the dash plus the add on gauges and wheels and front end....

Cort I tend to agree with you there, but I think the overall value of a clean, complete, rust free rig is there to the right buyer... Obviously the SWB's and the K10's are the big dollar trucks right now, but for a fan of early square burbs that one might be the right price. In the realm of "ya can't build it for that" this one may come close to breaking out... but have you seen the price of a quality paint job lately!

I also feel like these burbs are in the ever increasing market of high dollar/high nostalgia family haulers. The Toyota FJ 60's, Grand Wagoneers, early Land Rovers etc. are commanding higher and higher prices as the 40-60 yr old well off crowd has already amassed their collection of early Porsche's, E30 M3's and a first gen Camaro or two and are now looking for something to load up and head out to the lake house with the wife, dogs and kids/grandkids in tow... These rigs take them right back to their childhood and good money is being paid for these things right now. Also don't forget about the overseas market. Squarebodies are HUGE in the middle east (Saudi Arabia, UAE)

[Nick_R_23]

Like it or not, these are classic trucks now. The newest ones are 30 years old, and a first year model is 48 years old. Classic prices are coming with them. Not to mention, the highest rate of inflation in years and a new Suburban costs $70k - prices are going to spike on the older ones. This is a normal classic vehicle cycle, same thing will happen soon with the GMT400’s.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by ShortHaul

.............good money is being paid for these things right now. Also don't forget about the overseas market..............

This has been going on for quite some time.....about 4-5 years ago I sold a 79 long bed with a big block in it. It was an overseas buyer/broker that sent cash with a transport driver. This one was going--- of all places--- to the United Kingdom. Buyer was tripling his money. With todays market in the States, I could do the same

[Dead Parrot]

Another factor playing into the prices is attrition. Between plain wear and tear, collisions and rust, the number of square era trucks and suburbans has been greatly diminished. Wasn't that many years ago I could go to Pull-a-Part and find 10+ squares, many in good shape. Now I am lucky to find one picked over hulk.

Less supply and increasing demand leads to the classic Econ 101 example of rising prices.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Another factor playing into the prices is attrition. Between plain wear and tear, collisions and rust, the number of square era trucks and suburbans has been greatly diminished. Wasn't that many years ago I could go to Pull-a-Part and find 10+ squares, many in good shape. Now I am lucky to find one picked over hulk.

Less supply and increasing demand leads to the classic Econ 101 example of rising prices.

I noticed A LOT of them went away when the scrap prices went up and Obummer introduced cash for clunkers even though that was over 12 years ago. Wrecking yards were scooping everything up and clearing their places up. Then here in Calif the EPA stepped up and started forcing the yards to close b'cuz of supposed pollution under ground. It was and still is a mess. My favorite yard was always spotless and very well organized....yeah they were forced out. Now it is just towing and storage

[MalibuSSwagon]

I know..I've been looking all over for a decent 4x4 burb, been picky as it needs barn doors and to be relativity rust free. Just passed on one in my hometown due to rust, and a blown 700r4. Old man wanted 4500 and said he bought it a year ago like that, "trans just needs a module" fluid black as sin.

[57NAPCO]

Just sold….

[evan]

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

Just sold….

To you? Based on that one picture I'd say that was a great deal.