Looking At A '66

[special-K]

I stopped to look at a '66 SWB Stepside yesterday. No one around and the for sale sign just had a number and "call for details". Left a message and waiting for a call back. I guess I've seen it before but wasn't too excited because my standards are high. It has sat all winter now and still there and you know how spring can affect a person. I'm dreamin' and hopin' they will be realistic on this one. The (historic) tag expired in Oct. Didn't have my camera, so no pictures yet. It's pretty original, a lt. blue/white top and trim 6cyl/3spd truck. Still has original wheels with orig. hubcaps on rear and baby moons on front. The hood is locked but I could see it's a 6 (figured that) looking under. The front fenders have the lower rear rust plenty bad and rockers rusted,too. The doors look decent and front lip of hood isn't awful...yet. No rust above the windshield. The seat still looks good. It's a local farm truck survivor, probably a barn find. The bed looks great on the outside and there's junk in it, so probably plywood under that. I'm thinking, if by some rare chance this one isn't stupid money, I would get it on the running and do a few things. I have a Saginaw 4spd I could drop in and a pair of 8" steelies for the rear. I'll keep the 6 if it's healthy and play with that a little. Dual pipes for sure. I do have a healthy original '71 350, if need be. I just want something to run and depending what the owner wants, this could be it. i'll get by with my camera for pictures. Nothing great, just what I want

[Palf70Step]

Hope it works out and you can visit this area of the board more.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Hope it works out and you can visit this area of the board more.

Are you sure you want that? Hasn't it been nice to have a place to get away?

[TJ's Chevy]

6500 is a total rip off for that truck. But I gotta say..MAN..that is one sweet truck and if I could I'd almost buy it for that price....but considering how much I paid for my 64 GMC with much rarer options....yeah....that chevy is waaay over priced.

[Budget63]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

6500 is a total rip off for that truck. But I gotta say..MAN..that is one sweet truck and if I could I'd almost buy it for that price....but considering how much I paid for my 64 GMC with much rarer options....yeah....that chevy is waaay over priced.

So are you saying it's over priced, or that you would buy it? Looks like a $2000-3000 truck to me, if it runs.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by Budget63

So are you saying it's over priced, or that you would buy it? Looks like a $2000-3000 truck to me, if it runs.

I paid $500 for my 64 gmc. Yes its over priced but I'd still buy it if I could anyway. Anything to save another on from the scrap yard....or from rotting for the next 100. years. lol

[flashed]

I hope its a reasonably priced truck that you can snag ,looking forward to pics .

[TJ's Chevy]

Maybe you'll get as lucky as I did. lol

[C/10 King]

Tim, he suspense is killin' me.

[RANDY COX]

You can never have too many, Just ask T.J.

[DPowers]

Go for it..

[mattbert56]

I say if the price is right, Buy it...have a nice one and have a parts fetcher. you can always sell it if it doesn't work out. Plus these trucks are only going up in price.

[duallyjams]

Your phone can take pictures yea yea I'm just bust n on ya.

[special-K]

I don't have a smart phone and my flip phone isn't worth the effort. I passed that way again today and got pictures. I haven't heard back and it's probably because the seller (or person who owns it and put the sign on it) knows it's a waste of time. I got the lowdown from someone else who talked to him. I've had a few of these, but there will be no deal made here. Here are pictures.

[mattbert56]

Sheesh. No deal for such a sweet truck. Where there's a will there's a way. Hope someone who loves these trucks ends up with it...

[DPowers]

Too much $$$?

[special-K]

$6,500 and won't budge. It would take more than a budge for me. This is just across from the main entrance to The Great Frederick Fair. Around the back side lives a friend who just last year bought (locally) a fresh nut & bolt restored, everything new, GM crate ZZ motor, 700r4, Vintage Air...on and on '66 Fleetside SWB for $15k. The worst thing was working out a bug or two since he was the first one to take it down the road. I expect to see this one settle deeper into the ground.

I'm still going to talk to my buddy who has a '60 C40 I could have for what he paid at an auction which was $700. As you may know, these were light truck sheetmetal with medium duty drivetrain. It was a farm truck and the body isn't awful...except rust over the windshield. I know, there's where I've hesitated. That, and I'm such a truck lover I would have a hard time changing it from what it is and I just don't need a 12' flatbed dump antique truck like I want a 60-66 shortbed. I would want to put the cab & clip, set it on a short frame, and buy a bed. The header panel I could deal with and the rest is good and unmolested original. I already have a '67 project and was wanting a runner for now. I passed about a year ago on a '67 Chevy shortbed in same condition as this '66 for half the money. I'm not cheap when it comes to buying trucks. More like stupid, if I find the right one. Just not that stupid.

[aerotruk63]

Are the 66 stepside fenders not supposed to have a embossement for the reverse lights?

[special-K]

I've never seen any embossed. Just stuck on. This thing is real base, which suits me fine. No passenger mirror or visor and all. The other aftermarket west coast is in the bed. The seat is nice, recovered in white roll 'n' pleat. I forgot that from the first look. I really want a clean big window Fleetside custom in the long run.

[flashed]

At that price Im afraid he will be sitting on it for a long time .

[markeb01]

What a shame. That could move to a new home and start receiving some much needed attention if the asking price was about half as much.

[flashed]

At least it is for sale ,I know of so many old trucks and cars here that I constantly watch that are going to be FIXED UP someday ,some I have watched for 20 years and are rotting into the ground .

[TJ's Chevy]

I hear ya Flashed. I get soo stinkin angry at people who do that. They should make a law against truck abuse.

[special-K]

This would have been the first fender flapper I bought. I have always gone for body condition over all else. I don't care if it has no motor & trans or if I have to bring my own wheels and steering wheel to guide it onto a trailer. But I saw this as a cool & casual DILLIGAF truck to make purr, with minimal timeless must have coolness added...wide rear wheels, dual exhaust, 4-on-the-floor, chrome cup tach on the dash, and maybe some other steering wheel (like metalflake blue or '60s car w/horn ring). It already has a while roll 'n' pleat seat! Make it look like it was like that for 40 years. I hear it now in my original unrestored '72 4wd... "You wanna sell that? If I had it I'd restore it and it would never see another day of work in it's life". That's when I say, "Hmmm, never thought about that". I built show trucks in the 80s-90s, been there done that. I see a truck I would never turn a body or bumper fastener on. Waaay too much moolah. Sorry truck, I tried to help you

[Clyde65]

I find tons of potential trucks that I would love to save but....They are all priced like this one Special-K found, similar condition too. It seems that if someone thought about turning a wrench on them, this doubles the price. I went and looked at one that I didnt know the price at first, short step, no motor or trans and no wood in the bed, been sitting a long time also. I roll up and get out, ol boy comes up and says " Ill take $3500 today!"

I got back in my 65 and left.