Is this a good deal?

[GMC406]

Found this truck not too far from where I am. If I can work something out with tax returns or something, I might be able to spring for this. I have a 61 and a 71 been looking for a 51 for awile so I can have 3 decades of GMC evolution to fix and show. Price seems fair to me. http://salina.craigslist.org/cto/1507567871.html

[memo43]

I would do it, an the price is a steal for sure. Contact the owner an try an work a deal, this way it cant be the one that got away.

memo

[MrTucker]

I would check out the denver area (not sure where Salina is). I've seen this same truck listed in the Denver CL for a while, but there's MUCH better AD's in the Denver area for much less...

[gmcbrian]

It is a long bed and has a chevy motor. Floors look to be rusty, hard to tell.

[GMC406]

Im not sure. I called and havn't heard back from him yet. It says orginal owner I assumed it to be all orginal 51 GMC and Im not sure with these trucks what "ususal rust" entails

[MrTucker]

"Usual rust" means floors and toe boards, in worse cases cab corners and cowels will rust - but patch panels are cheap for AD's, and you can get any piece of metal you need from several different manufactures.

My '53 GMC sat in a field in Montana for 32 years and the only rust (other than surface rust) is in the floors. Compared to 67-72's, rust in 47'-55.1's isn't near as bad - at least from what I've seen.

[guy51usa]

too much money have you been looking for long see these for less quite reularly here in ks

[GMC406]

been keeping my eye out for one for about 9 months or so, not too long. I have seen quite a few in worse shape selling for more. I dont want to jump on the first decent deal I see. I just want to get one sometime soon before there are none at all to be found. A 5 window would be ideal..... I dont see any of these for sale around this part of the state. Maybe just not looking in the right places. A running driving one is definitly prefered. What would be Ideal is find someone that wants to trade for a 59 fairlaine...

[MrTucker]

finding one running and driving - not in terrible condition - is going to be hard to find for much under $4,000. Just in the last few weeks I saw a complete (minus engine and tranny) '52 Chevy for 1200, and in a separate listing a complete 235 I6 plus 4 speed taken out of a running AD for less than $800.

Piecing one together might be an easier/cheaper option. I've seen several I6's that look great and came out of running trucks that people are selling for almost nothing. I'm not saying they're not out there, but I've been looking for almost 12 months and haven't found much. If it is running/driving and has somewhat decent paint they're usually $6,000 or better.

[guy51usa]

if you didn"t have to have a 51 there is a 50 in drive it home condition for 2500 near salina it" listed on the hamb

[GMC406]

Ya im on the fence on the 51 it would be cool for my colletions sake but you couldnt even tell the diference between a 50 and 51 by looking at them could you? Truth be told out of the 50s era I accualy like the 58-59s best, sweet looking truck. Anything in the 50s GMCs I would prolly spring for the right deal.

[LEEVON]

I've been obsessing over these, Craigslist and EBAY every day and I have to say I've seen better deals, as in $1500 for the same truck. Have you tried using searchtempest.com? They come up in KC, Wichita, Tulsa, OKC all the time. If that truck was nearly rust free then I'd say deal. But I also tend to shop forever and drive myself nuts

Are you looking for original paint and what about the drivetrain?

[ya it is a classic]

Originally Posted by MrTucker

"Usual rust" means floors and toe boards, in worse cases cab corners and cowels will rust - but patch panels are cheap for AD's, and you can get any piece of metal you need from several different manufactures.

My '53 GMC sat in a field in Montana for 32 years and the only rust (other than surface rust) is in the floors. Compared to 67-72's, rust in 47'-55.1's isn't near as bad - at least from what I've seen.

mines been sitten in northern MT for 8 years and i doubt in a garage before that. it was a ditch riders pickup. new paint about 20 years ago. its got rust holes in front of the doors, a small one on top of the fender against the hood on both sides. tiny pinholes in the cab corners. and the eyebrows are rusted out. no rust in the floor though

[sweet70beast]

Originally Posted by GMC406

Ya im on the fence on the 51 it would be cool for my colletions sake but you couldnt even tell the diference between a 50 and 51 by looking at them could you?

If a person knows what to look for yes you can tell the difference but, in my experience very few people can. The few that can own an AD or have owned one in the past.

[GMC406]

Thanks for all the input so far. The one guy51usa directed me to on the hamb is probably more promising. And time may find a better deal to. Just have to keep my eyes open and maybe try looking in diferent places.

[MrTucker]

Originally Posted by GMC406

you couldnt even tell the diference between a 50 and 51 by looking at them could you?

The only difference I can tell is that 47-50's had one piece door windows, 51-53's had the vent windows. There might be some differences under the hood, but nothing noticable to the casual observer

[GMC406]

So as I said above the 58-59s look really cool to me and I found this one cheap. I want to drive the 4.5 hours to check it out. Suposedly good steel except for the cab corners. It is just setting on a 65 4x4 frame. I Have a 83 I could use the chassis from if it would work also. I think this truck would look great with big tires and a 4x4. Big back window is awesome. Could get the whole deal for $500. He said he would take 400 but as it will be a month or so before I would be able to do anything I told him I would do 500, worth that isnt it? I plan to check it out in person in the next week or so. Could be something kind of like this 48 I seen a while back but not quite as exreme.

[waltharper]

Right now I am in a toss over a 52 chev ($500) or a 51 GMC ($300). the only thing with the 52 chev, it is intact and I think I could drive it home, 15 miles. and it has the frame for the bench seat in it. but it does have a lot more rust. there will be a lot of new steel involved here.

[GMC406]

Welcome to the board, I love my GMCs so of course I will say go with the. But they both sound like good deals. Peope here love pics too.

[waltharper]

When I get one of them home, I will add some pic's