What value does a BIG WINDOW add to a truck?

[65stepside]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Here in Colorado there are a lot of trailers sitting at farms that were made out of short stepside beds. Have you looked around in the country in your area?

O yeah got an ad on craigslist and I keep driving around different ways looking in yards and around the streets!

[Maximus]

If you can't tell there are people on both sides of this fence. I am on the side that says the small window looks 'unfinished' the weird shadow of the big window on the small window cabs irritates me. they should have made the back of the small window cabs flush...
but on my 55' step, i am swapping my cab. I want the big window.
I figure if im going to build the truck, why would i chose to build the cheaper model? or more realistically the more common model..

I say more common, because if i were to build a 1957 chevy sedan, I would build a 150, not a belair. how many 150's do you see?

10/1 these trucks are small windows... (also because im sure a number of of 'survivor' cabs come from from 2 ton trucks that got low mileage usage and rarely had a big window)
but that's just me, I like what is less common...

just don't fight my logic, because I have no answer to the "why are you building a chevy" question, lol... obviously there are a lot less Studebaker's on the road...

Big windows are nice...

[TheManInBlack]

Originally Posted by Maximus

If you can't tell there are people on both sides of this fence. I am on the side that says the small window looks 'unfinished' the weird shadow of the big window on the small window cabs irritates me. they should have made the back of the small window cabs flush...
but on my 55' step, i am swapping my cab. I want the big window.
I figure if im going to build the truck, why would i chose to build the cheaper model? or more realistically the more common model..

I say more common, because if i were to build a 1957 chevy sedan, I would build a 150, not a belair. how many 150's do you see?

10/1 these trucks are small windows... (also because im sure a number of of 'survivor' cabs come from from 2 ton trucks that got low mileage usage and rarely had a big window)
but that's just me, I like what is less common...

just don't fight my logic, because I have no answer to the "why are you building a chevy" question, lol... obviously there are a lot less Studebaker's on the road...

Big windows are nice...

I totally understand, I always wanted to build a '69 300 deluxe with straight six and all just to poke fun at all the fake SS chevelles.

[Joemomma1]

I would pay much more for a bbw. Looks better, is better. Nuff said.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Indian113]

I don't think the ? has been answered yet,all we have gotten are OP's. Does anybody have any facts at the difference in value? Not just personnel I'm talkin Cash value

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by Indian113

I don't think the ? has been answered yet,all we have gotten are OP's. Does anybody have any facts at the difference in value? Not just personnal I'm talkin Cash value

Its difficult to give hard numbers. Hell, I'll give it a go though.

• For 2 trucks that are exactly equal, logic would say the book value of the bbw would be worth more since the bbw was an option. But with these trucks, no (2) are equal, they are nearly 50 years old.
• If you are buying a cab only (that's what the original post by 65stepside asked about), I can't see that a bbw cab is worth much more than $500 over the price of an equal condition sbw cab.
• If you are buying a finished truck, I wouldn't pay more than a 20% upcharge for a bbw. So for a $10,000 truck that is a $2000 upcharge. And I wouldn't be paying that 'cause I like the BBW, it would only be for resale value. That way the ad can state "rare big back window".
• If you are buying an original condition truck that needs a total restore there is so much more that is important than if it is a bbw or a sbw.

[Maximus]

To answer the question, is a big window truck worth $1000 with no title?
I would say yes, if the truck isn't a total rust bucket it could be parted out (minus the cab) for $1000
For the cost of your time, space, and labor you could have essentially a free big window cab. plus tons of other parts that you dont even realize you may need yet on your project
(i just pulled off upper rear shock mounting bolts designed to mount to the frame tabs off a parts truck i sold - where would you find things like that?)

You seem to have been persuaded by the field of "small window" lovers.
Its fine if you don't want to buy the truck,
but if you DID want a big back window, $1000 is not too much to spend considering you will have a WHOLE truck full of parts you can use/sell.

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

If you are buying a cab only (that's what the original post by 65stepside asked about), I can't see that a bbw cab is worth much more than $500 over the price of an equal condition sbw cab.

I think there is a misunderstanding he said the WHOLE truck was $1000...

Originally Posted by 65stepside

I'm looking at a 1961 Big window cab that is in pretty good condition has a good windshield. The guy wants a $1000 bucks for the whole truck with no title.

I would make one comment...
65Stepside seems to have a '65 stepside' ironic right? you will either be cutting out the rear window and welding it in your standard cab, or your titled '65 will all of a sudden have a wrap around front windshield...
something else to think about......

[socaljess]

big window adds 800- 1000.00 so if your long bed sm window is worth 1500.00 its worth 2500 with a bbw and add 500.00 for short bed and add 2000 if sb bbw does this make sence so a sb bbw 3500 vs a lb sm window at 1500 hope this helps and thats my opinion so guys dont get crazy on me lol

[Tomsriv]

CRUSH ALL BIG WINDOWS!!!!

Just kidding, I'm glad that GM offered both so we can choose. I'm also in the camp of small on steps and big on fleets.

[jocko]

agree with most of the above opinions on how much a big window is worth. I believe it can add anywhere from $1000 to $4000 to the value (ok - maybe not "value", but at least to the asking price....) of our trucks. The high end of that estimate is for the restored trucks that are in superb condition. The average, some rust, etc ol truck - I'd say it adds around $1000. Again, just opinions. But I do at least base it on my long search for my current (big window) 66. I almost went small window just to save the $, but then found this one and couldn't pass it up.

Back to opinions.... I DO like both window styles. And I agree that the mail slot looks a little more old school. BUT, when it comes to driving - I like being able to see into the blind spot on the right, and the big window helps with that.

And someone mentioned above something I had not ever thought of - but now that he mentioned it - I really do agree - on a stepper, I would prefer the small window, but obviously, I'm a fan of the big window on fleetsides.

Bottom line, you can't go wrong - I think the best policy is to just go with your gut and then look for the kind you like - and if you really like the big window, you now know that you could buy a small window and convert it if you really really want a big window but just can't find one (or can't find one for a reasonable price).

[Ornery37]

Prices down here seem to be close to the same for big or small window, but with wheel base lenght price seems to be a little higher for swb with fleet bed.