How to decide Value/worth? '59 Fleetside (long post)

[Tod59]

Hey Everyone-

Sorry about my long first post......but I need your guidance. I'm currently trying to decide if I should purchase a '59 fleetside 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive pickup.....basically, I've ordered some catalogs to see what is available "aftermarket" for the truck and I've been searching our "for sale" section and Ebay and other truck-for-sale sites to try and get a good understanding of how to determin the value of a truck these days. I know pictures speek volumes, but I only have one pic of the truck (sorry). Just wondering what you all think truck is worth today?

Here is what I know so far after talking with current owneri havent driven truck yet) Truck can be driven with no problem and has a clear title according to owner.....he started truck and drove it out of garage and didn't know I was coming before hand.
*He got the truck in pieces as the former owner was completeing a body-off resto and lost interest.
*He claims the suspension is all new and frame painted black.
*He claims the truck came from California and is rust free including cab corners and the area by the lower doors.
*He has about 10 pics of the body off the truck and in process restoration work.
*The wood bed was replaced with new wood, but it looks like its been several years and the truck was left outside for a while and the bed either needs to be resanded or replaced (looks very weathered).
*The truck is a 6cyl and 3 on the tree, stock rear end. Stock steel wheels and looks like original hubcaps.
*The heater is there but doesnt work and it looks like some the guages also dont work. The dash is cut-up where soemone installed an aftermarket radio, the original speaker is there up above near the reiw view mirror. The original bench seat is shot and needs to be reapolsterd.
*The windshield and rear glass are good with no cracks or fogging. Side glass is just ok with some fogging (same with vent windows) and needs to be replaced. Windows do roll up/down with a little help.
*The owner painted the truck yellow and black.
*The chrome spears down the side of the fleetside bed are not there and from what I've seen, darn near impossible to find as they are not remanufactured.
*Electrical: The tail lights/brake lights work....probablt the headlights too.
*All new weather stripping on doors and windows.

My plans: I want to restore the truck to look original (outside and interior) and convert it to V8 ( 1 wire altenator, electronic ignition) and automatic so my wife can drive it too. Whitewall tires with hubcaps and a super nice paint job, chrome bumpers and chrome grill and headlight buckets and of course re-do the interior and upgrade the front brakes to disc for safety. So, based upon the 1 pic I have and my description....what do you think a fair price is for this truck? If you have other questions I haven't thought of, please let me know and I'll try to answer them.

Thanks
Tod59

[G&R's57GMC]

What's he asking ?

[Tod59]

He started at 12,500 and now we are around 10,000.

[G&R's57GMC]

Snap it up

BTW www.billstruckshop.com makes the side trim.

[Tod59]

[quote=G&R's57GMC;6957398]Snap it up

[Tod59]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Snap it up

BTW www.billstruckshop.com makes the side trim.

Thank you. Can you explain why you believe this is a fair price for the truck to help me understand? I was thinking it was too high of a price.

[G&R's57GMC]

If this is a solid, running, driving, stopping, no problem straight body from California .

Your in the rust belt you could spend more on rust repair then that on a beater in the rust belt before you even started your rebuild.

If you found a solid truck in the sun belt, factor in the shipping to get it to you.

Take a close look at this truck again. Double check all the usual rust areas and if its solid go for it.

You might offer $ 8500 to 9500 and see what happens. But $10k is not bad.

Bear in mind once you have it and start making it your own, It will cost 2 -3 times more then you thought and take 3 to 4 times longer to build.

Watch out for 'the might as wells' and 'while I'm at its'.

If you keep the stock suspension think power disc brakes and power steering. BTW Bills has a nice P/S box that with a column saver kit is a bolt in and you reuse the stock steering column . Your wife will insist on this mod.

Keep us posted .

[G&R's57GMC]

On my project this is what $12k looks like, No Limit Wide Ride IFS with Air Ride, R&P P/S , anti sway bar , disc brakes, Currie 9" with Trac Loc 11" drum brakes, mounted with No Limit Fat Bar four link, No Limit fuel tank mounted on a sand blasted , boxed and painted chassis,
Wheel Vintiques powder coated Artillery wheels with Coker wide whites.

[Rude Dude]

When you check out the truck take a long a small magnet and check the cab corners, rear edge of fenders and floor boards for rust or body filler. $10K for your neck of the woods is not a bad price.

[N2TRUX]

My advise is to buy as much truck as you can afford, thats as near the end product as possible. Other than the year model, everything you want in a truck is not here. Its the wrong color, not a V8/auto, etc. What that means is your paying for a semi restored truck that you plan to gut and start over.

You are miles ahead if you can find one that much closer to what you want especially paint. If you want a show quality paint job add at least 10k to the the cost to restore this truck to your satisfaction

[mr48chev]

I wrote a long winded post and deleted it because it was too long winded.

To me the truck is overpriced for what is there and the total condition it is in.

The paint is shiny but not the paint job or color you want.
The engine runs but it isn't an engine you plan to keep.

Only a serious inspection and possibly documentation with build photos will tell you the exact condition that the body work under the shiny paint is.

That is paying extra for several things you won't use in the long run.

Repairing the dash is either several hours of work on your part or several $$ out of your pocket to have someone else to do. The suspect gauges are just $$ out of your pocket to take care of and a small amount of time.
The leaking heater, your wife is thinking ac if she is like my wife. My wife already spent her time riding in a hot truck in 100+ weather on seriously long road trips though. To repair that one could be spendy for what you have though.
The wood bed might be sand and re-varnish if the wood can be sanded down but for me it doesn't add extra value as it is.

The main thing is DO NOT get caught up in the concept that this is the only truck like what you are looking for in existence in your price range within a reasonable drive from where you sit.
Do the research and check prices on comparable trucks and see what is out there and what is going for. Not those mega $$ show ready trucks but trucks that directly compare with that one.

[57chevyman]

more pics and info would help. figure out how much it will cost to get the truck to where you want it to be . i think for 10 grand you should be getting a truck that already has upgrades done. are the brakes upgraded to dual mc with at least front disc brakes. is the fuel tank still in the cab or was it relocated? you want a v8?
do you do metal work yourself or would you be paying a welding guy to repair the dash?
i got my truck for $5000.00 with an uncut, nice painted dash with every gauge working. and i have a 350 v8, power steering, and IFS and tilt column. ill attach some pics of what $5000.00 looks like. i detailed the engine myself for about $100 including new valve covers

[mgchevyparts]

Never ever buy a vehicle sight unseen. You must inspect it yourself before buying, period.

That does not look like a $12K truck to me and I'm in SoCal where prices are higher then most areas.

[roger55]

I gave Tod a long winded answer elsewhere and I say $5,500 tops.

[Russell Ashley]

If it's truly rust free with a clear title I'd say it's well worth $10K, considering what has been done already. You can spend that much very quickly just getting the body work done. I agree with previous posts that you would need to inspect it in person before buying though. I usually look through EBay to see what prices are generally running for similar trucks. I look at the highest bid or selling price, not asking price to get an idea of what the market will bring.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I usually look through EBay to see what prices are generally running for similar trucks. I look at the highest bid or selling price, not asking price to get an idea of what the market will bring.

Exactly.
Look at "Completed items" on eBay. Whatever your opinion of buying or selling on eBay, it's still the very best gauge of "what someone is willing to pay" for any vehicle. But, only consider the completed items with the dollar amount in green, or at least the ones that actually had bids. The ones with only buy-it-now in red didn't sell and obviously the price was too high.

[lv2tri2]

If after close inspection you find the condition as described, have the desire, tools and skills to make changes, repair, fix, and add to this trucks condition, 10K would be a reasonable investment in California. If you have to pay someone to make all the improvements, start with something closer to what you want in a finished truck.

[57chevyman]

I think that was well said ^^^. If you're looking for a project to work on ? Because the reality is you can buy a "finished" truck for a third of what it costs to build the truck if you're paying a body shop, welder , mechanic, etc. I still think if you want a project , $10,000 is pretty steep to start with a truck that's in 15 pieces and has a cut up dash and torn up seat. Probably needs tires too.

[OrrieG]

57chevyman beat me to it. You can always find a good finished truck very close to what you want for less than you can build it. If your goal is the process of doing the work and time/$ to completion is not a consideration than might be the project for you. If you and your wife want to be cruising next year probably not unless you have the money saved for the improvements, good working environment and skill to complete the work.

The math part is simple. Add up all the costs for things you want to do and change and determine a fair value for the one you are looking for (maybe 5-7K). As other said, look on ebay and other auction sites for completed sold listings to get an idea where the market is. If the price is you come up with is more than you can buy one for and goal is cruising not a long build you have your answer. You can factor in some shipping costs (commercial or rent a truck/trailer yourself).

[roger55]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

I think that was well said ^^^. If you're looking for a project to work on ? Because the reality is you can buy a "finished" truck for a third of what it costs to build the truck if you're paying a body shop, welder , mechanic, etc. I still think if you want a project , $10,000 is pretty steep to start with a truck that's in 15 pieces and has a cut up dash and torn up seat. Probably needs tires too.

I agree. I still say $5,500 tops.

For 10 grand I think you could find a project that's had much more put into it than that '59.

I paid $3,500 for this one in 2011. It did have some rust but I fixed it all myself and the patch panels and braces I bought totaled $700. I drove it around a bunch before starting the restomod on it for my wife. I did find it later that driving it was a little dangerous because the tie rod ends were sloppy. Got a little lucky there. All the details are in my build thread.

[lv2tri2]

I missed something? I understood this truck is together and drivable?

[dubds10]

Not worth $10+gs for the amount of worth you "plan" on doing. Since it needs a fair bit of work still it looks like a $5000 project here on the West Coast at least.

[daveccpa]

two years ago I paid $2500 for a 59 with a V8. Didn't have a bed though. The truck was otherwise complete and body was in decent shape.

I think that price is way too high.

[roger55]

Where's Ogre?

I think he will have a good feel for this.

[southern parts]

I just bought a 58 short fleet in pretty good shape for less than half of 10k
You can see it in the thread titled (my new 58 ) i'm no expert but 10k sounds like a lot to me