Thought you guys might enjoy this...

[saxart]

I normally hang out on the 67-72 side of the forum, but my father was going through some old papers and found the original bill of sale and a newspaper ad from his 1974 2WD short-box, so I'm posting them here. He only kept the truck for a couple of years, but as a kid I remember him putting a topper on it and building a small bed in the back for overnight hunting trips. Fun times!

If only we still had this truck today. I'd LOVE to find it if it still exists...

[TKCR]

Wow, that's crazy. It would be cool if you could find it, but it might be worth a bit more than $2650, if it was a survivor. It looks like the vin # is on there, maybe you can find it?

[rich weyand]

Vin decode for CCQ144F436024:
Chevrolet
96" or 106" Conv Cab
L6-250
1/2 Ton
Cab & Pick-up Box
1974
Flint, MI

VIN CCQ144F436024 not currently titled. Probably a goner.

[saxart]

Originally Posted by rich weyand

Vin decode for CCQ144F436024:
Chevrolet
96" or 106" Conv Cab
L6-250
1/2 Ton
Cab & Pick-up Box
1974
Flint, MI

VIN CCQ144F436024 not currently titled. Probably a goner.

Wow, great info Rich! Thanks for taking the time to do this. How were you able to find out that it's "not currently titled"?

[rich weyand]

https://www.instavin.com/_O/Classic-...4F436024&a=206

[83GMCK2500]

Most of this was covered in Rich's post, but the model listed of CC10703 breaks down as Chev, 2wd, 1/2 ton, short wheel base, regular cab.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

My friend of a friend bought a 73 Dodge D100 rcsb a week ago with the original paperwork. The otd price was like $3000 with a 318, and we found out in todays money it would be like $17,000 new.

Keep the paperwork it is funny how cheap things seemed back then.

[SilverMiner]

Just for fun (and potentially $6.99, but oh well) I ran my old Suburban through this site but came up empty handed. They do make clear that Washington DC, Hawaii, Kansas, and Rhode Island do not submit data. I'm not surprised to learn that although my home state of Idaho claims to participate, it doesn't necessarily mean they submit accurate info.

Originally Posted by rich weyand

https://www.instavin.com/_O/Classic-...4F436024&a=206

[jdl71]

Missouri did not have my '64 in the system even though it was titled when I bought it. Last title issued was '83 and last license renewal was '92. Since it had not been licensed for quite a few years they quit storing it in the records and just relied on the title I got from the owner to issue me a new one. Some of the southern states also do not require a title for older vehicles, bill of sale only. I guess my point here is even if it's not technically "titled" in a data base it may still be around.

[LT7A]

Funny that you can buy a decent new radio (aftermarket) for around the 85 bucks listed. But the cost of the base truck will never return to anything near $2,650. Unless, of course, Trumponomics improves our economy beyond all dreams.

[saxart]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Funny that you can buy a decent new radio (aftermarket) for around the 85 bucks listed. But the cost of the base truck will never return to anything near $2,650.

Keep in mind, that $85 radio was probably made right here in the good old U-S of A back in 1974. The $85 radios we buy today are undoubtedly made somewhere "east" of here.

[jdl71]

Adjusted for inflation, the $85 radio is about $416 in today's money. Haven't looked at a new truck option sheet lately, but that doesn't sound too out of line for a radio upgrade. The $2650 truck however equals about $12,900. I'm pretty sure even the most basic no frills two wheel drive truck would be at least double that.

[LT7A]

True about manufacturing location. And $416... Of interest to me is that you can still buy a decent (aftermarket, per above) radio for close to a 1974 price. Point being that not many things have a price tag today that has any direct resemblance to 1974 dollar amounts.

[jdl71]

No, they don't. After I posted that I built the most basic 2wd Silverado on Chevy's website and it started out around 27k. More than twice what the truck cost in 1974 adjusted for inflation. The defense of that you'll hear is mandated safety features such as air bags, abs, etc drives the cost up as well as it's next to impossible to not get a/c, cruise, key less entry, etc.